Hawaiʻi reports sixth dengue case of 2026 after travel-related Oʻahu infection
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health reported a new travel-related dengue case on Oʻahu on July 10, bringing the statewide total for 2026 to six.
Health
Public health, health care, hospitals, insurance, disease, behavioral health, medical research, and safety alerts.
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Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center set to open Aug. 26 in Grovetown
Wellstar Health System says its new six-story, 100-bed Columbia County hospital is scheduled to open Aug. 26 at 5000 Gateway Blvd. in Grovetown.
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Grady plans South Fulton medical campus as region faces hospital-access constraints
Grady Health System has announced plans for a South Fulton medical campus and expects a separate 20-bed freestanding emergency department there to open in late 2026.
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Vermont governor orders review of small-business health coverage options
Gov. Phil Scott’s July 8 executive order starts a review of Vermont rules for Association Health Plans, Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements and other small-business coverage options. The order does not immediately change premiums, benefits or eligibility.
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Tennessee launches state-specific 988 identity after nearly 300,000 contacts
Tennessee’s mental health agency has launched a state-specific identity for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, reporting nearly 300,000 calls, texts and chats since the service began in the state in July 2022.
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Federal officials defer about $867.5 million in Minnesota Medicaid payments pending high-risk-claim review
Federal health officials said they deferred approximately $867.5 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesota while the state supplies documentation supporting claims identified as high risk.
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Massachusetts insurance commissioner rejects Fallon rate increase, renegotiates seven plans
Massachusetts officials said the insurance commissioner rejected a proposed rate increase from Fallon Community Health Plan and renegotiated seven other health-plan proposals, actions projected to save $72 million for about 670,000 residents.
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Louisiana opens disaster SNAP assistance for households affected by Tropical Storm Arthur
Louisiana has received federal approval to offer Disaster SNAP benefits to eligible households affected by Tropical Storm Arthur, while eligible current SNAP recipients may receive automatic supplemental benefits.
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Kansas health officials investigate cyclospora cases tied to national outbreak and recalled lettuce
Kansas health officials are continuing to investigate cyclosporiasis cases associated with a national outbreak and a July 17 voluntary recall of Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce.
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Connecticut secures $7.17 million in first-year federal rural-health funding
Connecticut has secured $7,165,955 in first-year federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a multiyear initiative focused on population-health improvements in rural communities.
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Las Vegas discusses heat-mitigation plan updates under new Nevada law
Las Vegas leaders discussed changes to the city’s heat-mitigation master plan under a new Nevada law, with expanded public access to water identified as a recommendation.
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St. Mary’s Hospital restores medical oncology services in Lewiston through Augusta partnership
St. Mary’s Hospital resumed medical oncology services in Lewiston on July 7 through a collaboration with MaineGeneral’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta.
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Nemours to begin genetics services at Jacksonville’s Wolfson Children’s Hospital in August
Nemours Children’s Health plans to begin providing genetics services for Wolfson Children’s Hospital patients in Jacksonville in August 2026 under an expanded clinical collaboration announced Feb. 18.
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FSU Health research center remains under construction on TMH campus, with 2026 opening expected
Florida State University’s College of Medicine said construction was continuing on the FSU Health Research Center at the Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare campus as of May 29. The center was expected to open in late summer or early fall 2026.
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Wilmington VA Medical Center receives four-star CMS hospital quality rating
The Wilmington VA Medical Center has received four out of five stars in CMS’s annual Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating report, according to VA Wilmington Health Care.
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Delaware declares measles outbreak after two additional cases bring reported total to four
Delaware’s Division of Public Health reported two additional positive measles cases on July 22, bringing the statewide reported total to four and prompting renewed vaccination messaging.
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Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital opens dedicated crisis-intervention center for pediatric emergency patients
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital unveiled a dedicated behavioral-health treatment space inside its Children’s Emergency Department, with patient care scheduled to begin in August 2026.
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Bridgeport extends cooling-center protocol through July 5 as heat raises health concerns
Bridgeport activated its cooling-center protocol July 1 and later extended it through July 5, advising residents to seek refuge during hot conditions, particularly as heat can pose increased risks for people with asthma.
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Connecticut reports second measles case of 2026 in Hartford County
Connecticut health officials reported a second confirmed measles case of 2026 on June 29, involving a Hartford County resident exposed through an earlier identified case.
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CommonSpirit reshapes three Colorado Springs hospitals for projected growth
CommonSpirit Health announced operational and facility changes at three Colorado Springs hospitals as it plans for a projected 29% increase in emergency-department volume by 2036.
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Denver Health receives DNV Primary Stroke Center certification
Denver Health says it has received DNV Primary Stroke Center certification, a designation concerning organized stroke-care capabilities at the Denver safety-net hospital.
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San Diego County reports first identified locally acquired Chagas disease case
San Diego County issued a July 13 health alert reporting its first identified locally acquired Chagas disease case and a chronic Chagas disease case, urging clinical and public-health awareness.