Martha Bebinger is a correspondent for WBUR. She covers health care and other general assignments for the outlet.
Recently published
Boston-based AI disease tracker aims to be an ‘alarm bell’ as the Trump administration severs global health ties
A tool out of Boston University aims to enhance surveillance of disease outbreaks across the globe, a task traditionally informed by several federal agencies that have been dismantled or cut...
Mass. expands access to COVID boosters and sets independent vaccine path
Massachusetts now allows more widespread distribution of COVID vaccines than is recommended by the federal government.
34,000 Mass. residents will lose health coverage Jan. 1 following federal cuts
Roughly 34,000 legal immigrants in Massachusetts will be the first group of residents to lose government-subsidized health insurance under changes signed into federal law last month. Most are working-age adults,...
Nice ink: How some chaplains use tattoos to connect with patients
Chaplains, like many caregivers focused on the mind, heart or soul, are realizing that the inner lives of many of their patients are turned inside out and made visible through...
Reflecting on the indescribable pain and questions from losing a loved one to a drug overdose
WBUR's Martha Bebinger lost her nephew, Austen Smith, to a drug overdose last year. In this essay, she describes the pain and questions that linger.
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Worcester cut overdose deaths in half. Now it faces federal cuts
Worcester cut its overdose deaths in half in 2024. And with just 13 recorded overdose deaths through April, New England's second largest city is on track for even fewer deaths...
More Mass. clinics caught in Trump administration effort to defund Planned Parenthood
Trump administration efforts to defund Planned Parenthood will also cut Medicaid payments to a network of clinics that serve low-income patients in southeastern Mass. Health Imperatives, a nonprofit provider of...
Mass General Brigham builds AI tool to warn patients about the dangers of extreme heat
Mass General Brigham is partnering with IBM on an artificial intelligence tool to send bespoke heat alerts to the patients most at risk.
Kate Walsh reflects on her time as Mass. health secretary
Monday was Kate Walsh’s first day in semi-retirement. As Massachusetts secretary of health and human services, she oversaw a tumultuous period of hospital sales and closures, increasing public skepticism about...
Leadership change for state's health and human services amid major federal challenges
Massachusetts Health and Human Service Secretary Kate Walsh is retiring after two and a half years in the role. Gov. Maura Healey has appointed Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, the current undersecretary...