Jan. 4, 2024Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAPa. medical marijuana cards and anxiety: What the research saysby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAAnxiety disorders are the leading reason doctors approve patients for a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. If you’re considering using cannabis for anxiety, here are some useful resources.
Dec. 20, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAGET THE DATA: Spotlight PA makes info on why patients qualify for medical marijuana publicly availableby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s medical marijuana program increased its transparency after a Spotlight PA open records victory, sharing more data with academic researchers and the broader public.
Dec. 7, 2023Kate Giammarise / WESAOpioid settlement: Allegheny County won’t receive a $479,000 penalty after questions from WESA and Spotlight PAby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise of WESAWith McKeesport signing on in November, Allegheny County will get a full payout from the opioid settlement fund this year.
Nov. 29, 2023Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAOpioid settlement money is supposed to expand syringe services. Pa.’s drug laws stand in the way.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Sarah Boden of WESASeveral charities in Pennsylvania provide syringe services in their communities despite a state law that puts them at risk.
Nov. 22, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PACourt orders Pa. health department to release doctor data for medical marijuana certificationsby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe data could help identify outliers who might be bending or breaking Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law.
Oct. 23, 2023Dan Nott / For Spotlight PABad tech, staffing shortages hinder Pa. as it reassesses health care coverage for 1000sby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PATens of thousands of people in Pennsylvania are believed to have wrongly lost their benefits since the state began “unwinding” pandemic-era protections.
Oct. 18, 2023Ed Mahon / Spotlight PAWhich Pa. counties are receiving the most opioid settlement money — and whyby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise of WESAOpioid payments for county governments and county district attorney offices equaled about $6.50 per resident across the state last year. But there were big differences.
Aug. 2, 2023Andy Blackburn / LNP | LancasterOnlinePa. counties face uncertainty as they grapple with how to spend opioid settlement fundsby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAA drug task force, a county detective, and body scanner at a county jail are some of the proposed uses that county officials across the state have sought clarity on.
July 27, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesDemocrats say stalled Pa. budget leaves behind adult mental health patientsby DaniRae Renno for Spotlight PAIn 2022, Pennsylvania lawmakers promised to spend $100 million on adult mental health services. This year’s budget uses the money for a different purpose.
June 1, 2023Screenshot / Spotlight PASecret meetings by board overseeing Pa.’s $1 billion in opioid settlements draw criticismby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise of WESAThe oversight board also does not let the public speak at meetings and says it’s not subject to the state’s Right-to-Know Law.
May 18, 2023Shane Dunlap / TribLIVE for Spotlight PAPa. opioid settlement money: What you need to knowby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise of WESAIn Pennsylvania, there’s currently no single resource for people to see how counties and local governments plan to spend the money. But understanding the process can help you influence it.
May 8, 2023Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia InquirerThree ways Shapiro’s budget would change public health in Pennsylvaniaby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAShapiro's budget proposals include boosting money for public health agencies, programs to prevent maternal mortality, and taxing recreational marijuana sales.
April 20, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAAn older Pa. woman was placed under guardianship. Her family says the system betrayed her.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAAn ongoing lawsuit spotlights Pennsylvania’s vexing system for safeguarding vulnerable older adults from potential fraud and other conflicts when they are declared legally incapacitated.
April 18, 2023AMANDA BERG / FOR SPOTLIGHT PAExpecting more than $1 billion in opioid settlement money, Pa. grapples with policing versus treatmentby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise of WESAGov. Josh Shapiro has touted the money as “specifically earmarked for treatment,” but some counties want to hire more police officers and bolster drug task forces.
April 14, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAPa. Medicaid reenrollment: What you need to know to keep your health insurance or find other optionsby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAAfter three years of guaranteed Medicaid coverage, Pennsylvanians in the program have to reenroll in the next year or risk losing their insurance. Here’s what you should know.
April 3, 2023Abby Drey / Centre Daily TimesHow much north-central Pennsylvania nonprofit hospital executives are paidby Ashad Hajela of Spotlight PA State CollegeTo get a broader picture of executive pay at nonprofit hospitals in north-central PA, Spotlight PA compiled a list of salaries and bonuses from facilities in the region.
April 3, 2023JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerPa. faces a shortage of benefits workers as health coverage for thousands is on the lineby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe offices that help Pennsylvanians keep their Medicaid benefits are facing persistent vacancies and a heavy workload. Advocates and staff fear people could lose coverage as a result.
March 13, 2023Harold Brubaker / Philadelphia InquirerA Pa. hospital’s revoked property tax exemption is a ‘warning shot’ to other nonprofits, expert saysby Ashad Hajela of Spotlight PA State CollegeA Commonwealth Court judge found the nonprofit Tower Health system was operating a Montgomery County hospital with the motive of profit.
Feb. 24, 2023Heather Khalifa / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro admin can do more as rollbacks to food and health benefits loom in Pa., experts sayby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAMillions of Pennsylvanians will soon get less money to buy food, and hundreds of thousands could lose their government health insurance.
Feb. 13, 2023ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Philadelphia Inquirer5 ways Pa.’s marijuana laws could change in 2023by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe Pennsylvania legislature is considering everything from expanding who can get medical marijuana to full legalization. Here’s what you need to know.
Jan. 31, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAHow anxiety came to dominate the big business of medical marijuana cards in Pennsylvaniaby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAAn unprecedented Spotlight PA analysis of 1 million medical marijuana certifications reveals how a change by policymakers made it possible for virtually anyone to get a card.
Nov. 10, 2022Leise Hook / For Spotlight PARare disciplinary case against Pa. doctor offers glimpse into the big business of medical marijuana cardsby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAA patient’s complaint about her virtual appointment through Veriheal has offered a look inside the multimillion dollar certification industry.
Oct. 13, 2022Leise Hook/For Spotlight PAAbortion providers focus on expanding telehealth, medication access as they await outcome of Pa. governor’s raceby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAIn response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down Roe v. Wade, Pennsylvania abortion providers are retooling their services to offer medication abortions and telehealth.
Oct. 7, 2022Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAHow we tracked workplace lawsuits involving Pa.’s medical marijuana lawby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAA behind-the-scenes look at how Spotlight PA found Pennsylvania workers who were fired or demoted over medical marijuana.
Oct. 3, 2022CAMERON B. POLLACK / Philadelphia Inquirer PhotoChronically ill patients could get easier access to new treatments if Pa. lawmakers act soonby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PASupporters say the bill will allow medical providers to spend more time on care rather than fighting with insurance companies, but time is running out to pass it before the session ends.
Sept. 20, 2022Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAA complete guide to Spotlight PA’s investigations of Pennsylvania’s flawed medical marijuana programby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe yearlong reporting project has revealed major flaws and inequity in the system, prompting positive change and more calls for reform, but will the state legislature take action?
Sept. 14, 2022Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAPa. law protects workers who are approved for medical marijuana — but once they use it, it’s a different story.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAFired workers and frustrated employers are facing off in court battles over Pennsylvania’s vague safeguards for marijuana patients, and those on both sides are asking for a legislative fix.
Sept. 1, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesThousands of Pa. nursing home workers may strike despite $600M for care in state budgetby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAWorkers for two for-profit companies fear the bulk of the money won’t be used to alleviate longer working hours, expanded job responsibilities, and even food rationing for residents.
Aug. 25, 2022JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerMajor shift in medical malpractice rules in Pa. could help victims, but opponents fear the costby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe state’s high court will allow such cases to be filed in any county in the state, as opposed to the county where harm occurred, potentially leading to more claims and higher payouts.
Aug. 25, 2022Elizabeth Robertson / Philadelphia InquirerWolf administration explores using federal aid to help stretch Pa.’s limited monkeypox vaccine supplyby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe federal government has given providers the OK to get five shots out of a one-dose vaccine vial. The state may purchase syringes to make those shots possible.
