Healthcare Disparities

Anxiety and stress can sometimes appear as disruptive physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches and changes in sleep or appetite. To avoid classroom disruptions, Missouri experts encourage parents to have conversations about mental health with their child ahead of the new school year.

Illinois rural school districts urge lawmakers to address shortages in healthcare and mental health resources as they prepare for new universal student mental health screening requirements. The balancing act coincides with work to support students amid limited access to providers.

Hospital leaders say gaps in Missouri's care system can leave young patients waiting for services and placements even after their immediate medical needs have been addressed. Proposed legislation would require state agencies to respond more quickly when children need ongoing care

What's helping Missouri kids thrive – and what's holding some of them back? A new report points to gains in economic well-being, alongside challenges in education and health coverage.

Missouri healthcare workers say proposed federal healthcare cuts could create serious financial uncertainty for hospital employees and patients, while supporters of the plan argue it would get government spending in check, while improve border security.

Some of Missouri’s rural hospitals are fighting to survive. Eleven have already closed, and more than 30 are still at risk. Nationwide, more than 150 rural hospitals have closed since 2010.

More Missouri kids are losing health coverage. A new Georgetown report says the child uninsured rate nationwide just hit its highest level in nearly a decade - and Missouri is among the states seeing a sharp increase.

New Medicaid work rules are raising fears among many Missourians about losing health insurance. Under the new federal budget bill, adults on Medicaid expansion will have to prove 80 hours of work or volunteer time each month. However, health experts say Medicaid backlog is the real issue.

A new report reveals that Missouri’s public health agencies are not sharing information effectively, and fixing this could improve healthcare for residents. This is the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' first report on the state’s digital health system, identifying key areas for better sharing and use of health data.

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families has released an eye-opening analysis showing in rural Missouri, Medicaid, and CHIP are lifelines for residents, especially children, and local economies. It says proposed federal Medicaid cuts being debated in Congress could be devastating.