health care

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.

Colorado State Rep. Brittany Pettersen (right) is advocating for more treatment money for opioid addiction, in part because of the substance abuse struggles of her mother, Stacy (left).

States Seek More Federal Funding For Opioid Treatment, Not More Promises

11:33am March 01, 2018

The Trump administration has talked about prioritizing the opioid crisis, but states have seen little in the way of new resources. And, in some states, getting into treatment is becoming even harder.

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Getting health care to rural areas may involve tough decisions about the role of hospitals.

Rethinking Rural Health Solutions To Save Patients And Communities

3:14pm February 28, 2018

by Adrienne St. Clair

Hospitals have long been linchpins of rural communities, providing jobs as well as health care. But policy analysts say some hospitals may have to change or close to better serve rural health needs.

Maxine Stanich celebrated her 90th birthday with friends and family in 2010, more than two years after her implanted defibrillator was deactivated by Dr. Rita Redberg to comply with Stanich's "do not resuscitate" directive.

Health & Safety

Too Late To Operate? Surgery Near End Of Life Is Common, Costly

12:42pm February 28, 2018

by Liz Szabo

Nearly 1 in 3 Medicare patients undergoes an operation in the final year of life. The benefits are often limited, but the costs and side effects can be substantial.

Confused about whether your health plan is ACA-compliant? To be sure you're using your state's official marketplace, start with HealthCare.gov, and click on "see if I can change."

Your 2018 Health Plan Must Comply With ACA Rules Or You Risk Tax Penalties

7:59pm February 27, 2018

by Michelle Andrews

The tax reform law passed in December did repeal the Affordable Care Act's penalties for not having comprehensive health insurance. But the penalties are still in effect until 2019.

Experts Say There's Little Connection Between Mental Health And Mass Shootings

5:13pm February 23, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

President Trump has raised mental health as a key factor in mass shootings, including a call Thursday to create more mental hospitals. But experts say there's little connection between a person's mental illness and the likelihood of a mass shooting.

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Ashley Copeland (right) talks to her mom Sue Iverson in the Swedish Medical Center emergency department, near Denver. Copeland got a nerve-blocking anesthetic instead of opioids to ease her severe headache. At discharge she was advised to use over-the-cou

These 10 ERs Sharply Reduced Opioid Use And Still Eased Pain

11:18am February 23, 2018

by John Daley

Collaboration was key for the 10 emergency rooms that cut opioid prescriptions by 36 percent. Doctors say they now use less addictive medicines to manage pain and have shifted patients' expectations.

Rosemary Grant is a registered nurse and helps coordinate sepsis care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The center's goal, she says, is to get a patient who might be developing sepsis antibiotics within three hours.

Synergy Between Nurses And Automation Could Be Key To Finding Sepsis Early

6:45pm February 22, 2018

by Richard Harris

A bedside computer loaded with software that tracks vital signs in the ICU can pick up early warning patterns, specialists say. But it takes a human care provider to sort the signal from the noise.

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