healthcare

The first-ever Wyoming Reproductive Freedom Summit took place last weekend at the Lander Convention Center on June 22. More than 150 people gathered to talk about the state of abortion care in the state. The summit was hosted by Chelsea’s Fund, a non-profit abortion advocacy organization.

Polling from the Coalition group shows the majority of Idahoans support abortion cases in “some or most cases.”

Wellspring Health Access in Casper has faced arson, a local backlash, and near-constant protest since it opened nearly a year ago. Now, a bill that passed the Legislature aims to place regulations on the only remaining clinic that provides procedural abortions in the state.

Critics say this latest gender-affirming care ban to move through the Legislature represents an unprecedented intrusion by the government on the rights of kids, parents and physicians in Wyoming.

Every other year, the Wyoming Legislature goes into a budget session. That means lawmakers spend four weeks working to pass a state balanced budget. The budget session is unique because bills require a two thirds majority to make it to the next step. But this year, an unprecedented number of committee bills were killed through that two thirds majority.

A bill that went through Wyoming's 2023 Legislature would forbid teachers from covering certain topics in kindergarten to third grade classes. The bill was touted by its supporters as a necessary check to keep classroom conversations age-appropriate, but opponents feared it would stigmatize queer youth.

The state will have to explain how the laws protect Wyomingites’ public health and welfare.

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT Act) is a law enacted last August. It expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxic substances. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hugh Cook spoke with Michael Elbrecht of the Sheridan VA system, which covers three quarters of the state, about how this legislation affects Wyoming veterans.

Since the pandemic began, healthcare institutions have had many problems including having enough staff. And now, a local chapter of a national advocacy organization says for-profit healthcare organizations are taking advantage of nonprofit facilities closing.

A new study provides a detailed look at the number of abortions being performed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia before and after Roe V. Wade was overturned. In the West, as elsewhere, states where significant restrictions were approved saw numbers collapse, while neighboring states without such restrictions saw abortions rise.