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Missouri politicians make rare bipartisan stand for moms at risk of pregnancy-related death
Missouri has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. As part of a bipartisan push, lawmakers in the General Assembly took steps to reduce the rate of maternal-related deaths by passing a measure allowing postpartum Medicaid expansion. The health care legislation, SB 106, now heads to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk, and will…
What rules and regulations about gender-affirming care could mean for the future of medical care in Missouri
Editor’s note (May 16, 2023): This story has been updated to reflect that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey rescinded his order regarding gender-affirming care for adults and minors in Missouri. Editor’s note (May 10, 2023): This story has been updated to reflect the Missouri General Assembly’s passage of a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors…
‘We all are like one giant family’: Parents of trans children fight bans on gender-affirming care
Along with responsibilities of managing their families, parents of transgender children in Missouri find they are frequently called upon these days to clear their calendars and hit the road to Jefferson City to oppose legislation aimed at their kids and gender-affirming care. After several years spent debating bills related to the small percentage of Missourians…
This Kansas City organization has a prescription for more Black doctors
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated Jamila Weaver’s work status. She is a former facilitator for DEI training at St. Luke’s Health system. Dr. Michael Weaver in 1977 was the first Black student to fully complete the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s School of Medicine program that enables students to earn bachelor’s and medical…
“We’re pushing people into a system without any choices”: The state of maternal mortality in Missouri
Correction: An earlier version of this story misattributed a statement about abortion politics and maternal mortality to KC Women’s Ministry executive director Kristen Mason. The KC Women’s Ministry is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and takes no stance on access to abortion. Kristen Mason knows that the months during pregnancy and after childbirth can be difficult,…
Missourians on Medicaid should make sure state has their address if they want to keep insurance
About 1.4 million Missourians rely on Medicaid for their family’s health insurance, known in the state as MO HealthNet. They are all at risk of losing their coverage because federal law requires them to reenroll this year. The best way to prevent getting kicked off? Make sure the state has your current address. Those already…
Medicaid expansion in Kansas: What to know, how we got here and what’s next
Update as of March 14, 2023: In February, Democratic lawmakers introduced two bills, SB 225 and HB 2415, that propose expanding Medicaid eligibility in Kansas. Both bills have stalled since they were introduced, with no movement so far from legislative leadership. On March 31, a pandemic measure that prevented states from removing people from Medicaid…
KanCare 101: How to apply for Medicaid benefits in Kansas
In any given month, about 450,000 Kansans rely on Medicaid to pay for health care. The program is paid for by the federal government with states providing a match and administering the program. As with any assistance program, it can be difficult to determine if you qualify. Who qualifies depends on many factors, only one…
Missouri Allows Some Disabled Workers to Earn Less Than $1 an Hour. The State Says It’s Fine If That Never Changes.
This article was produced with ProPublica as part of its Local Reporting Network initiative. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. This story is available in plain language. One weekday morning in July, Kerstie Bramlet was at her workstation inside the Warren County Sheltered Workshop near…
PrEP Is a drug 99% effective at preventing HIV. Here’s how to get it in Kansas City
PrEP is said to be up to 99 percent effective in preventing the transfer of HIV from sex when taken correctly. It is also 70 percent effective in preventing infection through sharing needles.
CDC recommends new bivalent COVID boosters to prevent common omicron strain
The new boosters target the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the COVID-19 virus which are currently the most prevalent in the United States. Two versions of bivalent boosters are available: The Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and Moderna for people ages 18 years and older.
Who loses – and by how much – with legalized sports gambling in Kansas?
In 2020, the National Council on Problem Gambling told the Kansas Legislature the estimated social cost of Kansas adult problem gamblers is $829 million a year, from gambling-related bankruptcy, divorce, crime and job loss. Using the same methodology, adjusting for inflation and the new population census, The Beacon found that problem gambling would incur an…
In Missouri, the fight for reproductive health care rights will continue in 2023
With primary races decided and reproductive health care a top concern for many voters heading into the November general elections, stakeholders are assessing the year ahead and what possible legislation related to reproductive rights could be introduced in Missouri. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that effectively removed constitutional protections to abortion access allowed…
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