health care

A proposed change in a formula for Medicare payments could help rural hospitals but would mean less money for hospitals in cities.

Health & Safety

Richer Medicare Payments For Rural Hospitals Could Come At Urban Centers' Expense

5:42pm May 31, 2019

by Sarah Jane Tribble

The administration's proposed adjustment to the wage index, a key factor used to set hospitals' Medicare payments, could help rural facilities while hurting those in cities.

What's At Stake For Georgia If Hollywood Boycotts Over A New Abortion Law

5:09pm May 31, 2019

A boycott of Georgia's booming film industry could cause major damage to the state's economy. NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Bryn Sandberg of The Hollywood Reporter about how this could happen.

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Doctors who experience burnout are prone to cut back on hours or quit practicing medicine. This costs the health care system billions, new research finds.

Health & Safety

What's Doctor Burnout Costing America?

3:27pm May 31, 2019

by Pien Huang

Doctors who feel burned out are more likely to cut back on hours or leave medicine entirely. This costs hospitals and health care organizations billions each year, new research finds.

Louisiana Governor Says He Plans To Sign Bill Restricting Most Abortions Into Law

5:37pm May 30, 2019

by Debbie Elliott

Louisiana is the latest state where lawmakers have voted to ban most abortions with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. The state's Democratic governor says he will sign the bill into law.

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The Regulations Allegedly Violated By The Last Clinic Offering Abortions In Missouri

4:59pm May 30, 2019

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, about the investigation he is overseeing into Missouri's only abortion clinic.

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Jake Powell, who works in New York City, is originally from Wyoming. Powell joined the PrEP4All movement after having to go off the drug for six months because it was too costly, even for someone with health insurance.

Old Fight, New Front: AIDS Activists Want Lower Drug Prices. Now!

3:37pm May 30, 2019

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

In the 1980s, ACT UP demanded action from the U.S. government and got results with drama. AIDS activists today have fresh tactics for their new goal: a more affordable HIV prevention pill.

Rep. Seth Moulton Announces Mental Health Care Proposal By Sharing His Experience

5:43pm May 29, 2019

by Quil Lawrence

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Iraq veteran and presidential candidate, revealed at a campaign event Tuesday that he was treated for PTSD after his deployment and he continues to see a counselor monthly.

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AIDS Activists Take On The High Price Of HIV Prevention Pill

4:29pm May 29, 2019

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

In the 1980s, AIDS activists demanded action from the U.S. government in a dramatic way, and got results. Now, they have a new goal: more affordable access to an HIV prevention pill.

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At least 43 million Americans have overdue medical bills on their credit reports, according to a 2014 report on medical debt by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Mired In Medical Debt? Federal Rule Changes Proposed For Bill Collectors

7:20am May 29, 2019

by Michelle Andrews

More than half of Americans contacted about an overdue bill said it related to medical debt. Some consumer advocates say newly proposed limits on debt collectors don't do enough.

Avastin got an accelerated Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of glioblastoma, but additional research found the drug didn't extend patients' lives.

Health & Safety

Cancer Drugs Approved Quickly Often Fail To Measure Up Later

8:35pm May 28, 2019

by Richard Harris

Regulators give many cancer drugs a fast track to market while requiring drugmakers to do more studies after approval. Researchers have found the follow-up studies frequently come up short.

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