Policy Archives

02.06.2024 water flowing into to drain that is contaminated with oil and gas and other harmful chemicals

Thirst Trap: Oil and Gas on Tap

A quarter of LA County’s water systems are at risk for oil and gas contamination, with historically disenfranchised communities most at risk.

Fellow Caroline Dignard

01.31.2024 line graph depicting the proportion of health centers offering onsite contraception by Choose Well participation status in South Carolina vs Alabama

line graph depicting the proportion of health centers offering onsite contraception by Choose Well participation status in South Carolina vs Alabama

Beyond Abortion Bans: Choose Well and Access to Contraception

After the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, Choose Well, a state initiative to reduce unintended pregnancies in South Carolina, greatly improved access to contraception, particularly IUDs, which increased from just 37% of clinics offering them to over 85%.

Fellow Adna Jaganjac

01.09.2024 blurred cars, simulating driving under the influence of cannabis

Cannabis and Collisions

While serious and fatal traffic collisions fell following cannabis legalization in the state of Washington, minor crashes increased with cannabis sales.

Guest Author Annie Voy

01.08.2024 Close up of someone holding and looking down at a sonogram image

Pro-Life? Abortion Bans Increase Infant Deaths

U.S. counties in states with restrictive abortion laws had a 16% higher infant mortality rate than those counties in less restrictive states.

Fellow Caroline Dignard

10.26.2023 PHPod logo and player on the left with an optical illusion on right, representing body dysmorphia, weight discrimination, and stigma

Health Equity

Fat Liberation and Weight Discrimination

PHPod host Kara Schmidt sits down with Rev. Dr. Anastasia Kidd, director of Contextual Education at Boston University School of Theology, and Massachusetts State Senator Becca Rausch to discuss the fat liberation movement, the health effects of weight stigma, and recent legislation to address size discrimination in the Commonwealth.

10.13.2023 Line graphs depicting the change in volume of sales of taxed sugary beverages (oz, millions) in Philadelphia, PA vs Baltimore, MD before and after sugar-sweetened beverage tax implementation.

Line graphs depicting the change in volume of sales of taxed sugary beverages (oz, millions) in Philadelphia, PA vs Baltimore, MD before and after sugar-sweetened beverage tax implementation.

A Spoonful of Sugar, A Spoonful of Artificial Sweetener

After Philadelphia, PA implemented a tax on sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened beverages, volume sales decreased by 50% and remained low in the years following.

Fellow Adna Jaganjac

10.10.2023 Line graph depicting trends in percentage of U.S. adults with health insurance coverage by LGBTQ+ and partnered status

Health Insurance Trends Among LGBTQ+ Adults

Prior to the expansion of the Affordable Care Act and the legalization of same-sex marriage, LGBTQ+ adults were largely unable to qualify for health care coverage. Now, coverage rates have increased across the board.

Fellow Kara Schmidt

09.07.2023 close up of person wearing face mask to protect against COVID

Learning from Past Disasters to Help COVID Long Haulers

One in 7 Americans are still reporting symptoms of long COVID. Our current safety net is insufficient to support them.

Guest Authors Brontë Nevins, Heather Howard

06.20.2023 graph depicting mental distress in the wake of abortion bans and subsequent increased travel distances to abortion clinics post-Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision

graph depicting mental distress in the wake of abortion bans and subsequent increased travel distances to abortion clinics post-Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision

Dobbs Distress

After the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, women and pregnancy-capable people of reproductive age reported a 10% increase in mental distress compared to the months before the decision.

Fellow Caroline Dignard

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