Alex Smith
Alex Smith began working in radio as an intern at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. A few years and a couple of radio jobs later, he became the assistant producer of KCUR's magazine show, KC Currents. In January 2014 he became KCUR's health reporter.
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Missouri is the second state to expand the health care program via ballot measure during the pandemic. Nearly a quarter-million people could get health insurance thanks to the measure. -
Missourians will vote Tuesday on whether to expand Medicaid to uninsured adults. The pandemic has raised the stakes for residents who have lost jobs and insurance coverage.
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Health and hospital officials in two states report that a Trump administration change to how pandemic data is collected has left them unable to access vital information. -
Experts say a bit of extra drinking isn't a problem for many people, but they recommend watching out for specific behaviors that signal addiction. -
New treatment guidelines don't assuage concerns that some children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are being prescribed medication too soon, before behavioral interventions are tried. -
New ADHD guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children five or older take medication and get therapy as soon as they are diagnosed. Some experts say this is the wrong approach.
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Naltrexone, commonly used for opioid and alcohol use disorders, may also help patients with chronic pain — when prescribed in microdoses. But few doctors or patients seem to know about it. -
Many parents testified that their children's allergies had been brought under control by the treatment. But some experts are still concerned about its safety.
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Loretta Boesing is on a mission to make sure prescription drugs delivered by mail are safe and effective. The life of her son — and others who order medicine by mail — could depend on it, she says. -
Despite running against the Affordable Care Act for years, many Republicans are airing ads saying they support a central feature of the law: the requirement that pre-existing conditions be covered.
