One of Alabama’s leading medical institutions is now among the largest hospitals in the country. UAB Hospital in Birmingham ranks as the fifth-largest hospital in the United States by number of beds, according to a new national study from Becker’s Healthcare. The report, which examines the largest hospitals in the country based on bed capacity, […]

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is joining a national effort to expand nutrition training for medical students, placing UAB among 53 medical schools committing to strengthening how future doctors learn about diet and disease prevention. The announcement came during a meeting in Washington, D.C., where leaders from the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]

The University of Alabama has launched a new brain health initiative designed to help people across the state navigate the often complicated road to recovery after a traumatic brain injury. The program, called Comprehensive Post-Acute Specialty Services, or COMPASS, provides coordinated evaluations for patients who continue experiencing cognitive, emotional, neurological or functional challenges after leaving […]

A coalition of Alabama’s most powerful business and insurance groups is sounding the alarm over a surge in healthcare mandate legislation this session, warning lawmakers that the cumulative cost of the bills will land squarely on employers and families already struggling with rising insurance premiums. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the Business Council […]

The James Houston Center for Faith and Successful Aging has announced the appointment of three new members to the organization’s Board of Directors: Dr. Lucinda Roff, Dr. David L. Albright, and Isabelle Parker-Silko. “We are honored and thankful that these distinguished leaders are willingly offering their time and talents to furthering our mission and help […]

On Tuesday, Governor Kay Ivey and the Amendment 666 Bond Commission approved the future issuance of bonds and pledged $40 million in state funding to support Jackson Hospital’s recovery from its self-inflicted bankruptcy. Jackson Hospital — who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year — has been aggressively pursuing for alternative solutions to help keep […]

Alabama health officials are preparing for a potential Alabama measles outbreak as cases expand across the Southeast and nationwide case counts rise, according to State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. Harris said the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is taking steps to ensure medical providers are ready to identify and respond to cases of […]

Two bills moving through the Alabama Legislature would prohibit health insurers from imposing deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance for specified breast and prostate cancer screenings, a change supporters say would improve early detection and access to care. House Bill 300 and Senate Bill 19 both seek to remove cost-sharing requirements tied to certain cancer screenings covered […]

As Alabama faces one of the most severe nursing shortages in the nation — driven by looming retirements and rising hospital vacancy rates — The University of Alabama has announced a transformative plan to double enrollment at its Capstone College of Nursing and significantly expand the state’s nurse workforce pipeline. The UA nursing expansion Alabama […]

Dow Briggs, M.D. is the Executive Vice President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. There are many reasons why Jackson Hospital is struggling, but Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s reimbursement is not why it is in bankruptcy. Despite the misleading claims made by the hospital’s CEO, Jackson Hospital is reimbursed more […]

The Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame will induct 12 healthcare leaders into its Class of 2026 during a ceremony scheduled for Aug. 8 in Montgomery. According to organizers, this year’s class includes physicians, dentists, healthcare executives, researchers, and academic leaders, including the president of The University of Alabama at Birmingham and multiple deans and hospital […]

The Alabama House passed HB111 on Wednesday, creating the crime of human cloning and making violations a Class C felony. The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Phillip Rigsby (R-Huntsville), prohibits performing or attempting human cloning, participating in cloning attempts, and shipping or receiving embryos or cells for cloning purposes. The legislation does not restrict in […]

Alabama is reinforcing its role as a regional leader in advanced medical care after The University of Alabama at Birmingham performed the Southeast’s first robotic kidney transplant earlier this month, a milestone that could expand access to lifesaving procedures as the demand for organ transplants continues to grow nationwide. According to federal transplant data, more […]

VOICES for Alabama’s Children has released the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book, marking a shift to a fully digital, year-round data platform with an expanded focus on children’s mental health. The 2025 edition represents the 32nd installment of the organization’s long-running assessment of child well-being in Alabama. Unlike previous years, the Data Book will […]

Longleaf Recovery & Wellness will host a free continuing education training in February focused on recognizing and responding to relapse risk among individuals in recovery. The two-hour course, titled “Understanding Relapse Risk: Recognition and Response,” is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST at 2501 International Park Drive in Birmingham. […]

A small horse with a big heart is gaining statewide attention for the comfort she brings to some of Alabama’s most vulnerable residents. Winnie, recognized as Alabama’s first miniature therapy horse, has spent years visiting nursing homes, assisted living facilities, memory care centers and rehabilitation facilities, offering moments of calm and connection to individuals who […]

Opioid prescriptions and the strength of those prescriptions have continued to decline significantly in Alabama over the past decade, according to new data cited by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. The Medical Association points to findings from a recent national report showing that opioid prescriptions in Alabama fell 46.2% between 2012 and […]

The Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee announced a grant program that will give Alabama veterans 24/7, year-round access to mental health support. Uwill, a national mental health and wellness platform, was awarded a grant and is rolling out a program providing immediate, confidential mental health and wellness support to Alabama’s veterans. The company developed the […]

USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital has received a $50,000 contribution from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to support pediatric surgical care. The funding will be used to purchase new pediatric monitoring equipment for operating rooms, providing enhanced imaging capabilities and additional tools for physicians and surgical teams during procedures involving young patients. The […]

A group of middle school students from the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) is receiving national recognition for work rarely associated with students their age: using artificial intelligence to study the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The ASFA students have been awarded a $1,000 Promising STEM Innovation Award in the 2025–2026 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow […]

UAB Health System has announced its acquisition of Southview Medical Group, a multi-specialty medical practice serving patients across central Alabama. The acquisition was finalized January 1, 2026. The partnership aims to strengthen access to high-quality care in Birmingham and surrounding communities as demand for both primary and specialty services continues to grow. As part of […]

A leading Alabama-based behavioral health provider offering treatment for substance use disorders and mental health conditions has cleared one of Alabama health care’s biggest regulatory hurdles, winning Certificate of Need (CON) approval to develop and operate Longleaf Lodge, a new 60-bed residential substance use treatment center in Shelby County. Longleaf Recovery & Wellness’ approval from […]

While 22 states have had residents sickened with salmonella, some after eating raw oysters, Alabama is not one of those states. A December 23 report issued by the Center for Disease Control stated that 64 people have been infected with the disease. The situation is referred to as an “outbreak” in many news media and […]

Alabama’s rural communities are getting a infusion of $203,404,327 under the Trump administration’s state-led rural health transformation plan. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Monday that all 50 states will receive awards through the program, which CMS says was established under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. Awards for 2026 average about […]