U.S. has a higher rate of babies born too early than more than 125 other countries, including Rwanda, Uzbekistan, China and Latvia, according a new report produced by 50 organizations, including the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), an initiative of Seattle Children’s.
Opponents of the Obama administration’s contraceptive coverage mandate — including likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney — invoke “religious freedom.” But women’s groups and family planning organizations are convinced that the real objective is to limit access to birth control.
Flu season has started late this year, but a increase in cases indicates the bug has finally arrived. It’s not too late to vaccinate, health officials say.
The Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbrith (GAPPS) repository will store specimens from pregnant women that researchers from around the world can use to study both normal and abnormal pregnancies.
Mothers-to-be can reduce the risk their children will be be harmed by environmental toxins by takings simple steps to avoid exposure to certain chemicals before they conceive and during their pregnancies.
Six in ten Americans, including Catholics, said they support a requirement by the Obama administration that health plans supply free contraceptives as a preventive benefit for women.
Will all types of contraceptives be covered? How about vasectomies? Tubal ligations? If a procedure requires hospitalization, will that be covered, too?
The numbers are still small but some women opt for home for the convenience and to save money. Consumer health columnist Michelle Andrews reports.
A new research review suggests that the use of one popular method of monitoring, known as cardiotocography, does not improve maternal and fetal outcomes and makes women more likely to have cesarean sections.
President Obama has revised the rule requiring that insurance plans offer free contraception, so that religious-affiliated groups don’t have to take responsibility for the coverage.
The good news: Teen pregnancies are at their lowest rate in nearly 40 years, resulting in fewer abortions and births. The bad news: While overall rates have dropped, there is still a major gap among white, Hispanic and black teenagers.
International surrogate-pregnancy business booms. What is Medicare anyway? Five ways to cut health-care costs. And playing Medicare ‘Whac-A-Mole’
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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