Dec. 17, 2025Dylan Caleho / For Spotlight PAMental health care workers face too many needs and not enough money on the front line of Pa.'s self-made crisisby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAMental health providers often know what works for the people they serve. But there’s not enough resources to help everyone in need.
Dec. 11, 2025Cheyanne Mumphrey / APBotulism outbreak tied to ByHeart formula grows to 51 infants in 19 statesby Associated PressFederal health officials on Wednesday expanded an outbreak of infant botulism tied to recalled ByHeart baby formula to include all illnesses reported since the company began production in March 2022.
Dec. 10, 2025Susan L. Angstadt / For Spotlight PAOpioid settlement spending faces growing scrutiny as Pennsylvania awaits millions moreby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PACounties battle uncertainty over funding rules while advocates and families push for an increased say in opioid settlement spending decisions.
Dec. 9, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania restricts weight-loss drugs for Medicaid patients amid budget woesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe change will save hundreds of millions of dollars, the Shapiro administration estimates.
Dec. 3, 2025Cheyanne Mumphrey / APDozens sickened in infant botulism outbreak linked to contaminated formulaby Associated PressThe FDA reported 39 cases of confirmed or suspected illness in 18 states, including Pennsylvania, among babies who consumed ByHeart formula since August.
Dec. 2, 2025Kyle Ferreira / PMP NewsroomTelehealth expansion brings more addiction treatment options to Pennsylvaniaby Erin Yudt of Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomThe new program does not require a physical location for a substance use treatment provider to administer telehealth services.
Dec. 1, 2025Ed Mahon / Spotlight PAPennsylvania loses hundreds of pharmacies after a law promised helpby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PALawmakers want to ensure the Shapiro admin is holding corporate middlemen, known as pharmacy benefit managers, accountable.
Nov. 24, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesWhat Pa.’s $50.1 billion budget does for rural hospitals, communitiesby Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe $50.1 billion state budget maintains previous spending on rural hospitals and boosts Medicaid programs, but advocates say it doesn’t fix every challenge to accessing care.
Nov. 18, 2025Amanda Fries / Spotlight PABaby formula company linked to botulism outbreak stopped production at Berks plant in 2023by Angela Couloumbis, Kate Huangpu, and Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAThe FDA said it found “significant violations” at ByHeart’s Berks County plant. Inspectors say they later found mold and thousands of dead bugs there.
Nov. 13, 2025Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAFunding cuts, lawsuits, and fear derailed Pennsylvania's plan to close state hospitals and invest in community mental health careby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAAfter a period of psychiatric hospital closures and investment in community support, Pennsylvania has shifted focus to the most restrictive care possible.
Oct. 21, 2025Erin Yudt / Pittsburgh Media PartnershipUptick in kratom, 7-OH poison control calls worries Pa. health officialsby Erin Yudt of Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomPoison control centers statewide are seeing more people experience overdose-like symptoms of popular drug products like kratom and 7-OH.
Oct. 17, 2025Nate Smallwood for Spotlight PAWATCH: How Pennsylvania’s mental health system failed those who needed it mostby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAAn investigation into Pa.’s mental health system challenges the idea that when people can’t or don’t get help, it’s their fault.
Sept. 29, 2025Erin Yudt / Next Generation NewsroomParents in southwest Pa. are worried about rising vaccine exemption ratesby Erin Yudt of Next Generation NewsroomVaccination rates among children in several southwestern Pennsylvania counties are below the minimum percentage needed to protect against an outbreak.
Sept. 15, 2025Erin Yudt / Next Generation NewsroomFood banks, community groups in Pa. prepare for strain as Trump cuts to SNAP benefits draw nearby Erin Yudt of Next Generation NewsroomAssistance organizations in southwest Pennsylvania anticipate greater need for food and other care as changes to SNAP benefits go into effect in the coming months.
Sept. 8, 2025Fred Adams / For Spotlight PAPharmacies in Pa. can now give COVID shots. That doesn’t mean widespread access will follow.by Ed Mahon and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAGuidelines provide different levels of access, and experts say it’s now up to pharmacies to decide which recommendations to follow.
Sept. 4, 2025Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PASecretive board overseeing Pa.’s billion-dollar opioid response invites public to speak for 1st timeby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAFollowing pressure, the powerful board overseeing Pennsylvania opioid settlement money allows public comment but faces continued criticism over transparency and representation.
Sept. 1, 2025Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAA mother told us about her agonizing journey with Pa.'s mental health care system. What happened next?by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe ongoing story of one mother's agonizing journey with Pa.'s mental health care system
Aug. 19, 2025Ed Mahon / Spotlight PAThe big impact of Pennsylvania pharmacy closures, explained in 3 mapsby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAHundreds of pharmacy closures since 2020 have left patients with fewer options across Pennsylvania.
Aug. 6, 2025Matt Rourke / APNursing home industry fights additional oversight of Wall Street acquisitionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA group that lobbies for the industry says the bill, which aims to prevent the closure of more health care facilities, is duplicative of existing regulations.
Aug. 1, 2025Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAKey reasons Pennsylvania’s mental health system is failingby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAPennsylvania promised a better mental health system in 2011. But the failure to follow through has created dire consequences
July 28, 2025How Spotlight PA uncovered decades of broken promises that force people with mental illness into jail, not careby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PATo understand why Pa. failed to build a better mental health system, we reviewed hundreds of documents, interviewed dozens of sources, and analyzed jail medical records.
July 24, 2025Ed Mahon / Spotlight PAPharmacies are disappearing across Pennsylvania as operators blame a broken payment systemby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAPharmacists say insurance reimbursements fail to cover their costs. They say a new law isn't enough to reverse the trend.
July 10, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesMedicaid cuts in Trump’s tax bill will ‘devastate’ access to care in rural Pennsylvania, critics sayby Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State CollegeState officials estimate 310,000 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid coverage and anticipate strain at health facilities caused by federal budget cuts.
July 8, 2025Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAWhy a powerful Pa. board is shielded from the state’s public records lawby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAA board managing drug company payouts faces scrutiny over transparency as families and counties push back against secret meetings and limited public oversight.
July 7, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesWages for low paid home care workers could rise under Pa. budget proposal. Is it enough?by Vincent DiFonzo for Spotlight PAThe proposal from Gov. Josh Shapiro would add $21 million to the budget for certain home care workers. But advocates say much more is needed before Pa. pay is competitive.
July 3, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesTrump’s massive tax bill could cost Pa. $800M to keep food benefits program goingby Angela Couloumbis and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PATwo million Pennsylvanians rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, many of them children and older adults.
July 1, 2025Drug Enforcement AgencyHow Pa. is responding to rising use of a synthetic opioid more powerful than fentanylby Vincent DiFonzo for Spotlight PAAt least 50 people have died of an overdose associated with nitazenes. A lack of testing means the true number is likely higher.
June 27, 2025Susan L. Angstadt / For Spotlight PAOpioid funds, public voices: What Spotlight PA heard and learned by listening to youby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAWith an estimated $2 billion at stake, Spotlight PA used community conversations, a survey, and data tools to elevate public voices in the opioid settlement rollout.
June 12, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesLow-income Pennsylvanians could lose access to weight-loss drugs as Harrisburg searches for savingsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro’s administration plans to save money by cutting poor patients’ access to expensive weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. Not everyone is on board.