Health & Wellness News

Advocates and service providers fear a proposed $20 million funding increase for community mental health services would not go far enough.

A professor of law is weighing in on a medical repatriation — or as some call it, a 'medical deportation' case — in the Lehigh Valley. Professor Lori Nessel is the director of the Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic at the Seton Hall University School of Law.

Richard M. Bodner testified on Friday to the safety measures implemented not only to the existing Bethlehem Landfill but its proposed expansion in Lower Saucon Township.

Northampton County is approved to join other municipalities and residents who have a legal standing in opposing the proposed landfill in Lower Saucon Township.

The specialty flight company MedEscort says it has "repatriated" over 6,000 patients to more than 100 countries. Critics say they're profiting from "medical deportations." The company challenges the phrase, and denies pressuring the family.

Patient advocates protested Wednesday outside Lehigh Valley Health Network's Cedar Crest Campus.

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The Lehigh Valley will host a marathon for the first time since the pandemic started. Registration will open this month for the St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest.

Lehigh Valley Health Network was victimized in a cybersecurity attack last month. The network said it refused to pay a ransom. Now, patient information and photos have been posted on the dark web, according to LVHN.

Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced $52.5 million in grants intended to prevent suicide. Named for Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox, the suicide prevention grant program is now in its second year. Its goal is to fund community-based organizations that work with veterans and their families. Last year, the VA gave awards to three groups in Pennsylvania, including more than $530,000 to St. Luke’s Penn Foundation in Carbon County. Eighty recipients won awards nationwide in the program’s first year. Grant applications are due by May 19 with awards expected to be announced in September. Selected organizations will receive funding for 2024. More information on how to apply is available at mentalhealth.va.gov.

Drug shortages seem to be a big issue in the wake of the pandemic. Children's pain medication and other prescriptions have been hard to get in the past few months because of supply chain issues.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 8, would remove out-of-pocket costs and require 100% coverage for preventative breast cancer screenings and genetic testing. Proponents say it would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Research shows that minority communities are suffering the most during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A corrections officer at the Lehigh County jail died this week after testing positive for the virus in December. He was the first county employee to die from COVID-related complications.

Local health officials are scrambling to implement the expansion of the state vaccination program’s first phase by recently expanding vaccine eligibility to include millions more throughout the state.

Pennsylvania officials announced Jan. 19 that the state is expanding eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine to include anyone over 65.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr Rachel Levine is poised to become the first openly transgender federal official. She’s been tapped by the Biden team for the number two spot at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The recent death of a 54-year-old inmate is raising questions about the Lehigh County Jail's ability to protect more than 1,000 staff and inmates.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania is short a million COVID-19 vaccines and state health officials learned there are none left in the federal reserve. The…

Gov. Tom Wolf says he wants to separate “fact from fiction” about the COVID-19 vaccine and to dispel rumors that include the vaccine can give you the virus.

Pennsylvania is still in the process of vaccinating hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers. But other people may soon be able to start getting shots…

WLVR’s Ben Stemrich spoke with Colette Boudreaux, a local Lehigh Valley resident about her experience with COVID-19 long term effects.

As frontline workers continue to get the COVID-19 Vaccine, we are waiting to find out when the general public will get the shot. One thing that you won’t have to wonder, is how you’ll pay for it.

More than 12,500 people have received the first dose of vaccines in the Lehigh Valley. Track these numbers with the new vaccine dashboard.