health care costs

At a press conference in Japan on Monday, President Donald Trump blamed mental illness, not guns, for the Texas massacre.

Texas Shooter's History Raises Questions About Mental Health And Mass Murder

3:54pm November 08, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

President Trump says the Texas shooting shows that mental health is a "problem of the highest order." This comes amid a debate about mental illness, guns, and his own record on mental health programs.

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Kathleen Phelps, who lacks health insurance, speaks in favor of expanding Medicaid at a news conference in Portland, Maine on Oct. 13, 2016.

Maine Voters Will Decide If They Want More Access To Medicaid

11:28am November 07, 2017

by Steve Mistler

The state of Maine has wrestled for years over whether expanding its low-income health insurance program would help more people or be a budget buster. Now they're going to take it to a vote.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota want drugmakers to stop wasting money by making eyedrops that are too big.

Senators Move To Reduce 'Colossal And Completely Preventable Waste' Of Drugs

9:36am November 01, 2017

by Marshall Allen

Senators cited ProPublica reporting that found drug companies have been making patients pay for oversize eyedrops and more liquid cancer medications than they need.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., continues to tweak the health care bill he cosponsors in an effort to persuade reluctant senators to back it.

'Millions' Fewer Would Have Coverage Under GOP Health Bill, Says CBO Analysis

8:30pm September 25, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

The Congressional Budget Office says it won't have time to analyze all the impacts of the latest GOP effort to repeal the ACA, but it says millions more would be uninsured than under current law.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, second from left, speaks as Sen. John Barrasso, from left, Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. John Thune and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell listen during a news briefing after the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon on Tuesday.

Graham-Cassidy Health Bill Would Shift Funds From States That Expanded Medicaid

5:21pm September 21, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

The bill's sponsors say their plan to reallocate federal health funding among states is more equitable. It also would cause largely Democratic states to lose funding while Republican states gain.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb says the agency will close a loophole that lets drug manufacturers skip pediatric testing in some drugs intended for children.

FDA Moves To Rein In Drugmakers' Abuse Of Orphan Drug Law

5:02pm September 13, 2017

by Sarah Jane Tribble

Following an investigation by Kaiser Health News and NPR, the Food and Drug Administration has moved to close a loophole that lets drugmakers skip pediatric testing of drugs to treat rare diseases.

Younger people are more likely to shop around for prices on prescription drugs, according to the latest NPR-Truven Health Analytics poll.

Why Do People Stop Taking Their Meds? Cost Is Just One Reason

11:46am September 08, 2017

by Katherine Hobson

The latest NPR-Truven Health Analytics poll finds that one-third of people say they're stopped taking a prescription drug without telling their doctor. And that could be putting their health at risk.

The debate over health care overhaul continues in the Senate.

The Senate Health Care Vote, Simplified

9:15pm July 24, 2017

by Gisele Grayson

President Trump is pushing the Senate to repeal and replace Obamacare this week. But with multiple bills in play, it's far from clear what the Senate would vote on. Here's a recap of the options.

An illustration of index cards showing the Affordable Care Act, the Affordable Health Care Act, the Better Care Reconciliation Act and the Senate's repeal-only plan

With So Many Obamacare Repeal Options In Play, Confusion Reigns

8:59pm July 20, 2017

by Gisele Grayson

Congress has been trying to repeal and/or replace the Affordable Care Act for years. Now it's down to the wire, but there are multiple proposals on the Senate's table, and more could be on the way.

Uncertainty Over Obamacare Leaves Next Year's Rates In Limbo

5:35pm July 19, 2017

While Washington ponders the future of the Affordable Care Act, health insurers need to decide right now what to charge people for health insurance in 2018. "It's insane," says one CEO.

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