Health & Safety

Abortion rights advocates gather in front of the J. Marvin Jones Federal Building and Courthouse in Amarillo, Texas, on Wednesday. U.S. abortion opponents are hoping to get a national ban on a widely used abortion pill through their lawsuit against the FDA.

Federal judge in Texas hears case that could force a major abortion pill off market

7:40pm March 15, 2023

If the case succeeds, it could have sweeping repercussions — for abortion providers and patients across the nation, as well as for the FDA's drug-approval process.

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A quake survivor spends a night outside in Idlib, Syria on Feb. 9, 2023, following 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes centered in neighboring Turkey. A doctor in Syria says it's still difficult to get needed medical supplies.

What worries medical charities about trying to help Syria's earthquake survivors

5:34pm March 15, 2023

by Jason Beaubien

Camps in Syria have become overcrowded in the northwest of the country after the February 6 earthquake. NPR talks to Dr. Mego Terzian of Doctors without Borders about his assessment of the situation.

This safety-net hospital doctor treats mostly uninsured and undocumented patients

1:43pm March 15, 2023

by Terry Gross

Many of Ricardo Nuila's patients at Houston's Ben Taub Hospital are dealing with serious illnesses as a result of not being able to access basic preventive care. His new book is The People's Hospital.

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Florida is 1 of 11 states declining to accept federal money to expand Medicaid

5:11am March 15, 2023

by Greg Allen

With the end of the COVID public health emergency, 1.7 million people in Florida will soon lose their Medicaid health coverage. Despite that, officials have no plans to expand Medicaid in Florida.

Schools across the country say more students are asking for mental health services

5:11am March 15, 2023

by Abē Levine

Federal data show more students are requesting in-school mental health services, in another sign of the strain on students and educators. Teachers also report concerns about their mental health.

Physicians say roughly half of all preterm births are preventable, caused by social, economic and environmental factors, as well as inadequate access to prenatal health care.

The U.S. has a high rate of preterm births, and abortion bans could make that worse

5:00am March 15, 2023

by Sarah Varney

The rates of premature birth in the U.S. are high, especially in certain states. Experts worry that states restricting abortion have fewer maternal care providers than those with abortion access.

Testing on an Adderall pill from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, came back positive in January. Pharmacies there are selling counterfeit prescription pills laced with illicit substances and passing them off as legitimate pharmaceuticals.

Some Mexican pharmacies sell pills laced with deadly fentanyl to U.S. travelers

8:41pm March 14, 2023

by Brian Mann

Researchers say some Mexican pharmacies that cater to U.S. tourists and medical travelers are selling medications that look safe but are laced with deadly fentanyl and methamphetamines.

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We are approaching the brave new world of neurotech.

Neurotech could connect our brains to computers. What could go wrong, right?

5:50pm March 14, 2023

by Manuela López Restrepo

Connecting our brains to computers may sound like something from a science fiction movie, but it turns out the future is already here. One expert argues it's a slippery slope.

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Prescription drug coverage is just one part of Medicare, the federal government's health insurance program for people age 65 and over.

Why Medicare is suddenly under debate again

2:41pm March 14, 2023

As the White House and Republicans in Congress gear up for negotiations over the U.S. debt ceiling, how to pay for senior health care could be a sticking point, even if cuts are "off the table."

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This April 24, 2008, file photo shows the former North American headquarters of Novo Nordisk Inc., in Plainsboro, N.J. The Danish drugmaker will start slashing some U.S. insulin prices up to 75% next year, following a path set earlier this month by rival Eli Lilly.

Health & Safety

Novo Nordisk will cut some U.S. insulin prices by up to 75% starting next year

12:15pm March 14, 2023

by The Associated Press

The Danish drugmaker's move follows a similar announcement by rival Eli Lilly earlier this month. More than 8 million Americans use insulin, according to the American Diabetes Association.