Phil Galewitz, Senior Correspondent, covers Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care, hospitals and various state health issues.
Phil Galewitz
From this contributor
Number of uninsured children rising for first time in decade
After years of steady decline, the number of U.S. children without health insurance rose by 276,000 in 2017.
![Doctor with toddler in medical office.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20181203TrumpCare844.jpg)
Number of uninsured children rising for first time in decade
Foster children on Medicaid may have unmet mental health needs
Too few doctors accept Medicaid, and foster families also face the challenge of coordinating treatment decisions between government welfare agencies and biological parents.
![Big family and extended family with foster parents.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20180827-Foster-lead844.jpg)
Foster children on Medicaid may have unmet mental health needs
Children’s health insurance program running on fumes in some U.S. states
Some states are facing a mid-January loss of funding for their Children’s Health Insurance Program, despite spending approved by Congress in late December that was expected to keep the program running for three months.
![mother and child at the doctor's with a stethoscope](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180109-CHIP844.jpg)
Children’s health insurance program running on fumes in some U.S. states
Alabama to drop thousands of children from health insurance New Year’s Day
Alabama plans to drop 7,000 children from coverage on New Year’s Day, the first step to shutting down coverage for everyone, as the result of U.S. Congress' failure to restore federal funding of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
![child with contraption over nose and mouth](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171222-AlabamaKids844.jpg)
Alabama to drop thousands of children from health insurance New Year’s Day
U.S. Congress fails to extend funding for children’s coverage
Until Congress renews CHIP, states are cut off from additional federal funding that helps lower- and middle-income families.
![Doctors preparing a patient for an operation](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/20171019-844.jpg)
U.S. Congress fails to extend funding for children’s coverage
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Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200_coughingmice-1024x720.webp)
Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
![Capitol building](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/capitolhill-1200-1024x692.webp)
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.
![Illustration of ketamine blocking open ion channels in active NMDA receptors, quieting the cells and disrupting downstream signaling involved in depression.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200-ketamine-receptor-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.