PBS NewsHour - Health

As many as 476,000 people in the U.S. contract Lyme disease each year, according to the CDC. For most people, symptoms go away after two to four weeks of antibiotics, but five to 10 percent of patients have debilitating, long-term symptoms. To discuss, Ali Rogin is joined by Lindsay Keys, who's been battling the disease for years, all while advocating for more awareness and research. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Hospitalizations for COVID are at an all-time low four years after the start of the pandemic, but new variants are in circulation. Meanwhile, bird flu has been found in 36 dairy herds across nine states, though there has been only one confirmed human case so far in 2024. To find out how concerned we should be about all of this, John Yang speaks with epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

America's population is older than it's ever been, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. About 18 percent of Americans are at least 65 years old, a number that's projected to hit 28 percent in 30 years. And as that demographic grows, some of them are reimagining retirement. Ali Rogin reports for our series, "Rethinking Aging." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For former congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, advocating for mental health care is part of his family's legacy. His uncle, President John F. Kennedy, signed the bill that established the nation's community-based mental health care system. Ali Rogin sat down with Patrick Kennedy to discuss his new book, which details the mental health struggles and triumphs of everyday Americans. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In late April, the Biden administration issued new rules designed to keep prosecutors from obtaining medical records of patients who seek legal abortions. The expansion of HIPAA prohibits the disclosure of health information to state officials as part of a criminal investigation. Carmel Shachar, head of the Health Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard University, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Data shows that cases of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer are on the rise. At the same time, social media is inundated with ads and influencers touting products that promise to boost what's broadly called "gut health." How do we separate the facts from the fads? Dr. Shazia Siddique, an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The near-total abortion ban that the Arizona Supreme Court revived this week dates back to 1864, a time when Arizona wasn't a state, slavery was legal and only white men could vote. Many GOP officeholders and candidates scrambled to distance themselves from the law. John Yang speaks with Republican strategist Barrett Marson for more about how party members are navigating the political fallout. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Since Medicaid was created 60 years ago, it's been expanded again and again. Now, it's the U.S. government's biggest public health insurance program. For our series "America's Safety Net," John Yang reports on efforts to expand it even further with a visit to Georgia, the only state with a work requirement for Medicaid coverage. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Currently, 1 in 6 Americans is older than 65, a number that's projected to rise to 1 in 4 by 2050. As older Americans' needs for medical care and other support grow, women bear the biggest part of the burden of caring for them. Ali Rogin speaks with some women about their experiences and author Emily Kenway about the often unseen costs of caregiving. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Medicaid is the nation's largest health insurance program, covering nearly 80 million people, or more than 1 in 5 Americans. For many people who have low incomes or a disability, or who are either very young or very old, it's a vital government program. John Yang reports from Georgia for our series, "America's Safety Net." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders