Distance has become one of the biggest barriers to care in rural communities.

Patients often drive long distances for basic services, which can delay treatment and worsen health outcomes.

#RuralHealth #CaliforniaHealth #HealthAccess #HealthcareEquity #CSRHA

Senator from Buford urges renewed push for tightly regulated medical marijuana after Georgia move Senator from Buford told the Senate the state is 'failing its people' by denying medical marijuana and said a bill passed twice in the Senate is stalled in the House; he pledged to move the measure next year with urgency.

A South Carolina senator claims the state is "failing its people" by stalling a crucial medical marijuana bill that could provide relief to patients in need.

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#SC #LegislativeReform #CitizenPortal #PatientRight #SouthCarolinaMedicalMarijuana #HealthAccess

Senate committee advances health‑policy omnibus, adopts technical fixes and sends bill to the floor The Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee on March 26 recommended passage of Senate File 32‑95 as amended, adopting numerous technical and policy amendments that change licensure rules, HMO reporting and provider‑network requirements and add immunization coverage protections.

The Senate is on the verge of transforming Minnesota's health policy landscape with a sweeping omnibus bill that addresses everything from chiropractic licensure to vital immunization protections.

Read the full story

#MN #CitizenPortal #LicensureReform #MinnesotaHealthPolicy #HealthAccess

Committee advances bill to allow over-the-counter ivermectin with pharmacist consultation, amid safety debate The House medical subcommittee voted to advance HB4042 as amended to permit over-the-counter sale of ivermectin tablets for adults with mandatory pharmacist consultation, screening protocols and limited administrative immunity for pharmacists; members voiced concerns about toxicity and misuse.

The House medical subcommittee has just advanced a controversial bill allowing over-the-counter ivermectin sales for adults, but with strict pharmacist consultations to address safety concerns.

Learn more here

#SC #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #PharmacistConsultation #HealthAccess

Committee advances bill to let youth with life‑threatening illnesses hunt and fish under supervised program SB 1021 tasks the Fish and Game Commission with creating a narrowly tailored program allowing resident youth with physician-certified life‑threatening illnesses to fish and hunt under supervision. Supporters described guardrails, an implementation deadline and required reporting; the committee moved the bill to appropriations.

California's SB 1021 could soon offer youth with life-threatening illnesses the chance to experience supervised hunting and fishing, creating unforgettable memories while ensuring safety and conservation.

Learn more here!

#CA #CitizenPortal #YouthEmpowerment #HealthAccess

Senate panel advances bill to allow patients in remission to continue out‑of‑state telehealth care The committee advanced SB1002, which would extend telehealth access granted under AB1369 (the David Hall Act) to patients who enter remission after an immediately life‑threatening diagnosis. Supporters said continuity of specialist care is vital; medical groups warned of enforcement and licensure gaps.

A new bill could transform telehealth access for California cancer patients, allowing them to connect with out-of-state specialists even after entering remission.

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#CA #LegislativeReform #CitizenPortal #HealthAccess

Join us on Friday, 5/1, from 3-6:30pm for Prototypes Pasadena's FREE Resource Fair. Come for Community Resources, Petting Zoo, Free Giveaways, Games & more! Services available for all ages.

#HealthRIGHT360 #Prototypes #Pasadena #Community #ResourceFair #MentalHealth #GetConnected #HealthAccess

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New FDA data: Oral GLP-1 pills achieve 16.6% weight loss vs 17.4% for injections. With pill costs starting at $149 (vs $349+ for shots), the barrier to metabolic health is finally dropping. Note: pills require strict morning fasting for absorption. #GLP1 #MedicalResearch #HealthAccess

Committee approves STAR Act to limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement Senate File 4176 (the STAR Act) passed the committee on a roll call (6 ayes, 4 noes, 2 excused). Sponsors said the bill would protect 'sensitive locations' such as schools and hospitals, create a state civil cause of action, and codify Plyler v. Doe protections; many immigrant-rights and health experts testified in support.

A groundbreaking bill in Minnesota aims to protect sensitive locations from federal immigration enforcement, ensuring safety for all communities—especially in schools and healthcare settings.

Learn more here!

#MN #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #MinnesotaStudents #ImmigrationRights #HealthAccess

Hey folks! Did you know drug prices are going through the roof? It's wild! Imagine if we had vending machines for meds,easy access for everyone! Let's chat about how we can make this happen. We deserve better! Join the convo!

#HealthAccess #DrugPricing #MedVendingMachines

Why not make getting basic meds easier? Imagine vending machines stocked with necessities in rural areas! Just swipe and grab what you need,who wouldn't love a hassle-free health boost? Let’s revolutionize access to care!

#HealthAccess #MedVendingMachines #RuralHealthcare

Older Americans willing to travel farther for medical care Older Americans are willing to travel far for medical care - sometimes much farther than policymakers and experts assume, according to researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

New data show many US seniors will travel an hour+ for medical care — especially specialist or diagnostic visits — though barriers like poor health and limited transport affect willingness. https://ow.ly/Fui250YuM91
#HealthAccess #Aging

Bill Clinton’s Philanthropic Legacy: An Appraisal IP Editor-in-Chief David Callahan takes stock of the former president's charitable efforts over the past quarter century.

IP Editor-in-Chief David Callahan takes stock of the former president's charitable efforts over the past quarter century.

David Callahan Reports: tinyurl.com/bd8htxvh

#GlobalHealth #ClintonFoundation #ClintonGlobalInitiative #HealthAccess #PhilanthropyLeadership #HumanitarianAid

Madison County to deploy mobile COVID‑19 testing unit to underserved communities Chair Kurt Prenzler announced a mobile COVID‑19 testing unit that will travel to underserved and minority communities; the county said partners include SIU School of Medicine, Lewis and Clark Community College and Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation and that testing could begin next week.

Madison County is set to launch a groundbreaking mobile COVID-19 testing unit aimed at bringing essential healthcare to underserved and minority communities starting next week!

Learn more here

#MadisonCounty #IL #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyUnderserved #HealthAccess

Governor signs a package of bills covering tribal rights, public safety, health and labor At a bill-signing ceremony at the Governor's Office, the governor signed more than a dozen bills into law, including a repeal of an anti‑tribal statute, a ban on employer-required microchipping, updates to ski-lift safety rules and measures to expand access to medical cannabis and licensure compacts.

A historic bill-signing ceremony in Washington has resulted in sweeping changes, from improving tribal rights to enhancing public safety and health access.

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#WA #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #HealthAccess

City outlines 'connected care' outreach: ACS brings medical, behavioral health and ID services to neighborhoods The Community Safety Department described frequent connected‑care events that deliver medical, behavioral‑health, housing navigation and ID services in high‑need areas; officials credited partnerships and said ACS is adapting to increased 311 and 911 call volumes.

Albuquerque is revolutionizing community care by bringing vital medical, behavioral health, and housing services directly to neighborhoods in need!

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#AlbuquerqueBernalilloCounty #NM #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #AlbuquerqueCommunity #HealthAccess #CommunityPartnerships

Senator Robertson urges sales-tax exemption for menstrual and baby supplies, witnesses cite affordability data Senator Robertson reintroduced a bill to exempt menstrual hygiene and baby-related products from sales tax, saying the change would ease burdens on single parents; Helping Mamas and Georgia Stomp testified that the exemption would have modest fiscal cost but large household benefit.

Senator Robertson is championing a sales-tax exemption for menstrual and baby products, aiming to ease the financial strain on single parents and working families in Georgia.

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#GA #CitizenPortal #AffordabilityMeasure #HealthAccess #GeorgiaSingleParents #FamilySupport

New Amador school farm begins supplying salad bars; Medi‑Cal collaborative funds dental screenings pilot District and county officials celebrated a new school farm that has begun delivering hundreds of pounds of produce to campus cafeterias; the Medi‑Cal collaborative also approved funds to pilot in‑school oral health treatments and sealants for elementary students, serving 103 students so far.

The new Amador school farm is already making waves by supplying hundreds of pounds of fresh greens to local cafeterias and has plans to expand its impact on nutrition education!

Learn more here

#CA #CitizenPortal #NutritionImprovements #HealthAccess

Lane County unveils Community Health Improvement Plan 2026'2030, prioritizing access, resilience and mental health Lane County public health staff and partners presented the Live Healthy Lane Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) 2026'2030, identifying three priorities—access to services, community resilience/basic needs, and mental health—and establishing a data team and measurable indicators for implementation and annual review.

Lane County is launching a groundbreaking Community Health Improvement Plan aimed at enhancing access, resilience, and mental health for all residents!

Learn more here

#LaneCounty #OR #LaneCountyHealth #MentalHealthWellbeing #CommunityResilience #HealthAccess

Walla Walla County commissioners ask health advisory board for clearer data and priorities on housing, care access and aging At a March 3 workshop, the Community Health Advisory Board outlined its role and recent work; commissioners said they want CHAB to deliver targeted, quarterly data tied to the Community Health Improvement Plan and to flag specific issues where commissioners can act. The board later entered closed session on collective bargaining.

Walla Walla County's health leaders are gearing up for a pivotal shift, demanding clearer data and focused priorities to tackle pressing issues like housing and healthcare access.

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#WallaWallaCounty #WA #CommunityEngagement #DataDrivenPolicy #CitizenPortal #HealthAccess

House committee backs bill to add an FDA‑approved sleep-apnea device to access list amid vendor and cost concerns HB27-26 would add an FDA-approved device for mild sleep apnea to Arizona's access list. Sponsor Representative Bliss said other states approved similar measures; critics urged the item go through the formal Access/formulary process and flagged vendor-support and potential costs (device cited at $1,600).

Arizona's House committee is pushing to add an FDA-approved sleep apnea device to the access list, sparking debate over costs and vendor support.

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#AZ #CitizenPortal #ArizonaSleepApnea #ChronicConditionPrevention #VendorSupportIssues #HealthAccess

March is International Women’s Month.

Women are driving progress in healthcare, research, advocacy, and community leadership while expanding health access for communities across the country.

#InternationalWomensMonth #InternationalWomensDay #WomensHealth #HealthAccess

Committee backs bill letting courts hold mental‑health proceedings virtually The Health and Human Services committee recommended SB 1242 be returned with a due‑pass recommendation. The bill authorizes judges to order mental‑health evaluations, treatment hearings or testimony by phone or video when doing so won’t unfairly prejudice parties and lets the Arizona Supreme Court set procedures.

A pivotal new bill in Arizona could revolutionize mental health proceedings by allowing remote evaluations and hearings, ensuring access and safety for all involved.

Learn more here.

#AZ #ArizonaMentalHealth #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #VirtualCourts #HealthAccess

Ways and Means advances dozens of bills — committee issues multiple due-pass recommendations In an executive session on March 2, the Ways and Means Committee gave due-pass recommendations to a broad package of bills across four groups, moving measures on taxes, education, energy, public safety and more to the Rules Committee after adopting targeted amendments.

The Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee has just advanced a significant package of bills that could reshape taxes, education, and public safety in the state!

Learn more here

#WA #CitizenPortal #PublicEducation #HealthAccess

Identifying Factors Associated With Patient Portal and Synchronous Telehealth Use Across Age Groups in the Postpandemic Era: Retrospective Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey Background: Since the #covid19 pandemic, telehealth has become a core component of modern health care, encompassing both synchronous services (real-time video or phone) and patient portals, which offer a wide range of online features to streamline care delivery, including asynchronous communication and access to medical records. Older adults often face greater barriers to these technologies, potentially widening health care access gaps. Objective: This study examines factors influencing the adoption of patient portals and synchronous telehealth in the postpandemic era. It compares the 2 modalities and identifies distinct usage patterns across age groups to inform targeted strategies. Methods: We analyzed data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) Cycles 6 and 7. Outcomes over the past 12 months included (1) frequency of patient portal use (continuous), (2) use of synchronous telehealth (binary), and (3) no engagement with any telehealth services (binary). Key variables included demographics, socioeconomic status, technology familiarity, and health care behaviors. Age groups were categorized as young (18–49 years), middle-aged (50–64 years), and older adults (≥65 years). Interaction terms between age groups and other variables were included to uncover age-specific patterns. To mitigate multicollinearity arising from the interaction terms, we used penalized linear and logistic regression models using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalty without survey weights, supplemented by bootstrapping to evaluate the stability. Using the selected variables, we then fitted survey-weighted generalized linear models to account for the complex design of the HINTS survey and more accurately represent the US population. Results: Among 12,865 respondents, 36.1% (n=4638) were 65 years or older. Overall, 65.2% used patient portals and 38.4% used synchronous telehealth. Age alone was not a significant factor, but older adults exhibited distinct patterns. Older adults with higher care frequency were less likely to use patient portals (coefficient −0.07, 95% CI −0.10 to −0.04;

New in JMIR Aging: Identifying Factors Associated With Patient Portal and Synchronous Telehealth Use Across Age Groups in the Postpandemic Era: Retrospective Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey #Telehealth #PatientPortals #DigitalHealth #ElderlyCare #HealthAccess

Board approves Vision to Learn partnership to provide free eyeglasses to students The board approved an agreement with Vision to Learn to conduct on-site vision screenings and provide free eyeglasses to qualifying students; staff said there is no cost to the district or families.

The Taylor School District just made a game-changing move by partnering with Vision to Learn to provide free vision screenings and eyeglasses to students in need, all without any cost to families!

Learn more here

#MI #VisionCare #EducationSupport #CitizenPortal #HealthAccess

💻 Contact Your GP Practice Online 🏥

Together with the NHS, contacting your GP practice has never been easier — you can now get in touch online for appointments, queries, or advice.

📌 Find out more here: www.nhs.uk/GPOnlineForms

#GPOnline #NHS #HealthAccess #WemRuralParishCouncil #CommunityHealth

Clark County Council agrees to back Latino Leadership Northwest grant to study immigrants' access to services The council agreed to provide a time‑sensitive letter of support for Latino Leadership Northwest and Clark County Public Health to seek Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funding to collect local data on immigrant families' experiences accessing services.

Clark County is stepping up to support immigrant families by backing a grant that aims to uncover the barriers they face in accessing vital health and social services.

Learn more here!

#ClarkCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #SocialServices #ClarkCountyImmigrants #HealthAccess #CommunitySolutions

House orders bill to remove notarization for 96‑hour mental health detention affidavits HB1977 was ordered perfected and printed after sponsors said it will remove notarization requirements for detention and evaluation applications and related documents when completed by qualified peace officers, medical staff, or hospital employees, simplifying access in rural and emergency settings.

A groundbreaking bill aims to eliminate notarization for mental health detention affidavits, making emergency care more accessible in rural areas.

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#MO #RuralSupport #CitizenPortal #EmergencyCare #MissouriMentalHealth #HealthAccess

House designates Feb. 28, 2026, as Rare Disease Day to spotlight families and research Representative Whitworth introduced and the House adopted House Resolution 251 to designate Feb. 28, 2026 as Rare Disease Day in Michigan, highlighting the experiences of Mighty Max Majeski and urging support for research, clinical trials and access to care.

Michigan is officially recognizing Rare Disease Day on February 28, 2026, to shine a light on families like Mighty Max Majeski's and the urgent need for support and research.

Learn more here!

#MI #CitizenPortal #CommunityAwareness #ResearchSupport #HealthAccess