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Latest IN HEALTH NEWS
Kansas anti-abortion groups are celebrating legislative wins. Here’s what that means for patients
Republican lawmakers passed measures that will force abortion patients to report more information to state officials, make it easier to prosecute people for coercing someone to get an abortion and allot more money to anti-abortion counseling centers.
See the latest COVID-19 stats for Lawrence and Douglas County on The Lawrence Times’ stat dashboard at this link.
Find out where you can get the free COVID-19 vaccine at this link.
MORe HEALTH NEWS
Red tape is costing 45,000-plus Medicaid coverage in Kansas. The state blames slow mail
The Kansas Medicaid disenrollment rate is one of the highest in the country. Almost two-thirds of Kansans have lost coverage because of procedural issues.
Former tenant seeks accountability for water leaks, mold issues in rental home
Hillary Jones, a single mom and disabled veteran, felt frustrated and powerless when water leaks sprang up at her former Lawrence home. She blames mold for aggravating her kids’ asthma and wants accountability within a system she views as once helping her family but ultimately failing it.
Kansas faces mental health crisis for kids suffering from COVID-19 pandemic, anti-LGBTQ legislation
Kansas mental health needs are at a crisis point, especially for teenagers, and increased funding could help the state move forward.
A ‘life-threatening’ shortage of cancer drugs has Kansas doctors rationing medications
Kansas health care providers are scrambling to respond to a global shortage of chemotherapy drugs.
Kansas abortion rights groups file lawsuit against junk science ‘abortion reversal’ law
Kansas abortion providers filed a lawsuit combating an “abortion reversal” law based on a debunked study, calling the state’s tightened abortion regulations increasingly “inaccurate” and a violation of bodily integrity.
Lawrence choir events aim to help stroke survivors, people with Parkinson’s disease
Harmonic Connections will host a series of free therapeutic choir events to help stroke survivors and people with Parkinson’s disease beginning Thursday, according to owner Emily Bachert.
City releases wastewater into Kansas River following pump failure; stream advisory issued
The city released wastewater into the Kansas River Wednesday morning after heavy rain led to a pump failure in a wastewater pump station near Bowersock Dam.
Gracious people, interesting pets boost Lawrence volunteer’s spirits during record-breaking fundraising effort
If you’ve lived in Lawrence more than a few years, you’ve probably crossed paths with Bob Silipigni. Since 2001, he’s traversed the streets of his hometown and raised almost a million dollars in the fight to end cancer.
Douglas County Commission approves plan to boost access to opioid overdose reversal drug
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday signed off on a plan for Lawrence-based nonprofit DCCCA to increase distribution of Narcan, the lifesaving opioid overdose reversal drug, throughout the county.
Lawrence families navigate life with neurofibromatosis
When 5-year-old Leo Peper was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis at 9 months old, his family was devastated. They had never heard of the genetic disease, which currently has no cure. But they’re hopeful that could someday change.
Kansas governor vetoes bill on child COVID-19 vaccines, authority of health officials
Gov. Laura Kelly shot down an anti-vaccination bill that would have blocked child COVID-19 vaccination requirements and stripped authority from public health officials, a move greeted with outrage from Republican leaders in the Legislature.
Gov. Kelly signs bipartisan bill decriminalizing use of fentanyl test strips in Kansas
Gov. Laura Kelly had the late Cooper Davis and Sebastain Sheahan in mind Thursday when signing into law bipartisan legislation designed to save lives by decriminalizing in Kansas use of test strips capable of detecting presence of fentanyl in drugs.
‘The cancer lottery’ meant this Kansas woman qualified for Medicaid, but not her mother
An early detection program provides breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment to uninsured people. Yet potentially hundreds of other Kansans diagnosed with other types of cancer remain without coverage.
LiveWell Douglas County names Baldwin teacher as its new executive director
LiveWell Douglas County, a coalition that aims to make the county healthier for all who live and work here, has named Virginia (Ginny) Barnard as its new executive director.
Douglas County Commission delays approving plan for opioid overdose reversal drug distribution
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday held off on approving a plan for DCCCA to distribute a lifesaving opioid overdose reversal drug throughout the community in order to get more specifics.