A long-time factor for a medical test for kidney transplant evaluations has been rectified, which has lessened a massive barrier for Black patients in need of a new kidney. Previously, the eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) test that is used for kidney transplant waitlist evaluations included race and outdated studies that inaccurately showed that Black patients’ kidney function was different than other racial groups and underestimated the extent of their illness, according to ABC News. Today, race is no longer taken into consideration. This came after reassessment from the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology in 2020, which determined race had no connection to kidney function. As a resulted, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network enacted the update in 2023. “That really was problematic, but it was very widely accepted,” said Martha Pavlakis, former chair of the kidney committee with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network,...

Board-Certified Pediatrician Dr. Hokehe Eko is launching a virtual clinic for children with autism. The mother of three boasts over 10 years of experience working with children of all ages as well as those on the autism spectrum. She also completed training to conduct autism diagnostic evaluations using the CARS standardized test, her website mentions. “As a result of my experience, I am better able to differentiate between neuro-typical and neuro-atypical behaviors, and can also help identify if there are other factors at play, such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, intellectual delays, or other medical conditions,” she said on her website. Based in Oklahoma, Dr. Eko’s virtual clinic, Glow Pediatrics, is now open for consultations and will see patients located in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Maryland within a week, Black News reports. This is significant as the average national wait time for families seeking autism diagnosis evaluation is 27 months, per The Journal of Pediatrics. “Early...

Journalist and TV host Elaine Welteroth and tennis-champion-turned-entrepreneur Serena Williams have joined forces to address the alarming maternal mortality crisis in the United States. In April 2024, a Time op-ed from the two mother powerhouses was released in alignment with Black Maternal Health Week. Williams has been open about her first childbirth in 2017 being life-threatening and causing her to undergo four surgeries afterward. Moreover, Welteroth has shared her own experience of feeling unsafe with doctors after becoming pregnant in 2021 — leading her in the direction of midwifery care, which she described as “the best decision I ever made,” per a previous Time piece. Now, the two are taking a step further than just raising awareness. According to the latest Time article, Welteroth has founded Birth Fund, a coalition that works to support families in the U.S. who can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs of midwifery care. The mission behind Birth Fund initially started in...

Community is essential for the overall well-being of Black women, and Health in Her HUE is on a mission to help each one find her tribe.

The majority of people are familiar with Dr. Oz from his talk show that first aired in 2009 after drawing in a buzz from his regular guest appearances as a health expert on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” In tune with the end of his show’s run, the celebrity doctor transitioned into being a Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate last year. “One of the great things about our democracy is that every citizen can decide to run for public office,” Winfrey told New York Magazine in a statement from her spokeswoman, Nicole Nichols. “Mehmet Oz has made that decision. And now it’s up to the residents of Pennsylvania to decide who will represent them.” While he’s in his campaign run, a questionable video clip of his has recently resurfaced.

California just made a historic move, passing legislation that will offer healthcare to all undocumented immigrants. According to The Associated Press, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Thursday (June 30), which includes a $307.9 billion operating budget and will provide coverage to an additional 764,000 people between the ages of 26 and 49. What this means is that the west coast state made a commitment to providing low-income adults with access to California’s Medicaid program by the year 2024, regardless of their immigration status. “This will represent the biggest expansion of coverage in the nation since the start of the Affordable Care Act in 2014,” said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California. “In California, we recognize (that) everybody benefits when everyone is covered.” NEW: Just signed our budget. California will now be the first state in the nation to achieve universal access to healthcare coverage. This is what being “pro-life” ACTUALLY looks...

March of Dimes is enhancing its efforts to raise awareness towards bias in maternal and infant health. According to a press release, the nonprofit organization has announced new changes to its implicit bias training, Awareness to Action: Dismantling Bias in Maternal and Infant Healthcare, designed for professionals and students in healthcare. The program aims to remove inequities plaguing maternal and infant health. According to recent data from the 2021 March of Dimes Report Card Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women had disproportionate health outcomes in comparison to their white counterparts. “Every person has some level of unconscious bias, but unchecked stereotyping or negative biases about a group of patients can foster misplaced beliefs and lead to poor decision making by providers,” said Dr. Zsakeba Henderson , Senior Vice President and Interim Chief Medical and Health Officer, according to a press release. “Knowledge and behavior change are the first steps to...

Former National Football League (NFL) running back Clinton Portis has been sentenced to time in federal prison for his role in defrauding a healthcare benefit program created for retired NFL veterans. Clinton Portis is just one out of a slew of former players who filed false reimbursement claims that came to a whopping $2.9 million.