health care

As Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, campaigns for re-election, he has warned that 800,000 West Virginians with pre-existing conditions could lose health coverage.

FACT CHECK: Who's Right About Protections For Pre-Existing Conditions?

4:57pm October 11, 2018

by Julie Rovner

Consumers favor safeguards that help people with a history of health problems still get insurance. In the heat of the midterm campaigns, politicians' arguments don't always add up.

Randy and Karen O'Burke together at their son's home in Hendersonville, Tenn., last week. "Apparently, I'm pretty much of a miracle," Randy says.

How To Prevent Brain-Sapping Delirium In The ICU

9:21am October 11, 2018

by Richard Harris

People who suffer from prolonged delirium in the hospital are likely to develop long-term mental problems like dementia. Doctors have come up with techniques they say can reduce delirium in the ICU.

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President Trump attends a signing ceremony for health care measures in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Wednesday, the same day USA Today published an opinion column on the topic by the president.

FACT CHECK: Trump's False Claims On 'Medicare For All'

7:58pm October 10, 2018

by Scott Horsley

President Trump packed a lot of disinformation into his op-ed column for USA Today attacking a Democratic health care proposal. Here are five points to know.

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Ed Rendell, former governor of Pennsylvania, has taken a strong stand on supervised injection sites.

Health & Safety

'Come And Arrest Me': Former Pa. Governor Defies Justice Department On Safe Injection

4:57pm October 10, 2018

by Bobby Allyn

A nonprofit in Philadelphia is making plans to open a supervised drug injection site — which is against the law. Their response to justice department threats of a crackdown? "Bring it on."

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Suboxone, a medicine to treat opioid addiction, helps people struggling with substance abuse by blocking their cravings and physical withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction Treatment Gap Is Driving A Black Market For Suboxone

4:22pm October 10, 2018

by Jake Harper

This medicine to treat opioid addiction is hard to come by — only a fraction of doctors can prescribe it. So some people trying to quit a heroin habit are turning to the black market for help.

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On re-entering society, formerly incarcerated people struggle to get health care and treatment for HIV.

After Prison, Many People Living With HIV Go Without Treatment

8:22pm October 09, 2018

by Heather Boerner

When HIV-positive people leave prison, they often lose access to medical care and the drugs that suppress the virus. It's a missed opportunity in the fight against HIV, public health advocates say.

As a counselor, Niasha Fray saw firsthand the obstacles black women face in breast cancer treatment. She's now program director of the Duke Center for Community and Population Health Improvement.

Why Are Black Women Less Likely To Stick With A Breast Cancer Follow-Up Treatment?

1:33pm October 09, 2018

by Mara Gordon

Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. One reason may be that they face economic and cultural barriers to taking the medications that can prevent recurrence.

Philadelphia Plans To Open Medically-Supervised Injection Facility

5:35pm October 08, 2018

by Bobby Allyn

Philadelphia has opened a nonprofit planning what may be the first supervised injection site in the country amid threats of a crackdown from the Trump administration. City advocates say they are not backing down.

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Marilyn Bartlett spent two years running Montana's employee health plan. She made better deals with hospitals and drug benefits managers and saved the plan from bankruptcy.

A Tough Negotiator Proves Employers Can Bargain Down Health Care Prices

6:33pm October 02, 2018

by Marshall Allen

A former health insurance executive has made it her mission to bring down high health care costs. She's demanding a better deal for employers — and the workers whose care they pay for.

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New short-term policies will likely be cheaper than Affordable Care Act plans. But those lower prices mean the insurers won't pay for as much health care.

Buyer Beware: New Cheaper Insurance Policies May Have Big Coverage Gaps

3:01pm October 01, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

New short-term insurance policies will likely be cheaper than Affordable Care Act plans. But those lower prices mean they won't pay for as much health care.