health care

After Taking On Big Tobacco 20 Years Ago, Former Mississippi AG Is Trying Again With Opioids

5:00pm October 17, 2017

When Mike Moore was Mississippi's attorney general, he spearheaded the 50-state lawsuit against Big Tobacco. Now, he's trying to do the same thing against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Most employers are likely to continue paying for birth control for women. But there are exceptions.

If You Want An IUD, Take Note Of Trump's New Birth Control Policy

2:08pm October 17, 2017

by Michelle Andrews

Some employers may now opt to claim a religious or moral exemption when it comes to paying for birth control, and women could end up sharing the cost with employers that scale back coverage.

Washington Post, 60 Minutes Investigation Finds Bill Helped Fuel Opioid Crisis

4:44pm October 16, 2017

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to Scott Higham of The Washington Post about the paper's investigation of drug industry efforts to lobby the Drug Enforcement Administration and Congress to weaken enforcement on opioid abuse.

Iowa Tries To Prevent Health Insurance Premiums From Escalating

8:13am October 16, 2017

The White House has canceled a subsidy to insurance companies. Iowa's Health Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen discusses the state's plan that seeks to lower costs for tens of thousands of residents.

Queue Listen Now

Scientists are testing to see if floating in a tank of warm water can help manage daily stress.

Floating Away Your Anxiety And Stress

8:13am October 16, 2017

by John Henning Schumann

Americans' stress levels rose significantly over the past year, according to the American Psychological Association. A doctor tries float therapy to see if it can help him feel less stressed out.

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Hundreds of homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood that were destroyed by the Tubbs Fire on October 11, 2017, in Santa Rosa, California.

As She Evacuated Patients From The Hospital, Her Home Burned

8:36am October 15, 2017

by April Dembosky

On extremely short notice, two hospitals had to evacuate all their patients as wildfires spread rapidly through Santa Rosa, Calif., last Sunday and Monday. One nurse on duty tells her story.

As Trump Alters Affordable Care Act, Programs To Aid, Enroll Users Are Cut

8:04am October 15, 2017

by Renee Montagne

Washington is slashing funding to "navigator" programs that enroll people in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Some are being closed entirely, just weeks ahead of the enrollment period.

Queue Listen Now

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says he is joining with peers in California and several other states to file a lawsuit to protect the insurers' subsidies.

Health & Safety

Trump Decision to End Insurance Subsidies Sparks Outrage, Lawsuits

5:58pm October 14, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

Several state attorneys general say they'll sue to protect the subsidies that help defray costs for low-income consumers. Many physician groups say they oppose the administration's action.

White House Actions Could Undermine ACA's Insurance Markets

8:02am October 14, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

President Trump has vowed to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. But with Congress failing to do that, Trump took action this week that could hurts the program.

People in the March for Life near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27.

Health & Safety

New Rule On Moral Objections To Contraception Aimed At 2 Groups

6:00am October 14, 2017

by Julie Rovner

The administration's decision to allow some employers to bypass a requirement to provide no-cost contraceptives to women on moral grounds would benefit specific anti-abortion groups.