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Louisiana residents living near industrial areas are at a greater risk of experiencing learning disabilities, anemia miscarriage and many other health conditions according to a new research study based on data from Medicaid claims made in the state. The Collaborative Data Analysis (CoDA) research team — which included researchers from Dillard University, Virginia Tech and the University of California San Francisco — looked into the negative health impacts of residential exposure to industrial pollution using data from Louisiana Medicaid claims from 2017 to 2019. (Yehiya, 4/16)

Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons (378 billion liters) of raw sewage laden with industrial chemicals and trash have poured into the Tijuana River, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. The river traverses land where three generations of the Egger family once raised dairy cows. The United States and Mexico signed an agreement last year to clean up the longstanding problem by upgrading wastewater plants to keep up with Tijuana’s population growth and industrial waste from factories, many owned by U.S. companies. (Watson and Pineda, 4/17)

In other news from California —

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra surged in the first poll following the abrupt departure of former Democratic front-runner Eric Swalwell. Becerra, who served as US secretary of health and human services in the Biden administration, now has 10% voter support, up from just 3% last month, according to an Emerson College survey released Thursday. (Clanton, 4/16)

From Florida —

Nationally, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Florida, it's worse. (Pedersen, 4/16)

Tiger Woods’ attorney is challenging Florida prosecutors seeking a subpoena for the golfer’s prescription medications from a pharmacy, according to court records filed in Martin County (Fla.) Circuit Court on Tuesday. (Powell, 4/16)

From Virginia —

Rural hospitals often operate on thin margins due to the high proportion of Medicaid patients they serve. They rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursement to keep the doors open, though those payments don’t cover the full cost of delivering care. Hospitals typically lose money when treating Medicaid patients. (Schabacker, 4/13)

The official announcement from the family came with the tagline: “Mother and baby are doing well after a wild ride.” (Yancey, 4/16)

On Medicaid work rules in Missouri and Minnesota —

Starting next year, many adults who receive benefits from Medicaid, the government-sponsored health coverage program for low-income and disabled people, will need to prove they’re working, volunteering or searching for a job. The federal directive was included in last year’s massive spending bill and is designed to foster “agency” and “community engagement” among recipients. But an analysis of Missouri census data shows that two-thirds of the state’s adult Medicaid recipients are already working. (Fentem, 4/16)

Minnesotans between the ages of 21 and 64 who apply for Medicaid will need to demonstrate that they have been working, attending school, or volunteering for at least 80 hours each month to qualify for or retain health insurance under the joint federal-state program. This requirement follows President Trump’s signing of HR. 1 into law, a sweeping tax and spending bill, last July. The new law is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, leaving Minnesota lawmakers grappling with how to implement changes to the state’s administration of Medicaid funds before the legislative session ends on May 18. (Zurek, 4/17)