health care

Kansas City Nurses Mourn A Colleague's Death From COVID-19

5:48pm April 28, 2020

Health care workers are working relentlessly to save Americans from the coronavirus, putting themselves at risk. Kansas City nurses mourn a colleague's death and call for better protection.

A project in San Francisco to estimate spread of the coronavirus in hard-hit neighborhoods has expanded testing to everyone over age 4 in a broad swath of the Mission District this week, including at a pop-up site at Garfield Square.

San Francisco Enlists A Key Latino Neighborhood In Coronavirus Testing

4:43pm April 28, 2020

by Eric Westervelt

To get better data this week on a hard-hit community, the public health department and researchers are offering free testing for everyone over age 4 in a broad swath of the Mission District.

Vice President Pence joined President Trump on Monday to announce a federal "blueprint" to help states ramp up their testing of the virus.

Pence Says His Earlier Comments About Testing Were Misunderstood

3:00pm April 28, 2020

by Franco Ordoñez

At issue: test distribution versus test completion. The vice president said his statement in March about 4 million tests referred to test distribution.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-1 ruling, said the federal government must pay health insurers $12 billion under a provision of the Affordable Care Act.

Health & Safety

Supreme Court To Government: Pay Obamacare Insurers

7:02pm April 27, 2020

by Nina Totenberg

Under the law, the money was promised to companies as part of the start-up costs of Obamacare. But a GOP-led Congress reneged on the promise.

Health & Safety

ICUs Are Changing To Meet The Needs Of The Coronavirus Patients

4:20pm April 27, 2020

Medical staffs are reeling from the changes COVID-19 has brought to intensive care units — from redesigning the spaces to changing what it means to care for patients who are facing death alone.

"If we want to get back to a more normal existence, we need to give states the tools they need to contain the virus," Andy Slavitt, a former director of Medicare and Medicaid in the Obama administration, told NPR.

Ex-Officials Call For $46 Billion For Tracing, Isolating In Next Coronavirus Package

11:00am April 27, 2020

by Franco Ordoñez

Leading former federal health officials Andy Slavitt and Scott Gottlieb are leading a call for $46 billion for specific measures in a next coronavirus aid package to safely reopen the economy.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent three days in intensive care and another two weeks recovering from the disease, warned that any letup in efforts to halt it risked "a new wave of death and disease."

Britain's Johnson Back At Work After COVID-19, Counseling Patience During Lockdown

10:16am April 27, 2020

by Scott Neuman

The prime minister, who spent three days in intensive care and another two weeks recovering from the disease, warned that any letup in efforts to halt it risked "a new wave of death and disease."

Indiana gubernatorial candidate Dr. Woody Myers takes a COVID-19 test at Aria Diagnostics in Indianapolis last week.

CDC Adds 6 Symptoms To Its COVID-19 List

8:29am April 27, 2020

by Scott Neuman

The Centers for Disease Control now recognizes chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell as symptoms of the disease.

Despite recent changes in insurance policy, some patients say doctors and insurers are charging them upfront for video appointments and phone calls — not just copays but sometimes the entire cost of the visit, even if it's covered by insurance.

Patients Are Being Billed For Some Phone Chats With Doctors That Used To Be Free

5:00am April 27, 2020

by Jay Hancock

As part of their social distancing policies, elected leaders suggested phone and video medical appointments would be covered by health insurance. So why are some patients paying $70 per virtual visit?

Health & Safety

Families On Outside Try To Advocate For Hospitalized Loved Ones

5:47pm April 26, 2020

by Sarah Hulett

People separated from hospitalized loved ones are now feeling especially helpless, as they're unable to be at their bedsides. Many are desperately trying to find ways to advocate for their care.

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