Illinois bill requires insurance coverage for therapeutic horseback riding
Advocates for hippotherapy say riding a horse for an hour is the equivalent of power walking, and can be beneficial for those who struggle to move.
Specialists in the field also report that horses have a calming effect on patients with anxiety.
In the past, insurance companies have fought against covering the services.
Senate Bill 69 passed out of the Senate unanimously in April and passed the House just before the end of the legislative session.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Chicago Tribune
3 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: A state law giving school kids mental health screenings leaves the sensitive details to bureaucrats
America has moved from ignoring mental health to openly embracing it. That's progress. But a new Illinois law, which makes schools — not parents — the gatekeepers of children's mental health screenings, crosses a line into new territory, and the details on what exactly happens next are shockingly light. On July 31, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill that does two things. First, it requires all school districts to offer mental health screenings to students enrolled in grades three through 12, at least once a year, beginning with the 2027-28 school year. Second, the bill requires the Illinois State Board of Education to provide resource materials for schools to implement these universal mental health screenings, including model policies and guidance, by Sept. 1, 2026. The legislation stipulates that screening tools will be made available by the state, adding no extra cost to districts. We're the first state in the country to do this. We have no issue with making resources available to kids. They deserve support, and kids in mental crisis need it more than anyone. But how will this work? We have a lot of questions, and this new law is extraordinarily light on detail. First: Will these screenings be required or not? The law doesn't say explicitly. Legislative language requires 'the option to opt-out' — does this refer to parents or can kids just say no thanks? Who will administer the screenings? How will the data be stored and protected? What exactly will children be asked? What happens next if a child is flagged after a screening? State lawmakers, in their haste to pass well-intentioned legislation, sure did leave a heck of a lot of details to unelected bureaucrats. There's also the question of efficacy. Evidence shows that mental health screenings tend to yield a high rate of false positives. An article published by Harvard Medical School in 2021 showed 50% of mental health screenings in primary care settings were false positives. What this underscores is that, when you institutionalize something as sensitive as kids' mental health, you can have all the protocols and guidance possible, and it still won't catch everything. Some of what these screenings capture, too, are the negative feelings of teens simply having a bad week at the time the screening was administered. 'Kids are wildly suggestible, especially where psychiatric symptoms are concerned. Ask a kid repeatedly if he might be depressed — how about now? Are you sure? — and he just might decide that he is,' author Abigail Shrier wrote in a recent essay in The Free Press. Shrier studied adolescent mental health for her book 'Bad Therapy.' Letters: State measure that expands mental health screenings for children will save livesShrier also cites Dr. Allen Frances, Duke University professor of psychiatry and a leading expert in this field, who said 'most kids who screen positive will have transient problems, not mental disorder.' That funnels too many kids dealing with temporary challenges into the system while siphoning resources from the ones who really need them, he said. 'Transient problems' in this case is another way of describing the normal ups and downs of life, fluctuations felt acutely during preteen and teenage years as young people learn to handle their emotions, social challenges and changing bodies. That's not to say serious illness doesn't exist — of course it does. Navigating these situations with children is a delicate process that must be led by parents or caregivers, alongside the kids themselves. And all of this is urgent, as depression and anxiety among young people are higher than they've ever been. We also agree with the sentiment that it's irresponsible for the grown-ups in the room not to do something about this problem. If lawmakers truly want to address the drivers of youth distress, social media and smartphones — which we know are deeply connected to rising youth mental health problems — are a more urgent target than annual screenings. In fact, Pritzker proposed a ban on phones in the classroom — not a panacea by any means, but certainly a positive first step in making schools a place where kids can focus on their studies and their interpersonal relationships instead of being glued to a tiny screen. That bill did not pass. But soon, the bill that did become law will trigger the widespread implementation of mental health screenings in schools across the state. We don't see what's wrong with teachers or other school staff flagging problematic behavior or troubling signs directly to parents. That way, the proper chain of command — in this instance, parents and guardians making decisions about when and how to talk to kids about serious issues, not people outside of the family — can be maintained. We're sure conscientious teachers, coaches, counselors and administrators are already doing this, and we'd encourage parents to be open-minded to the input they're getting from these folks who are seeing their kids every day. We need much more detail on what's going to happen here, and when these details emerge, we encourage ISBE to make sure to recommend protocols informing parents of these screenings — the timing, details and questions to be asked — before they happen. Parents are juggling a lot, and it's incumbent on trusted teachers and administrators to be forthcoming about something this sensitive. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Newsweek
Iowa Democrat Drops Out of Senate Race, Endorses Rival
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iowa Democratic Representative J.D. Scholten announced Monday that he is suspending his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign and endorsing fellow Democratic legislator Josh Turek in the primary race to potentially challenge Republican Senator Joni Ernst. Newsweek reached out to Scholten via email on Monday for comment. Why It Matters Scholten's endorsement consolidates Democratic support around healthcare advocacy, with Turek bringing a personal perspective to the issue. The two-time Paralympic gold medalist said his family relied on public assistance programs like Medicaid, as well as Iowa's Area Education Agencies and free summer lunch program as he was growing up, having gone through 21 surgeries by the age of 12 for spina bifida, according to his official campaign biography. The 2026 Iowa Senate race represents a critical opportunity for Democrats in a state that has shifted increasingly Republican in recent cycles. Senator Ernst's response to healthcare concerns has become a focal point for Democratic challengers seeking to make the race competitive. An important update 👉 Today I'm suspending my campaign and endorsing Josh Turek. We can't sit by while healthcare is ripped from millions of Americans and there's no better Democrat in Iowa to hold Joni to account for her cruelty than my friend fighter State Rep. Josh Turek. — J.D. Scholten (@JDScholten) August 18, 2025 What To Know Scholten, a Sioux City Democrat, entered the race in June after Ernst sparked controversy for responding to comments at a town hall about Medicaid cuts. "People are not ... well, we all are going to die," the senator said in part. Ernst's office later clarified to news outlets that she was attempting to make a broader philosophical point about mortality, not specifically about Medicaid policy. Turek, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, launched his campaign on Tuesday. The endorsement comes as both lawmakers represent western Iowa districts and share backgrounds as athletes serving in the state legislature. Scholten, a professional baseball pitcher for the minor league Sioux City Explorers, said he and Turek share many similarities as athletes representing western Iowa at the Statehouse. The Democratic primary field remains crowded despite Scholten's exit. Iowa Senator Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris and Nathan Sage, former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce director, are running for the seat, alongside Turek. On the Republican side, Jim Carlin, a former state lawmaker and Joshua Smith, who has run as a Libertarian candidate in previous elections, are also campaigning for the GOP nomination. Ernst has not officially said if she plans to run for reelection in 2026, though she has told reporters an announcement would be "coming soon." She also told a GOP audience last week that Democrats can "bring it on" in the 2026 election. The lawmaker has raised nearly $1.8 million in the first half of 2025 and scheduled an October fundraiser, possibly signaling preparations for a reelection campaign, the AP reports. Early polling of the race shows the senator with a slight advantage in Iowa. A June Public Policy Polling survey found that Ernst would lead a generic Democrat by about two percentage points—45 percent to 43 percent, with 12 percent still unsure. The poll did not ask voters about specific Democratic candidates. The poll surveyed 568 Iowa voters. What People Are Saying Scholten in a statement on Monday in part: "There are still so many issues facing Iowans today, but we can't sit by while healthcare is ripped from millions of Americans. And there is no better Democrat in Iowa to talk about healthcare issues than my friend: State Rep. Josh Turek." Scholten on his endorsement decision in part: "From the very beginning, I thought a prairie populist athlete from Western Iowa would be the best candidate to win in the General election. I still do, but instead of me, I have complete confidence that Josh Turek can take this on." Turek responding to Scholten's message on X: "I am honored to have the support of J.D. Over the last several years, J.D. and I have fought alongside one another in the state legislature to lower costs for Iowa's families, to make health care more affordable and accessible, to make housing more affordable, and to make life a little bit easier and a little bit better for Iowa's families." He concluded: "We have an incredible opportunity to beat Joni Ernst in 2026, and I'm proud to join forces with J.D." JD Scholten, running for congress in Iowa's 4th Congressional District against Steve King, waves to supporters outside the Wing Ding Dinner on August 9, 2019 in Clear Lake, Iowa. JD Scholten, running for congress in Iowa's 4th Congressional District against Steve King, waves to supporters outside the Wing Ding Dinner on August 9, 2019 in Clear Lake, Iowa. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images What Happens Next? Turek and Scholten will hold an event in Council Bluffs Monday evening. Ernst is expected to formally announce her potential reelection campaign within the coming weeks. Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Business Upturn
16 hours ago
- Business Upturn
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration Joins Lawmakers to Advance Dementia Awareness in California
Sacramento, CA, Aug. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) and FTD advocates – including Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis – will travel to the California State Capitol today to mark the passage of the state's second resolution recognizing Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Awareness Week. State Senator Roger Niello introduced the resolution, and will present it on the Senate floor and recognize Willis, FTD advocate Terry Walter, and their families. The resolution's coauthors in the Senate are Sens. Jones, Alvarado-Gill, Dahle, Grayson, Ochoa Bogh, Seyarto, Strickland, and Umberg. In the Assembly, its co-authors are Assemblymembers Patterson, Alanis, Chen, Irwin, and Wallis. This is the second year the AFTD and advocates have gone to California's Capitol to draw attention to the unique impacts of FTD on patients, care partners, families, and public services. In addition to increasing awareness of FTD, they called on Governor Gavin Newsom to add an FTD seat to the California Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee. 'This resolution is a powerful step toward the awareness and policy change needed for this devastating, underdiagnosed disease,' said Meghan Buzby, AFTD's Director of Advocacy and Volunteer Engagement. 'In California, the voices of families and individuals living with FTD are resonating louder than ever — and we will continue pushing for action from the Governor and policymakers to ensure those voices drive meaningful change.' Emma Heming Willis added, 'FTD robs people of their best years and places enormous strain on care givers and families. I'm so grateful to the California Senate and Assembly for making this issue a priority and standing with us to push for change.' FTD is the most common early-onset dementia, often diagnosed in people under age 60. Symptoms include personality changes, speech difficulties, and problems with decision-making. There is no cure, but research and clinical trials offer hope. The full text of the resolution: Relative to Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week. WHEREAS, It is the custom of the Legislature to recognize official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens of California; and WHEREAS, Attendant to that concern and in full accord with its longstanding traditions, it is the sense of the Legislature to memorialize and to proclaim the week of September 21 to September 28, 2025, inclusive, as Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week in California, in conjunction with the observance of World FTD Awareness Week; and WHEREAS, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) reports that Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) is a terminal and incurable neurodegenerative disease affecting the frontal and temporal lobes, causing impairments to speech, personality, behavior, and motor skills that constitutes a major public health concern; and WHEREAS, It takes an average of 3.6 years from the initial symptoms to get an accurate diagnosis of FTD, with an average life expectancy of 7 to 13 years after the initial symptoms; and WHEREAS, FTD strikes people as young as 21 years of age and as old as 80 years of age, with the largest percentage of those affected being in their 40s to 60s, rendering people in the prime of life unable to work or function normally; and WHEREAS, FTD imposes average annual costs associated with care and living with the disease that are approximately double those of Alzheimer's disease; and WHEREAS, FTD is identified in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease as a related dementia and included as a priority in the goals and strategies of the plan to achieve the vision of a nation free of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; and WHEREAS, The California Master Plan for Aging incorporates all 10 recommendations from the Governor's Task Force on Alzheimer's (Disease) Prevention and Preparedness to help people and families living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia; and WHEREAS, FTD represents an estimated 5 to 15 percent of all dementia cases and is the most common form of dementia for people under 60 years of age; and WHEREAS, Approximately 40 percent of people with FTD have a family history of FTD or a related condition such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), with about one-half of those found to have an inherited form accounted for by mutations in the Progranulin, C9orf72, Tau/MAPT and other rarer genes; and WHEREAS, FTD is often misdiagnosed as a psychiatric problem or other neurodegenerative disease because of the wide range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms and their young onset; and WHEREAS, FTD often affects a person's ability to express emotions and to show affection and empathy for loved ones; and WHEREAS, In the behavioral variant of FTD, a person's sense of social graces and appropriate behavior can be lost, and their personality may be significantly changed; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, in the language variants of FTD (primary progressive aphasia), a person may have trouble producing speech and understanding grammar, lose the meaning of words or become hesitant in their speech, and may eventually become mute; and WHEREAS, In the movement variants of FTD, a person may experience muscle weakness, falling, loss of balance, difficulty making speech, difficulty swallowing, or choking; and WHEREAS, While there has never been a global epidemiology study of FTD, it is estimated that more than 60,000 people are affected in the United States today; and WHEREAS, The AFTD is the leading national organization exclusively focused on the spectrum of FTD disorders with a mission to improve the quality of life of people affected by FTD and drive research to a cure; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this serious disease, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, state, and national levels; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares the week of September 21 to September 28, 2025, inclusive, as Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution. For more information, visit Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
