The Bay State is again receiving positive news in its fight against the drug overdose crisis, as new data shows that OD deaths significantly dropped in a recent 12-month period.

Massachusetts had about 2,032 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period that ended June 30, according to provisional CDC data. That was a major 23% decline from the 2...Read more

More than 12 million Americans got their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act in 2017 when a Republican bill to scrap the program fell two U.S. Senate votes short.

With more than 21.4 million Americans now insured through federal marketplace plans, the future of the program is again in doubt with the return of Donald Trump to the ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Despite deep partisan divides on issues like abortion and contraceptive access, lawmakers from both parties appear to have forged a cautious consensus on another women’s issue: menopause.

The agreement became evident earlier this year, when a bipartisan group of female senators introduced legislation that would increase federal...Read more

KFF Health News has sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General to compel it to release a range of Medicare Advantage health plan audits and other financial records.

The suit, filed Nov. 12 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco under the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, seeks documents from the HHS ...Read more

The popularity of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro continue to reflect Americans’ desire to slim down. While these new drugs have offered a solution for people struggling with obesity, many eligible patients – especially Black adults – cannot afford the high price.

These drugs are also not a one-stop solution for ...Read more

Some 2.3 million of U.S. adults over 65 – more than 4% – have a diagnosis of dementia. But even without a diagnosis, a certain amount of cognitive decline is normal as age sets in.

And whether it’s due to fear of cognitive decline or noticing lapses in cognition when we are stressed, many of us have had moments when we thought ...Read more

Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that if President-elect Donald Trump appointed him to a health leadership position, the first thing he would work on would be removing fluoride from water.

Fluoride was first introduced to U.S. water in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Scientists saw a direct impact of positive tooth ...Read more

Since open enrollment season is here, you’re probably swamped trying to figure out which coverage is best for you or your family. But did you know that your benefit choices can potentially impact your tax situation?

Making informed decisions as you choose your coverage can help you optimize your tax benefits and avoid pitfalls.

So, here are ...Read more

It’s hard to distance yourself from sugar. Sure, it’s in your favorite desserts, but it’s maybe also lurking in your sandwich bread and go-to bottled salad dressing. It’s everywhere in the supermarket, which is why so many Americans are consuming a lot more added sugar than what is recommended.

According to the American Heart ...Read more

Your doctor broke news you didn’t want to hear: you have prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar is elevated, but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes. The thing is, with that info, you’re one of the lucky minority. Prediabetes is common, affecting 96 million American adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and ...Read more

It’s never easy for parents to talk to their teens about having sex. Many parents feel that talking about it is the same as condoning it, so they are hesitant to do so. But according to the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a national survey of high school students, by the end of high school 30% have had sex.

It can be impossible...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My grandmother lives with me, and she is always nagging me to “stand up straight” and “put your shoulders back.” She says good posture will keep me healthy as I age. But I’m only 17. Does it really matter if I’m slouching a bit?

ANSWER: Though it may seem annoying, your grandmother is correct in that good posture ...Read more

California this year took the final step in opening Medi-Cal, its Medicaid program, to every eligible resident regardless of immigration status. It’s a significant expansion for an already massive safety net program.

Medi-Cal’s annual spending now stands at $157 billion, serving about 15 million low-income residents, more than a third of ...Read more

A new federal watchdog audit is ratcheting up pressure on government officials to crack down on billions of dollars in overcharges linked to Medicare Advantage home visits.

But so far, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has rejected a recommendation from the Health and Human Services Inspector General to limit payments stemming from ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joe McKay tried everything medicine had to offer for the blinding headaches that began in the months after 9/11, when the former New York City firefighter spent weeks wading through the curtains of dust and smoke at the World Trade Center.

On his worst days, McKay was incapacitated by pain every few hours, feeling like someone ...Read more

Editor’s Note: November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

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Approximately 66,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Michael Wallace, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic, warns that early signs of this deadly disease are easy to miss.

...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My brother was diagnosed with hepatitis C two years ago. Our family hopes to destigmatize the condition and encourage others to get tested. What causes hepatitis C? How can it be treated?

ANSWER: Thank you for your advocacy. Your brother is not alone — around 2 to 3 million people live with hepatitis C in the U.S. 40% of ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — After the onset of COVID-19 drove down business for childcare providers, the federal government stepped in to help. Grant funding came through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021 to stabilize the already-fragile sector, helping providers survive the most difficult and straining times.

But that funding ran out about a ...Read more

BOSTON — A new long COVID study could be a “game changer,” according to local researchers who found that an AI tool can identify hidden cases of the mysterious condition from patient health records.

While some diagnostic studies suggest that about 7% of the population suffers from long COVID, this new approach from Mass General Brigham ...Read more