To get these headlines delivered to your inbox every week, sign up for our weekly health news roundup.
Protecting reproductive health data: state laws against geofencing
Sheryl Xavier, Andrea Frey and Stephen Phillips, Reuters, Jan. 2
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, many states have taken steps to safeguard individually identifiable health data from use by law enforcement or third-party companies. One particular area of concern is geofencing. That is when a virtual perimeter is created around a specific location using the location’s IP address. If someone enters that perimeter, they can have their location stored as data. That can expose people to targeted advertisements, harassment and criminal prosecution in states where abortion or gender-affirming care is illegal. In Connecticut, there is a law that restricts geofencing within a certain distance of mental, reproductive, or sexual health facilities.
In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families
Laura Ungar and Kimberlee Kruesi, The Associated Press, Dec. 27
Tennessee has a porous safety net for mothers and young children. From the time a woman there gets pregnant, she faces greater obstacles to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy child and a financially stable family than the average American mom. Like other states with strict abortion bans, people in Tennessee are more likely to live in maternal care deserts and face overall doctor shortages. Tennessee is also one of only 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid to a greater share of low-income families.
Trash incinerators disproportionately harm Black and Hispanic people
Daniel Chang, KFF Health News, Dec. 23
When leaders of Florida’s Miami-Dade county met in September to pick a site for what could become the nation’s largest trash incinerator, so many people showed up to protest that overflow seating was needed. All four sites being considered that day were in or near some of the region’s most diverse communities. “Historically, communities of color have suffered the impacts of toxic plants near our cities, affecting our health and well-being,” said Elisha Moultrie, a committee leader with the Miami-Dade NAACP. Experts said this issue is indicative of what some see as a broader trend in the national fight for environmental justice, which calls for a clean and healthy environment for all, including low-wealth and minority communities.
More physicians ask about patients’ social needs
Maya Goldman, Axios, Jan. 7
More doctors are asking their patients about their needs for food and housing during medical appointments according to a new study. However, the frequency of these screenings is still low. In the study, 27% of physician practices screened for five common social risk factors in 2022. Federally qualified health centers were more likely than other types of practices to screen for social needs. While asking about these risk factors does not necessarily mean patients in need are being referred to social service organizations that can help, it’s an important first step.
Why some Connecticut schools are turning away from discipline with behavioral issues
Cris Villalonga-Vivoni, CT Insider, Dec. 26
Some Connecticut schools are choosing to move away from discipline and take a more restorative approach to correct behavioral issues while keeping students in school. Data shows that exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, disproportionately impact students of color and students with disabilities. The school-based diversion initiative framework is offered and implemented at no cost to Connecticut middle and high school districts by the Child Health and Development Institute. They’ve had success and are now implementing the initiative at three elementary schools as part of a pilot program. The goal is to build a continuum of support that students can rely on across all their schooling.