Health
Idaho seeks to dismiss Satanic Temple abortion lawsuit, says a suit requires a pregnant woman
Attorneys representing the state of Idaho have asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit from the Satanic Temple over Idaho’s abortion laws, saying the organization lacks standing to pursue the case and refuting its legal arguments. The Satanic Temple filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court of the District of Idaho at the end of […]
Idaho health department asks court to dismiss trans discrimination lawsuit
An attorney representing the state of Idaho filed a motion Friday asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit against the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare over alleged discriminatory policies that deny transgender people coverage under Medicaid for gender reassignment surgery. The motion to dismiss the case argues, among other things, that Idaho has no […]
Colorado begins steps to regulate psychedelic mushrooms after passing natural medicine act
Now that Colorado voters passed the Natural Medicine Health Act, the state has several steps to get through before Colorado will actually see a regulated industry for psychedelic mushrooms. The measure allows for licensed “healing centers” to provide access to psilocybin and psilocyn, the psychoactive compounds found in many species of fungi, for therapeutic purposes. […]
Thousands of veterans deluge VA with claims for toxic exposure benefits, health care
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is processing claims at the fastest rate in its history, hoping to avoid a significant backlog as hundreds of thousands of veterans apply for health care and benefits under the landmark toxic exposure law Congress passed earlier this year. The day after President Joe Biden signed the […]
Two communities find a cure for medical debt: pandemic stimulus funds
Local governments in Ohio and Illinois are using American Rescue Plan Act money to relieve residents struggling with medical debt by partnering with an organization that buys debt and wipes the slate clean for debtors. It’s a strategy advocates say could be duplicated across the country to help erase a multibillion-dollar problem. On Nov. 9, […]
Idaho hospitals must provide care to every person that walks into the ER — even pregnant patients
For years, anyone showing up at an American hospital emergency room could get the life saving treatment they needed. No matter who they were, a federal law known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, made it clear: if you showed up at an emergency room that hospital had an obligation to do what […]
Flu, colds and COVID arriving in Idaho for a holiday reunion. Here’s what you can do.
It’s official: Flu season is here, and influenza cases are on the rise in Idaho. The flu virus joins a variety of upper respiratory viruses that have already been straining Idaho’s health care infrastructure — just as the Gem State is heading into the holiday season. Respiratory syncytial virus (more commonly known as RSV), the […]
White House asks Congress for billions in Ukraine, COVID-19 funding during lame duck session
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday asked Congress for billions more in funding this year to address COVID-19 and the ongoing war in Ukraine, suggesting lawmakers attach it to a spending bill that must pass before Dec. 16. The $9 billion request for COVID-19 operations and nearly $38 billion in additional relief for Ukraine […]
What does history tell us about how the Idaho Supreme Court might rule on abortion?
Idaho drafted its original abortion statute at the First Territorial Session in Lewiston — 25 years before Idaho became a state and drafted the state constitution — in the winter months between December 1863 and early 1864. The wording of the statute is almost identical to statutes several other states were passing to ban abortion […]
Idaho reports first flu death of the season, in older adult from North Idaho
Idaho reported the first influenza-related death of this year’s flu season on Thursday, in a Nez Perce County man older than 65. In recent years, Idaho has reported an average of 45 deaths related to the flu. Most of those deaths are in older adults. “The Department of Health and Welfare is reminding residents that […]
Idaho COVID fraud task force has a message for white-collar criminals: ‘You can’t hide it’
Josh Hurwit was a federal prosecutor in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho for 10 years before he was chosen in April to lead the office, as Idaho’s top federal attorney. The office has seen many health care fraud cases in that time, he said. As with all white-collar crime, […]
Even red-state voters back abortion rights via ballot questions, rejecting court ruling
WASHINGTON — Voters in five states — including GOP-dominated Kentucky — backed abortion rights Tuesday, signaling that while the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority no longer believes the procedure is protected within the U.S. Constitution, many Americans want their states to do just that. California, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana and Vermont residents voted to support abortion […]