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Abortion bans increase birth rates and demand for nutrition assistance

A study in Economic Inquiry reveals how total abortion bans are reshaping public health systems and safety‐net programs in the United States.

11 Mar 2026

Abortion restrictions force patients to travel long distances for care

State-level abortion restrictions have shifted the landscape of care and the experiences of people traveling for abortion care after the June 2022 Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision.

9 Mar 2026

TRAP laws reduce access to obstetricians nationwide

A study in Health Economics uncovers a major unintended consequence of abortion‐related regulations: a measurable decline in the availability of obstetricians and gynecologists.

25 Feb 2026

New Orleans brings back the house call, sending nurses to visit newborns and moms

When Lisa Bonfield gave birth to daughter Adele in late November, she was thrust into the new world of parenting, and faced an onslaught of challenges and skills to learn: breastfeeding, diapering, sleep routines, colic, crying, and all the little warning signs that something could be wrong with the baby.

23 Feb 2026

Abortion restrictions linked to higher maternal death rates

The increased number of state-level abortion restrictions in the U.S. was associated with a parallel increase in maternal deaths between 2005 and 2023, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting.

12 Feb 2026

Nurses provide hospital care as safely as doctors

Nurses can safely deliver many services traditionally performed by doctors, with little to no difference in deaths, safety events, or how patients felt about their health, according to a new Cochrane review.

11 Feb 2026

Prior abortion or miscarriage not linked to increased risk of pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer

A prior abortion or miscarriage was not linked with an increased risk of developing pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer in a study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

11 Feb 2026

Large Swedish study finds COVID-19 vaccination unrelated to fertility or childbirth rates

A Swedish registry-based cohort study evaluated whether COVID-19 vaccination affected childbirth rates among women aged 18 to 45 years during the pandemic period. No statistically significant association was found between vaccination, childbirth, or recorded miscarriage rates, suggesting demographic and socioeconomic factors likely explain observed fertility trends.

8 Feb 2026

Why medication abortion is the top target for anti-abortion groups in 2026

This week would have marked the 53rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide — that is, until 2022, when the court overturned it. Since then, abortion has been banned in 13 states and severely limited in 10 others.

23 Jan 2026

Study explores how shared cells influence health across generations

During pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells migrate back and forth across the placenta, with fetal cells entering the mother's bloodstream and tissues.

22 Jan 2026

Raising the minimum wage is linked to fewer dangerous pregnancy complications

Findings indicate that higher minimum wages are linked to reduced maternal hypertensive disorders, emphasizing the impact of economic policy on health outcomes.

16 Jan 2026

‘Abortion as homicide’ debate in South Carolina exposes GOP rift as states weigh new restrictions

When a trio of Republican state lawmakers introduced a bill last year that would subject women who obtain abortions to decades in prison, some reproductive rights advocates feared South Carolina might pass the "most extreme" abortion ban in the United States.

12 Jan 2026

Self-administered injectable contraceptives face provider hesitancy despite availability

Self-administered injectable contraceptives have been available in the United States for more than two decades, yet a new study has found only about a quarter of reproductive health experts prescribe it - and many are unaware it's even an option.

9 Jan 2026

What the Health? from KFF Health News: New Year, same health fight

Congress returned from its holiday break to the same question it faced in December: whether to extend covid-era premium subsidies for health plans sold under the Affordable Care Act.

8 Jan 2026

What the Health? From KFF Health News: Crunch time for ACA tax credits

Congress is running out of time to avert a huge increase in health care premium payments for millions of Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

11 Dec 2025

Restrictive state abortion laws may affect frontline care in obstetric emergencies

Although the United States does not guarantee health care as a right, federal law mandates that hospitals cannot deny anyone lifesaving emergency care.

5 Dec 2025

Trump wants Americans to make more babies. Critics say his policies won’t help raise them.

Maddy Olcott plans to start a career once she graduates from college. But the junior at the State University of New York-Purchase College is so far not planning to start a family — even with the Trump administration dangling inducements like thousand-dollar "baby bonuses" or cheaper infertility drugs.

3 Dec 2025

What The Health? From KFF Health News: The government is open

The longest federal government shutdown in history is over, after a handful of House and Senate Democrats joined most Republicans in approving legislation that funds the government through January. Despite Democrats' demands, the package did not include an extension of the expanded tax credits that help most Affordable Care Act enrollees afford their plans — meaning most people with ACA plans are slated to pay much more toward their premiums next year.

13 Nov 2025

Health care costs jump to the fore as candidates jockey to be California governor

California's gubernatorial election is a year away, and the field of primary candidates is still taking shape. But one persistent issue has already emerged as a leading concern: the cost of health care.

10 Nov 2025

Study reveals uneven access to abortion pill mifepristone in British Columbia

Most pharmacies in British Columbia can provide the abortion pill mifepristone within days, but uneven access still leaves some women facing barriers to this time-sensitive medication, according to new research.

7 Nov 2025