Rachel Margret Sun

Lewiston, Moscow, Pullman

Health Reporter at Northwest Public Broadcasting

Health Reporter at The Lewiston Tribune

Health Reporter at Moscow Pullman Daily News

Articles

Red Cross to close Lewiston donation center after 27 years in LC Valley

2 weeks ago | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

The Red Cross will close its Lewiston blood donation center on Aug. 2. The organization has had a donation center in Lewiston for 27 years, 15 of which were at their current location. Matt Ochsner, regional communications director, said the center hasn’t been collecting blood in a cost-efficient manner. “We’ll continue our mobile operations in that area,” he said. From July 1, 2024 to May 21, the center collected around 843 units of blood. Last fiscal year, it collected 872 units.
Idaho kindergarten vaccine rates appear to have fallen from year prior

2 weeks ago | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

Idaho continues to report some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. This past school year, data submitted in the fall showed that, on average, 74.8% of Idaho kindergartners had received all their recommended vaccinations, according to a report released by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. That’s a drop from an average of 76% among kindergartners the same time the year before.
Lewiston-based insurance company pulled Asotin MedAdvantage plans, citing growing financial pressure

1 month ago | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

At least several hundred customers in Asotin County lost access to their Medicare Advantage plans through Regence BlueShield of Idaho this year. Rick Woods, an insurance broker based in Lewiston, said he and his team met with hundreds of Asotin County Medicare Advantage customers before the open enrollment date to help them get informed and switch to different plans.
Washington, Idaho rank high for public health emergency preparedness

2 months ago | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

A new report shows that Idaho and Washington state ranked “high” among states prepared to handle public health emergencies, while Oregon ranked “low.”The report, published by Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public health group, evaluated 10 different criteria. The criteria included public health and emergency management accreditation, states’ participation in compacts that allow for cross-state nursing practices, water system safety and vaccination rates.
Washington state reports 7-year peak in influenza-related deaths

2 months ago | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

The Washington Department of Health reported that flu-related deaths have reached their highest levels since the 2017-2018 season. The state had 296 lab-confirmed deaths so far. There are more than six months left of flu season. Flu seasons are measured from October of one year to September of the next. This is the first “high severity” season in seven years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Blood banks are looking for donors

Feb 27, 2025 | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

Blood banks in the Northwest reported a drop in blood donations early this year due to cold weather and poor driving conditions. That kept some Northwest blood donors from making or keeping appointments, the Washington State Department of Health reported late last month. Kristin Conner, communications manager at Vitalant Blood Donation, said the biggest drops in blood donation usually come in the winter and summer months.
Smart Transit director says he’s working to improve vehicle maintenance, customer communication

Feb 19, 2025 | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

A three-day service outage earlier this month at the Moscow-based nonprofit Smart Transit was caused by a lapse in insurance coverage, said Casey Green, the organization’s executive director. The outage, which Green estimates may have affected over 200 people, happened between Jan. 31 and Feb. 3. He said he’d been working with an insurance broker to get new coverage after being dropped by their previous provider for having too many claims.
Prison education program is giving incarcerated people in Idaho a second chance

Feb 14, 2025 | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

Lance Barnes is almost halfway through a 10-year prison sentence. He’s also in his third semester as a student at Lewis-Clark State College. “I certainly didn’t think I would be coming to prison to educate myself,” Barnes said. Barnes, who’s now 42 and a student with a 4.0 GPA, is one of roughly 150 student inmates at facilities in Orofino, Pocatello and Boise receiving a college education through LCSC.
Regence patients could lose coverage at local hospitals, cancer clinic

Feb 6, 2025 | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

People with Regence Blueshield of Idaho insurance may have to pay more for services at St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health hospitals beginning next year. Regence’s contract with the hospitals in Cottonwood and Orofino, respectively, has ended. But people can still receive “in network” care until Jan. 1, said Kim Johnson, director of marketing and communications at St. Mary’s Health. Regence says it is trying to negotiate a new contract with the hospitals.
Research says walkable neighborhoods can help you stay active — making them work requires delight - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Jan 27, 2025 | nwpb.org | Rachel Margret Sun

People who live in a neighborhood with features such as sidewalks, a park, coffee shops, restaurants and access to public transportation are likely going to be more active than if they lived somewhere without them. That’s because those features are signs of a walkable neighborhood — and walkable neighborhoods are associated with increased activity level, according to a new twin study led by a researcher at Washington State University.