SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " care " 15,043 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
AHN takes lifesaving training into western Pennsylvania classrooms
AHN's new Building Bridges program teaches students CPR, Narcan use and other lifesaving skills while introducing health care careers.
UT System's $60 million Laredo Center expansion begins
UT System officials broke ground on a new Laredo Center building that will expand educational access, research opportunities and health care training.
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, according to the Health Ministry.
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, the Health Ministry said Saturday.
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, according to the Health Ministry. Another person linked to the initial case also tested...
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, the Health Ministry said Saturday. Another person linked to the fi...
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, according to the Health Ministry
Health Act Rally in Rochester
New Yorkers will rally on October 17 in a coordinated day of action calling on the State Legislature to pass the New York Health Act and guarantee healthcare for every New Yorker. Across hundreds of miles, New Yorkers will stand together on the same day, under the same banner, with one unified message for Albany: New York is facing a healthcare crisis.
$17 Million Golfer Withdraws From DP World India Championship After Health Scare
The 2026 DP World India Championship has brought several of golf’s leading international players to Delhi Golf Club. The October 15–18 event features a $4 million prize fund and a challenging course that has tested competitors throughout the opening rounds.Min Woo Lee arrived in India for his tournament debut, hoping to compete against a strong […] The post $17 Million Golfer Withdraws From DP World India Championship After Health Scare appeared first on HEAVY.
Appeals court blocks part of Arizona prison healthcare order
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in the unsigned order, said that the state is raising "serious questions" about the ability of a federal judge to take over health care in a prison system.
AI midwife seeks to fill gaps in Zimbabwe's maternal health care
With public health services stretched thin, women in Zimbabwe sometimes struggle to access reliable information about pregnancy and childbirth. A locally developed app aims to answer their questions…
Chuck Lorre claims Cybill Shepherd became ‘a different person’ when shooting season 2 of “Cybill”
The future creator of “The Big Bang Theory” writes about his Hollywood career in his new memoir.
Northern Area Health Education Center to host health care career camp at SUNY Canton in 2027
CANTON — The Northern Area Health Education Center is accepting applications for its 2027 MASH Camp, a free day camp for students in grades nine through 12 interested in health care careers. …
The unspoken workplace rules every Gen Z new hire should know
A career coach breaks down the unspoken workplace rules every Gen Z new hire should know, including how not to casually Slack message the CEO.
Global survey links financial hardship to lower trust in science
Poor access to health care, limited local influence over research priorities and an unequal distribution of scientific benefits are undermining public confidence in science, experts warn, following the ...
Healthcare forum provides answers to North Country residents
Retired Dr. Christopher Hoy shared answers to community questions about healthcare based on his 35 years of experience in medicine.
When to Worry About a Sore Throat | Hartford HealthCare
Learn more about News Detail at hartfordhealthcare.org
By helping sad Brad with healthcare, we help ourselves
How does it help the hospitals that treat Brad (which they will) if he cannot pay anything?
Susan Dell is the one running the Dells’ $10 billion giving operation—and her biggest bets are on kids, health care, and UT Austin
Michael Dell may be one of the richest men in the world, but his wife Susan is helping decide where billions of their fortune go.
I got my first job at Walmart at 16. Now I'm a store manager.
Walmart's youngest US store manager shares her succession plan and the biggest lessons she learned throughout her career.
Legendary chart-topping singer, TV host dead at 86: ‘Brought joy to generations’
She had a historic career.
Health insurance is the sleeper midterms issue: Why premiums are spiking
Americans are bracing to pay significantly more for health insurance next month, whether they have Affordable Care Act plans or get insurance through work. Premiums for some people could be t…
Health insurance is the sleeper midterms issue: Why premiums are spiking
Americans are bracing to pay significantly more for health insurance next month, whether they have Affordable Care Act plans or get insurance through work. Premiums for some people could be t…
As Israel blocks PA funding, the West Bank’s healthcare system is failing
Hospitals across the occupied West Bank have been hit by a funding shortage.
Why millennial women are 'leaning out' of the corporate world
Millennial women are increasingly leaving the corporate world, searching for more flexibility and balance in their careers.
I’m going viral again in Brazil. It must be election season.
I received free emergency medical care in Brazil. Brazilian President Lula and the influencers won’t let me forget it.
Franciscan Health, Tonn and Blank planning Michigan City medical office building at former Marquette Mall
Press release, Franciscan Health: Project supports healthcare ministry’s regional approach to healthcare MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Franciscan Health, in partnership with Tonn and Blank Construction, is planning a medical office building on a portion of the former Marquette Mall property. Franciscan Health plans to operate a 120,000-square-foot medical office building through the renovation of the former J.C. Penney store at the northwest corner of U.S. 421 and U.S. 20. The land is just 2.5 miles north of Franciscan Health Michigan City, which sits at U.S. 421 and Interstate 94. The building will house more than 45 physicians, cost-effective imaging, an
Healthcare costs top survey of Americans’ biggest economic concerns, followed by gasoline, food, utilities
The cost of healthcare is the top economic issue for voters, according to a recent national survey, as politicians in Arkansas and across the U.S. prepare to make their final pitches ahead of the November midterm elections.
Valencia football takes care of business in matinee win over Canyon
High winds or a moved-up kickoff time, nothing stopped the Vikings from winning on Friday as Valencia came away with a 71-7 over the Cowboys and spoiled Canyon’s senior night. […]
State health department recommends annual flu and COVID-19 vaccines
With flu season officially underway, the state has issued a standing recommendation asking all health care providers to follow American Medical Association information on vaccines and when patients…
Caleb Wilson Flashes in Bulls' Preseason Finale Versus Timberwolves
Chicago took care of a short-handed Minnesota team to wrap up preseason play.
Georgia Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums set to rise dramatically
Georgia marketplace health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act could skyrocket as high as 29 percent next year.
Prison healthcare takeover put on hold as Arizona’s appeal moves forward
Arizona prison healthcare receivership: An appeals court delays the takeover, keeping the state in control pending its appeal
M42 CEO on AI, genomics and the future of healthcare
M42 Group CEO Dimitris Moulavasilis discusses how the Abu Dhabi-based healthcare company is combining artificial intelligence, genomics and clinical services to reshape healthcare. He explores the group’s international expansion, the Emirati Genome Programme and the potential for technology to help doctors identify health risks earlier and move healthcare towards prevention rather than treatment.
WKU celebrates CAYA Advancing Research and Community Health Institute
The Institute was made possible through a $1.375 million gift from CAYA Collaborative Care Inc., formerly LifeSkills
Tony Lo Sasso on healthcare costs as a top issue for voters
Tony Lo Sasso on how the issue of healthcare is shaped by mergers and rising premiums.
Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center to offer free workshop for dementia caregivers
Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center will offer a free dementia-caregiver workshop November 4 in Elkins. Registration is required by October 19, and space is limited.
Scientists discover how deep sleep builds muscle, burns fat, and boosts the brain
Scientists have discovered a surprising two-way relationship between sleep and growth hormone, revealing how the brain carefully balances physical recovery with wakefulness. The findings could help explain why poor sleep harms metabolism and brain health, potentially opening the door to new treatments for sleep and neurological disorders.
A scoping review of bias in large AI models for medicine and healthcare
Communications Health - A scoping review of bias in large AI models for medicine and healthcare
Nebraska Black Maternal Health Month marks 5 years with an exhibit uplifting community midwifery care
Nebraska Black Maternal Health Month marks 5 years with an exhibit uplifting midwifery and community-based care for Black mothers.
Hawkins County Schools hosts science, career fair for students
Hawkins County Schools' seventh and eighth graders explored science and careers — and careers in science — at an all-day event Friday.
Kathy Castor and Mike Beltran put each other's political records on trial at Tampa forum
Beltran called the Rays stadium deal a "boondoggle" as the candidates sparred over campaign money, education, health care and transit.
Briefing Recap | What the midterms could change about U.S. health care
An election lookahead at what’s at stake for health policy
Patty O’Lexey honored with U of U Health Affiliate Healthcare Champion Award
ROCK SPRINGS -- Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has announced that Patty O’Lexey, BSN,RN, Director of Education, has been recognized as a University of Utah Health Affiliate Healthcare Champion, an
Oklahoma City awarded $11.5M in federal grants to improve children's mental health care
Two federal grants totaling $11.5 million will help Oklahoma City expand mental health care for children in schools and communities, addressing growing needs and reducing emergency room visits.
Democrats say Trump increased investments in drugmakers that were given Medicare exemptions
The report from congressional Democrats found that Trump’s pharmaceutical stock holdings grew from a maximum reported value of $1.7 million in 2024 to as much as $56.2 million at the end of 2025.
UnitedHealthcare to go out-of-network with Oswego Health Medical Practice soon
UnitedHealthcare will be out-of-network with Oswego Health Medical Practice beginning Dec. 1.
What causes sleep paralysis; health indicators of Alzheimer's diagnosis; sober October; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
(iStock) Food and Wine interviewed Peter Martin, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for a story about sober October. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted in CNN International’s Connect the World with Becky Anderson and NewsNation Morning in America for stories about the reported plague situation in Russia, after a laboratory worker at an institute in Siberia dedicated to studying the plague and other infectious diseases died of a mysterious illness. Prevention interviewed James McGuirk, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Sleep Medicine, for a story about what causes sleep paralysis. Modern Healthcare interviewed Daniel Fabbri, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Computer Science, for a story about how health systems are managing AI token costs. WNKY interviewed Ziv Beckerman, MD, Associate Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Surgical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplantation in the Golisano Pediatric Heart Institute at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt about rapid recovery with extended ultra oxygenated preservation (REUP) that is a new form of preservation for heart organs. Ray Romano, PhD, MPH, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, was quoted Prevention about research that found other health issues may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s.
Bernalillo County reviews four potential models for the future of MDC healthcare services
Bernalillo County reviews four potential models for the future of MDC healthcare services
Behavioral health therapist joins UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center’s primary care team
Behavioral health clinician joins Estes Valley's primary care clinic as an additional resource to meet emotional and behavioral health needs.
WP Intelligence Briefing | What the midterms could change about U.S. health care
An election lookahead at what’s at stake for health policy
Trump's team is in chaos as midterms enter final stretch
A White House that has enjoyed relative stability over the past two years has returned to a state of disarray that characterized much of Trump's early political career.
Suspicious powder sent to Rep. Ritchie Torres’ Bronx office in latest mail scare targeting New York Democratic pols
An envelope containing a suspicious substance prompted a hazardous materials response at U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres' Bronx district office Friday afternoon,
Sister Monica Heeran, longtime PeaceHealth leader and Northwest healthcare pioneer, dies at 95
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — PeaceHealth mourns the passing of Sister Monica Heeran, a visionary leader who rose through the ranks of Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene and would shape healthcare throughout the Northwest and beyond.Sr. Monica died Oct. 9 at St. Mary on the Lake in Bellevue, Wash. She was 95.She boldly led PeaceHealth through a period of great innovation, guided by her faith, compassion and generosity toward those in need.
Louisiana renews deals with 4 Medicaid providers; lawmakers want better health outcomes
Louisiana lawmakers renewed state contracts Thursday with four private managed care organizations that provide Medicaid coverage, calling on state health officials to ensure the money results in better health outcomes.
AI chatbots could make healthcare more accessible, but some doctors are still wary
AI chatbots are everywhere these days, helping to write emails or draft resumes and answer users’ burning questions about everything from their love life to medical advice.
Self-care is the first line of action for all healthcare
As healthcare systems face growing pressure from aging populations, chronic diseases, workforce shortages and unequal access to care, self-care is increasingly being recognized as a potential solution.
'He took care of business': Trump says bystander saved lives at Oregon school shooting
President Donald Trump praised the armed man who shot and killed an Oregon elementary school shooter, saying the intervention likely saved lives.
All Lancaster County health systems will soon use same software for patient records
All major health systems in Lancaster County will be using the same online portal for health records by Nov. 2, allowing caregivers to access records with patient consent regardless of
Amarillo VA Health Care System to host Veterans Flue Fairs next week
The Amarillo VA Health Care System set to host a walk-in Veterans Flue Fair Next week, October 19-24.
'The Wiz' Eases on Down the Road to Eisenhower Auditorium
The hit Broadway musical “The Wiz” will bring its reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz” to Penn State next week, featuring performers from “American Idol” and
Parkview Health acquiring shared services vendor Ovation Healthcare
Parkview Health is acquiring Ovation Healthcare, a nationwide shared services vendor for providers, the Indiana rural care system announced Friday. | Parkview Health is taking its shared-services strategy nationwide with a deal to acquire Ovation Healthcare, which works with nearly 500 healthcare organizations across the country.
WATCH: Maine Health Care Professionals Slam Collins’ Health Care Record
This week, Maine health care professionals gathered to slam Susan Collins for failing to protect Mainers’ health care. Dr. Nirav Shah and Maine State Nurses Association Co-President Erin Oberson called out Collins for advancing Trump’s Medicaid cuts and voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has eviscerated America’s public health system.
Holy Cross Health Named Among America's Best Healthcare Employers and Florida's Top 100 Employers by Forbes - Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report
Holy Cross Health caregivers and nursing team members gather to recognize a colleague’s dedication and service, reflecting the collaborative culture and commitment to exceptional patient care across the organization Recognitions […]
What Does Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) Expansion Into The UK And Australia Mean?
Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) announced the launch of Hers personalised hair loss and wellness care in the UK in October 2026. The Hers UK rollout introduces tailored treatment plans for women's hair loss alongside broader wellness services through the company's telehealth platform. The business is also expanding its Hers care platform into Australia, adding another English speaking market to its international footprint. The Hers UK hair loss launch and Australia expansion open new chapters...
Newport Healthcare Brings Back CEO, Lays Off Staff
Newport Healthcare’s CEO office is turning over at the same time it institutes additional layoffs and facility closures to again shrink its national
The Jeremy Wilson Foundation helps local musicians navigate healthcare and medical crisis
Oregon’s Jeremy Wilson Foundation is stepping up for musicians in medical crisis with grants and health navigation; free Oct 22 Portland event on big 2027 OHP changes.
Students explore careers from health care to skilled trades at Career Connect
Wood County Christian School swapped its traditional college and career fair for face-to-face conversations this year, launching a Career Connect panel that brought local professionals to the gymnasium Friday.
Aurora Behavioral Health hosts first Connect Fest to connect families with care
More than 40 health organizations gathered in one place with the same goal: helping Valley families connect with the resources they need.
Phoenix mental health clinic hosts event to connect families with care
Aurora Behavioral Health hosted its first-ever Connect Fest at its location near 59th Avenue and Peoria Avenue.
Augusta Health to Host Community Career Fair in Waynesboro on October 22 Careers & Connections event will offer job opportunities, same-day interviews, and career resources
FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Augusta Health invites everyone —from experienced professionals and career changers to students and those simply exploring what’s next —to discover career opportunities at Careers & Connections: More Than a Job Fair. The event takes place Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Best Western Plus, 109 Apple […]
Dr. Patrick McGill: Healthy hospitals help drive a healthy Indiana economy
Health care’s impact as an economic driver goes much deeper than direct jobs and spending, in much the same way good schools and housing are intrinsic quality-of-life factors.
Milwaukee leaders spotlight community-centered health care
A new documentary explores community-led efforts to close health care gaps. Its screening and a community conversation are on Saturday, Oct. 17, at No Studios.
Scaling perinatal mental health care: Scientists assess home visiting programs in Midwest
Can reaching out to new mothers right at the outset of parenting set them on the right path? A new study published in BMC Health Services Research assesses home health visitation programs, which provide ...
Katie Zacharia, Trump’s New Press Secretary, Is Ousted After 5 Days
Ms. Zacharia was shadowed by questions about how she had presented her legal career and handled her first press briefing.
A new UNC initiative aims to bring AI tools to rural and low-resource health care clinics
From transcription tools to customer service, many small clinics don't have the bandwidth to navigate AI.
Chuck Lorre gets candid on hits, flops and hard lessons in new memoir 'Sitcom'
Legendary producer Chuck Lorre, known for hits like “The Big Bang Theory,” reflects on his career in his new memoir, “Sitcom.” | KMBZ
Chuck Lorre gets candid on hits, flops and hard lessons in new memoir 'Sitcom'
Legendary producer Chuck Lorre, known for hits like “The Big Bang Theory,” reflects on his career in his new memoir, “Sitcom.” | Talk 1370
Parkview Health to acquire Tennessee-based Ovation Healthcare
Indiana-based health care system Parkview Health announced Friday it has signed an agreement to acquire Tennessee-based Ovation Healthcare, a shared services company that works with more than 500 health care organizations across 48 states.
Duke Health debuts three autonomous delivery robots to help healthcare providers
Duke Health’s autonomous robots are transporting supplies throughout the university's hospital in Durham.
Hometown’s Best: Vote for your favorite Southwest Virginia pet care business finalist in 2026
The search is on for Southwest Virginia’s favorite locally owned pet care business, and the finalists for this year’s Hometown’s Best have officially been announced.
Dealroom.co | Parkview Health to acquire Ovation Healthcare in rural care push
What's the deal? Parkview Health has signed an agreement to acqu…
Jennifer Lawrence Officially Launches New Business Venture That Fans Weren’t Expecting
Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence is officially making her stride into the commercial beauty landscape. She is stepping into the beauty business with a haircare brand of her own. The actress is ...
NMSU Aggie Career Studio to host 12th annual Health Professions Fair
New Mexico State University’s Aggie Career Studio will host its 12th annual Health Professions Fair from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, on the first floor of Corbett Center Student Union. The...
Heike Pfau receives 2026 National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Heike Pfau, assistant professor of physics at Penn State, has been honored with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
This week in health care policy: October 8–15, 2026
Innovation watch Merck expects faster production of its personalized cancer vaccine. CEO Rob Davis told CNBC the six-week turnaround for intismeran autogene, built from each patient’s tumor and paired with Keytruda, will shrink over time. In August, Merck and Moderna reported that the vaccine delayed recurrence and spread in a 1,137-patient Phase 3 melanoma trial, […]
Jonathan Kuo receives 2026 National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Jonathan Kuo, assistant professor of chemistry, has been honored with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
The best Amazon deals this weekend: Score big brands like Yeti, Lego, Apple and more for up to 70% off
We found fabulous fall discounts on everything from kitchenware and vacuums to holiday gifts, headphones, skin care and more.
Parkview Health announces agreement to acquire Ovation Healthcare to strengthen community healthcare nationwide, advance local affordability
/PRNewswire/ -- Parkview Health has signed an agreement to acquire Ovation Healthcare, a leading provider of shared services that strengthen the operational...
Local health insurance broker highlights changes coming to Medicare, healthcare policies in 2027
As over a million Coloradans review their healthcare plans for Medicare’s open enrollment period — running from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 — a local health insurance broker is preparing
Wildfires, heat waves and access to care among health-related problems facing Californians
The latest annual California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) offers a more precise look at how the 2025 wildfires affected Californians’ health and well-being. The data also reveal trends in the health of immigrants, low-income individuals, and transgender and gender-expansive communities. The 2025 CHIS data show: 500,000 more California adults said their mental health was harmed...
Mars Impact Fund Commits $3M to 4-H science pathways
Mars is investing $3 million in National 4-H Council to expand agricultural, food science and veterinary career opportunities for up to 200K young people.
Having insurance doesn’t mean you can get a mental health appointment
Americans with commercial insurance are generally told they have access to a strong network of mental health providers. But when researchers called providers listed in those networks, securing an appointment was usually difficult or impossible, according to a new study.Researchers, posed as “secret shoppers” looking for appointments for issu...
CentraCare to Be Official Health Care Provider for Johnnie Athletics
(KNSI) - CentraCare and Saint John's University have agreed to a three-year partnership that makes CentraCare ...
Chris Murray challenges Palumbo with affordability, health care focus
Democrat Chris Murray has placed affordability, health care and environmental protection at the center of his campaign as he tries to unseat incumbent Republican state Sen. Anthony Palumbo. Mr. Murray — an attorney who was elected chairman of the Suffolk County Community College Board of Trustees in 2019 and has also chaired the Citizens Campaign...
From Mumbai To Singapore To Australia: How An International Business Education Shaped My Career Journey
An SP Jain alum traces how marketing studies and constant relocation led to employment services – and now teaching.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Pat McAfee Net Worth in 2026: ESPN Salary, NFL Earnings and Business Ventures
Pat McAfee has turned a seventh-round punting career with the Indianapolis Colts into a sports media fortune, and his next ESPN contract could double what he al
Evan Worrell builds on MAHA-inspired health push ahead of 2027 West Virginia session
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Expanding rural health care access, strengthening drinking water protections and addressing shortages of medical professionals are among the priorities House Health and Human Resources Committee Chairman Evan