Courtenay Harris Bond
Courtenay Harris Bond is the staff writer covering health for PhillyVoice. She enjoys writing about behavioral health, maternal health and inequities in the healthcare system, as well as human rights and criminal justice. A veteran daily newspaper reporter, Courtenay has also written for national outlets, including KFF Health News, Undark Magazine and Filter. She was a 2018 Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism and has master's degrees from Columbia Journalism School and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
January 14, 2025
Women's Health
Black mothers in Philly remain far more likely to have unexpected complications during delivery, report says
Philly's severe maternal morbidity rate, which measures unexpected complications that arise during deliver and lead to health problems for mothers and babies, 'increased dramatically' between 2016 and 2022, a new city report finds. Black mothers are twice as likely as white mothers to experience severe maternal morbidities.January 9, 2025
Health News
Outreach groups mobilize support for Philly's homeless population amid cold spell
Outreach groups have joined forces to help Philadelphia's homeless population during the recent cold spell. The city has opened warming centers and arranged for extra shelter beds. But people face a variety of barriers to accessing these emergency shelters, harm reduction workers say.January 8, 2025
Health Insurance
A record number of Americans have bought health plans for 2025 through the ACA; there's still time to do so
A record number of Americans have purchased health plans for through the Affordable Care Act this open enrollment period, the Biden administration said. The deadline to purchase plans on the federal marketplace is Jan. 15. Some state marketplaces have later deadlines, including New Jersey, which has a Jan. 31 deadline.January 8, 2025
Adult Health
Patients get quick access to medical test results online – but understanding them is often difficult
People now have online access to all medical test results as soon as they are finalized. But deciphering reports that come through patient portals can be confusing and sometimes anxiety provoking, a University of Michigan study finds. But using patient-centered language improves understanding.January 8, 2025
Addiction
Philly to offer year-long housing to 336 people in addiction recovery at Holmesburg facility
Philadelphia is set to open a new recovery facility, the Riverview Wellness Village, in Holmesburg. It offers year-round housing at six cottages along the Delaware River to people coming out of short-term addiction treatment. It will begin accepting residents next month and has space for 336 people.January 7, 2025
Health News
Medical debt to be removed from credit reports of 15 million Americans
Medical debt will no longer appear on credit reports under a federal rule finalized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That means $49 billion in medical debt will be eliminated from credit reports, making it easier for 15 million Americans to get car, home and small business loans.January 2, 2025
Healthy Eating
Looking to lose weight or eat healthier in 2025? Try one of these diet plans
Fad diets rarely lead to long-term weight loss. The top diets in 2025 focus on promoting healthier eating habits and lifestyle changes. The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains, is still the gold standard, dietitians say.January 2, 2025
Children's Health
New nasal swab test holds promise for asthma treatment
A new nasal swab test may allow doctors to diagnose asthma subtypes in children without using an invasive procedure requiring general anesthesia. The test, developed by University of Pittsburgh scientists, may allow more people to fine-tune their asthma treatments, researchers say.December 31, 2024
Addiction
Women are more likely to binge drink when their estrogen levels are high, study finds
A new, preclinical study links estrogen to binge drinking in women. When offered alcohol, female mice drank it more quickly if their estrogen levels were high, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine found. The findings may impact treatment for alcohol use disorder, but more research is needed.December 31, 2024
Health News
Families with children are experiencing homelessness in record numbers, HUD report shows
Homelessness rose to record levels between 2023 and 2024 – and the true number of people who are homeless may be higher than a single annual count can capture, a new HUD report says. The number of families with children experiencing homelessness rose by nearly 40%. Philly's next homeless count is Jan. 22.Just In
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