State orders open access to free prenatal vitamins, birth control
Eligible MassHealth members and Health Safety Net patients will have access to prenatal vitamins and over-the-counter birth control at no cost, under two standing orders that the Healey administration announced Thursday.
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Massachusetts agrees to higher insurance plan deductibles starting in 2026
Regulators approved higher deductible limits for health plans in 2026, but stressed reforms are needed to tackle affordability concerns and ensure Bay Staters don't end up "self-rationing" care. -
Massachusetts sees highest surge in flu cases in years
Doctors are seeing more respiratory illness caused by influenza than caused by COVID-19. “That’s the first time that’s happened since the pandemic,” said Dr. Paul Sax. -
Women's sports are more popular than ever, but with that comes a rise in injuries
"Injuries will happen," says physical therapist Lenny Macrina. "Unfortunately, you just hope it doesn't happen to you... it's up to us to try to train [athletes] with jumping correctly, working on strength training... and landing correctly from a jump." -
Healey seeks controls as home care costs soar for personal care assistants
Gov. Maura Healey is proposing to limit spending on a rapidly growing home care program that is popular among the state’s expanding senior population but has become one of the state’s most expensive budget items. -
Massachusetts has a primary care problem. The cure requires deep, systemic change.
The healthcare system prioritizes expensive, complex procedures and treatment instead of preventative care that keeps us healthy. -
Women in Biotech: How the industry can be more welcoming to women
Biotech has a big footprint in Massachusetts, and according to a 2023 report, women make up less than 6% of leadership roles in the industry. We asked some women who are in those positions on how biotech can be more welcoming. -
State public health official warns about rise in seasonal illnesses
"This is about the time of year when we would expect to see an increase in COVID, flu, RSV, and also norovirus," said Robbie Goldstein, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. -
New report shows breast and prostate cancer lead Mass. cases
A new report from the American Cancer Society shows that cancer mortality rates continue to decline, but diagnoses are on the rise. -
Need health insurance for 2025? You’ve got 10 days.
Massachusetts residents who don’t have health or dental insurance have until Jan. 23 to sign up for the state Health Connector program. -
Advocates cheer new credit reporting rule, but want more action on medical debt
One in eight or 12.8% of Massachusetts residents reported that their family had medical debt in a 2023 report by the Center for Health Information and Analysis.
