Darian Benson
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Side Effects Public Media
Pregnant people struggling with addiction fear mistreatment from health care providers and worry about the possibility that they’ll lose custody of their baby.
Paige Pfleger
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Side Effects Public Media
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A federal emergency declaration that has allowed children to receive continuous Medicaid coverage throughout the pandemic could end soon, and health providers are worried. -
The patchwork nature of abortion laws across the country has made the procedure harder for pregnant people to get — and for health care providers to give.
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Gun violence incidents, which include non-fatal shootings, have spiked across the country. And the trail of damage these shootings leave extends well beyond those who were struck by bullets.
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The Inflation Reduction Act gives Medicare historic new powers to lower prescription drug prices, but lawsuits, loopholes and opposition from the drug industry could undermine them.
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Abortion restrictions will likely affect Black women the most. Many are concerned about the impact on Black maternal mortality, and the risk of criminalization.
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A recently approved economic package will lower out-of-pocket costs for some patients. Many who rely on the costly medication say the measure doesn’t go far enough.
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A lack of data regarding sickle cell disease in the U.S. stunts efforts to improve outcomes for patients. The federally funded Sickle Cell Data Collection Program aims to chip away at these data gaps.
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Having health insurance doesn’t always mean the care you need will be covered, even if that care is provided in-network. Consumers have a right to appeal denied claims, but federal data shows very few people do.
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For many patients with long COVID, life doesn’t go back to normal. But they aren’t alone. They join a community of chronic illness patients who hope the money being poured into studying long COVID will have a wider benefit.
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As more states pass abortion bans, an approach offering parents an alternative is gaining popularity. Baby boxes, which are built into the side of fire stations or hospitals, allow people to surrender infants anonymously.
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Only a handful of monkeypox cases in the U.S. are among children, out of thousands reported so far. Yet infectious disease experts are keeping a close eye on pediatric cases.
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People in recovery for substance use disorder often need to attend medical appointments, recovery meetings or meet with a probation officer. But access to transportation can be a barrier to recovery.
Incarcerated people are some of the sickest people in our country. Many have chronic conditions such as diabetes or lung disease. And they’re far more likely to suffer from mental illness and addiction. On Season 2 of Sick, listen to stories of what goes wrong in corrections facilities — places meant to keep people healthy, but built to punish them.
The COVID pandemic has exposed deep flaws in the way America handles children’s mental health. More and more children are facing anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. But there’s a shortage of providers and services — and no quick way to increase them. As a result, many children and families are scrambling for help.
The new coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, have changed our lives in countless ways. Side Effects will explain the important medical issues, as well as their impact on the Midwest.
Side Effects examines the health care challenges that refugees and immigrants face in the U.S.
Front-line workers on the COVID-19 crisis
Stories examining the effect of COVID-19 on rural health care.
Stories highlighting what climate change means for Great Lakes cities.