health care

Emergency rooms are seeing a jump in opioid overdoses. Timely treatment with naloxone can reverse the effects of opioids.

Jump In Overdoses Shows Opioid Epidemic Has Worsened

6:19pm March 06, 2018

by Rob Stein

Opioid overdoses increased 30 percent nationwide between 2016 and 2017, with some places showing even more dramatic spikes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Jessica Morris prepares to inject a blood-clotting protein into son Landon's arm at their home in Yuba City, Calif.

Health & Safety

Miracle Of Hemophilia Drugs Comes At A Steep Price

10:31pm March 05, 2018

by Jenny Gold

The market is flooded with 28 different medications for just 20,000 patients with the hereditary bleeding disorder. Yet intense competition hasn't worked to bring costs down.

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Harnessing the power of wearable devices, data, education and a peer support group, people with prediabetes can lose weight and fend off the disease.

This Chef Lost 50 Pounds And Reversed Prediabetes With A Digital Program

1:11pm March 05, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

People with prediabetes like a Washington state chef reversed the diagnosis using a digital program that harnesses the power of wearable devices, data, education, e-coaching and peer support.

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Zoila Gutierrez (left) is a student in the Encuentro home health aide class in Albequerque. Though her youngest daughter is a citizen and two older kids are registered under DACA, Gutierrez doesn't have papers, and knows she may have to leave her job and

U.S. Immigration Policy Threatens Shake-Up In Home Health Business

9:28am March 05, 2018

by Ina Jaffe

At least a million more home aides will be needed in the next decade, U.S. statistics suggest. And about a quarter of today's 3 million aides who help older adults avoid nursing homes are immigrants.

Opioids could make some patients' pain worse.

Health & Safety

When Opioids Make Pain Worse

6:56pm March 03, 2018

by Clayton Dalton

For some people, something as simple as having an IV line inserted can be excruciating. An emergency room doctor noticed a strange pattern. Many of these sensitive patients were regular opioid users.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the ranking member, and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, meet before the start of a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, the mor

Time Running Short For Congress To Stabilize Individual Insurance Market

5:00am March 02, 2018

by Julie Rovner

Bipartisan efforts on Capitol Hill seek to help keep premium prices from rising out of control and undermining the policies available to people who don't get insurance through their jobs.

WH Opioid Commission Member Weighs In On Progress Made In Addressing Crisis

8:02pm March 01, 2018

At the beginning of November, the six-member White House opioid commission delivered 56 recommendations to President Trump, for reigning in the nation's opioid crisis. On Thursday, the White House hosted a summit on opioids. Commission member Bertha Madras speaks with NPR's Ari Shapiro about the progress she sees happening, or not, toward those 56 recommendations.

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Supporters of Planned Parenthood dressed as characters from The Handmaid's Tale protest last June outside the Capitol against Senate Republicans' health care bill.

Planned Parenthood Plans Major Political Effort In Key States For 2018 Midterms

5:51pm March 01, 2018

by Don Gonyea

Planned Parenthood says it will be a major presence in Senate and gubernatorial races in eight battleground states in this year's midterm elections. It promises to spend record dollars as well.

Senators Push For Leadership At Indian Health Service

5:21pm March 01, 2018

by Eric Whitney

President Trump first nominee to lead the Indian Health Service is out of the picture. Montana's senators are urging the administration to name a new nominee quickly.

An Uber waits for a client in New York City. The company is partnering with health care organizations to provide patients with reliable transportation.

Health & Safety

Uber Launches Service To Get People To The Doctor's Office

12:45pm March 01, 2018

by Emily Sullivan

Studies show millions miss out on health care because of transportation problems. Uber is partnering with health care organizations to provide rides for patients going to medical appointments.