health care

President Donald Trump still hopes to force legislators back to the table to find a way to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, by any means possible.

Senate To Hold Bipartisan Hearings To Stabilize Insurance Markets

4:25pm August 01, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

A Senate committee will hold hearings on stabilizing the Obamacare markets in 2018. The chair called on President Trump to continue payments to insurers that help lower costs for low-income people.

Amanda Chaffin comforts son Kayden, 4, who has a genetic condition called spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, and depends on a ventilator to breathe. Chaffin is worried about the high costs of Kayden's care.

Drug Puts A $750,000 'Price Tag On Life'

1:05pm August 01, 2017

by Julie Appleby

The high cost of Spinraza, a new and promising treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, highlights how the cost-benefit analysis insurers use to make drug coverage decisions plays out in human terms.

Trump's Threat To Cut U.S. Payments Raises Uncertainty In Health Insurance Market

10:17am August 01, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

The U.S. government is scheduled to make large payments to health insurance companies to help offset discounts required by the Affordable Care Act. President Trump has threatened to stop the payments.

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Sen. Sanders Urges A Medicare-For-All Health Plan

5:18am August 01, 2017

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Sen. Bernie Sanders on his plans to push forward with a bill for a single-payer health insurance system, in the wake of Republican failures to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

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Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Seeks Common Ground On Health Care

6:41pm July 31, 2017

The Problem Solvers Caucus has been trying to salvage health care proposals that have broad support. Co-chairs of the group, Republican Rep. Tom Reed of New York and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, speak with NPR's Audie Cornish.

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Future Of The Affordable Care Act Remains Uncertain

6:41pm July 31, 2017

Sarah Kliff of Vox talks with NPR's Audie Cornish about ways the executive branch can undermine the Affordable Care Act, after the Senate failed to pass legislation repealing the health care law.

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Girls are much less likely to be diagnosed with autism, but that may be because the signs of the disorder can be less obvious than in boys. And girls may be missing out on help as a result.

Health & Safety

'Social Camouflage' May Lead To Underdiagnosis Of Autism In Girls

4:25pm July 31, 2017

Girls are much less likely to be diagnosed with autism, but that may be because the signs of the disorder are different than in boys. And girls may be missing out on help as a result.

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An international team of scientists analyzed data from men around the world and found sperm counts declining in Western countries.

Sperm Counts Plummet In Western Men, Study Finds

3:19pm July 31, 2017

by Rob Stein

Data from nearly 43,000 men around the world found that sperm counts dropped by more than half in Western countries. It could reflect a decline in health overall, scientists say.

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A Hospital CEO Watches Washington Struggle Over Health Care

5:43am July 31, 2017

As a provider of both a health care and insurance, Northwell Health has a huge stake in what health care legislation Congress proposes. CEO Michael Dowling says it's time for Democrats and health care professionals to come to the table.

Arizona Republican Hopes Senators Can Work Together On Health Care

5:21am July 31, 2017

Sen. Jeff Flake says he hopes for bipartisan cooperation on health care after last week's failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.