Health
Washington medical board charges Dr. Ryan Cole with COVID-19 related violations
Dr. Ryan Cole of Idaho has until Jan. 30 to respond to charges from the Washington Medical Commission that he violated standards related to COVID-19 and patient care. Cole, a pathologist whose specialty does not involve direct patient-care experience, has maintained that he didn’t violate any standards while treating patients for COVID-19 via telehealth. The […]
First day of Health and Welfare budget hearing: Medicaid costs, child welfare, federal funds
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare makes up about one-third of the state’s total budget each year. That’s because — as Director Dave Jeppesen explained in a hearing Tuesday — the department serves an enormous segment of Idahoans, through a range of different programs. Jeppesen and other state Health and Welfare officials fielded questions […]
Idaho Senate committee advances bill that would change legal definition of abortion
The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to introduce one of two abortion-related bills sponsored by Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, that would change Idaho’s legal definition of abortion in what Herndon said was an attempt to address concerns from medical professionals around ectopic pregnancies and other certain medical circumstances. Herndon’s bill to remove the rape and […]
You can see what Idaho hospitals charge. Here’s what it will, and won’t, tell you.
How much does it cost to fix a split lip at your local hospital? Based on data hospitals are now required to share, it could be $208 or $49 or $570 — but it’s probably none of those. Hospitals across Idaho and the U.S. are required to publish what they charge for individual health care […]
Report outlines abuses people with developmental disabilities face in Idaho
Maria Juarez knew her son would eventually need help from caregivers other than herself. She knew she would have to expose him to adults outside of her family. Brandon Juarez has Down Syndrome and is unable to speak. When a day came that Maria learned of his abuse, the Nampa mother remembers asking her son […]
Republican lawmakers in Idaho and D.C. advance anti-abortion bills
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday approved its first abortion-related measures under a new Republican majority, eliciting strong support from GOP members and opposition from Democrats, who rejected the legislation as misleading and incomplete. Republicans, who secured a four-seat majority during the November midterm elections, said the bill setting medical standards on a national […]
Free health screenings available Jan. 14 at Walmart pharmacies in Idaho
Walmart will offer free health screenings to Idahoans in its store pharmacies on Saturday, Jan. 14, according to a news release. The Wellness Day event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and includes: Free health screenings, including glucose (blood sugar), cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) tests Free vision screenings, at […]
Idaho Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, civil enforcement law
In a 3-2 decision, the Idaho Supreme Court upheld Idaho’s abortion ban and the civil enforcement law allowing providers to be sued for performing abortions in an opinion released Thursday. Planned Parenthood and one of its abortion providers, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, filed three separate challenges with the Idaho Supreme Court, beginning with the civil enforcement […]
Southwest Idaho child dies from flu-related causes
A child from Southwest Idaho has died of causes related to influenza, according to state health officials. The Washington County death is the first influenza-related death of this flu season among an Idahoan under age 18. “This is a tragic reminder that although deaths among children are unusual, flu can be very serious, and not […]
Want a clue on health care costs in advance? New tools take a crack at it.
Need medical treatment this year and want to nail down your out-of-pocket costs before you walk into the doctor’s office? There’s a new tool for that, at least for insured patients. As of Jan. 1, health insurers and employers that offer health plans must provide online calculators for patients to get detailed estimates of what […]
Why St. Luke’s made its own HMO-style insurance plan for Idaho
St. Luke’s Health System grew rapidly over the past decade — acquiring and making deals with Idaho and Oregon medical practices and hospitals. As it grew, St. Luke’s executives described a master plan to curb the costs of health care — and to ensure that care actually makes people healthier. One milestone in that plan […]
Abortion, Yellowstone ‘zone of death,’ an Idaho doctor and book bans: Most read stories of 2022
Idaho in 2022 was a flood of newsworthy events, laws and people. The most popular reads on idahocapitalsun.com included coverage of the Idaho Legislature’s shifting priorities — one of which was to propose or approve bans on what Idahoans can do. The bills and laws that made headlines in 2022 included bans on abortion, library […]