Side Effects Public Media

Seniors who are hospitalized with even a minor illness or injury are at risk of "hospital-acquired disability," which puts them at risk of rehospitalizations and a downward spiral that could eventually land them in a nursing home.

At a time when many rural hospitals continue to make the tough choice to shutter their obstetrics units and stop delivering babies, some have found ways to make their units survive and, sometimes, even thrive.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack sent out a letter to the governor's of 44 states that are not meeting federal standards for processing SNAP applications.

A recent report estimates how abortion bans in states like Kentucky and Missouri affected birth rates during the first half of 2023. It’s an early indicator that the bans aren’t equal in terms of impact.

New proposed rules for nursing home staffing levels by the Biden administration elicited mixed reactions. Nursing home workers say they’re much needed and long overdue. But some Republican governors echo the long-term care industry’s concerns. They say the measures will push some facilities to shut down.

In states where abortion was restricted following the fall of Roe v. Wade, a growing number of people are seeking permanent contraception.

Narcan is underutilized. Federal and local governments are urging schools to address a growing concern.

Untreated mental health cost Indiana $4.2 billion in 2019. The state has adopted a new law in an attempt to make it more accessible. But many people still endure barriers to seeking treatment.

Care farms are agricultural places for people with physical or mental health challenges to process their emotions, while performing farming tasks and working with animals. It’s a popular concept in Europe that hasn’t gained as much traction in the United States yet. But a new national network hopes to change that.

Thousands of people have been mistakenly dropped off Medicaid and CHIP since the Spring. System glitches are behind this undue massive loss of coverage.