Alexa Hornbeck
Alexa Hornbeck was a health care reporter for The Well News from March 2021 to August 2022. She has experience covering health and medicine topics. Her reporting focused on stories at the intersection of health, politics, social trends and science. She tracked health policy changes, women’s health and telemedicine news.
Prior to joining the TWN, Hornbeck worked for hyper local publications in San Francisco, California, and New York City. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received graduate degrees in public health and journalism. Her undergraduate degree was completed in literary studies at The New School in New York City.
Recent Work
WASHINGTON — When Khrista Messinger, a 46-year-old who works for the City of Charleston, W.Va., requested time off from work... Read More
WASHINGTON — When Khrista Messinger, a 46-year-old who works for the City of Charleston, W.Va., requested time off from work to seek treatment for her substance abuse addiction she was told by her employer that she needed to use her sick leave and vacation time. “I’ve... Read More
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a new roadmap to accelerate efforts to protect Americans from per- and polyfluoroalkyl... Read More
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a new roadmap to accelerate efforts to protect Americans from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of toxic chemicals found in food packaging and other common commercial products that can cause severe health problems. "We are exploring ways for... Read More
It was only nine years ago that researchers discovered a method for editing human genes using a specialized technology called... Read More
It was only nine years ago that researchers discovered a method for editing human genes using a specialized technology called the CRISPR-Cas9 tool. CRISPR-Cas9 enables geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding or altering sections of the DNA sequence. Ethicists,... Read More
LOS ANGELES - A new study from researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center appears to confirm what many have long argued:... Read More
LOS ANGELES - A new study from researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center appears to confirm what many have long argued: That a “broken heart” really can lead to long-term heart injury. “We know from other studies the heart-brain connection is very strong, but this is one... Read More
WASHINGTON — New data presented by researchers from Editas Medicine, a leading genome editing company, reveals that gene editing treatments... Read More
WASHINGTON — New data presented by researchers from Editas Medicine, a leading genome editing company, reveals that gene editing treatments are not only safe in humans, but may hold promise of treating a rare retinal disease that leads to blindness. “We believe these findings validate the... Read More
WASHINGTON — The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted veterans' access to food, leading to greater food insecurity, and according to officials... Read More
WASHINGTON — The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted veterans' access to food, leading to greater food insecurity, and according to officials from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, telehealth is now helping to combat the issue. “The COVID-19 pandemic certainly has been impactful for many Americans,... Read More
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Health and Human Services slashed 30% in Medicaid reimbursement rates to eligible hospitals under the... Read More
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Health and Human Services slashed 30% in Medicaid reimbursement rates to eligible hospitals under the 340B drug discount program. The program, which has existed for 29 years, requires manufacturers of pharmaceutical companies under the Medicaid program to discount the price of... Read More
Researchers from the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Salk Institute conducted a review of time-restricted eating that shows... Read More
Researchers from the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Salk Institute conducted a review of time-restricted eating that shows eating within an 8-10-hour window can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. “Just like to be productive we plan our... Read More
This week the World Health Organization held the third webinar in a series focused on post-COVID-19 burden, research, and rehabilitation... Read More
This week the World Health Organization held the third webinar in a series focused on post-COVID-19 burden, research, and rehabilitation efforts, as currently over a third of patients who get COVID-19 have symptoms lasting for months. In September 2020, the WHO established an International Classification of... Read More
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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a recommendation for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to relax restrictions on... Read More
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a recommendation for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to relax restrictions on cannabis. "This is monumental," Biden said in a video announcement. "Today, my administration took a major step to reclassify [cannabis]... Read More
WASHINGTON — Fifteen members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, have been named finalists for a Democracy Award, an annual award... Read More
WASHINGTON — Fifteen members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, have been named finalists for a Democracy Award, an annual award bestowed by the Congressional Management Foundation to recognize excellence in constituent services by members and their offices. Founded in 1977,... Read More
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Natural gas producer CNX Resources said it plans to build a $1.5 billion facility at Pittsburgh's... Read More
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Natural gas producer CNX Resources said it plans to build a $1.5 billion facility at Pittsburgh's airport to make hydrogen-based fuels, but only if President Joe Biden’s administration allows coal mine methane to qualify for tax credits that... Read More
Marta Moehring voted the way she prefers in Nebraska's Republican primary Tuesday — in person, at her west Omaha polling... Read More
Marta Moehring voted the way she prefers in Nebraska's Republican primary Tuesday — in person, at her west Omaha polling place. She didn’t even consider taking advantage of the state’s no-excuse mail-in ballot process. In fact, she would prefer to... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two House committees moved ahead Thursday with contempt charges against Attorney General Merrick Garland for refusing to turn over... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two House committees moved ahead Thursday with contempt charges against Attorney General Merrick Garland for refusing to turn over audio from President Joe Biden’s interview with a special counsel, advancing the matter after the White House's decision to block the... Read More
Kratom, a botanical substance from Southeast Asia with centuries of traditional use, has gained popularity in recent years for its... Read More
Kratom, a botanical substance from Southeast Asia with centuries of traditional use, has gained popularity in recent years for its potential benefits, including relaxation and mood enhancement. However, alongside this surge in interest comes the need for robust regulation to... Read More
