health care

Nursing homes and hospitals need to work harder to keep water systems from being contaminated with bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease, the CDC says.

Plumbing In Hospitals And Nursing Homes Can Spread Legionnaires' Disease

3:54pm June 06, 2017

by Rob Stein

The CDC says health care facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals need to work harder to prevent contamination with the bacterium that causes the potentially life-threatening form of pneumonia.

Evan Nodvin, seen here in his Atlanta-area apartment, uses services that are covered by Medicaid.

Disability Advocates Fear Impact Of Medicaid Cuts In GOP Health Plan

8:00am June 06, 2017

by Elly Yu

Evan Nodvin has lived on his own since after high school. But since he has Down syndrome, he does that with help from Medicaid. The Trump administration is threatening deep cuts to the program.

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Many people with marketplace health plans purchased under the Affordable Care Act didn't realize they need to switch to Medicare Part B plans at age 65.

Feds To Waive Penalties For Some Who Signed Up Late For Medicare

5:30am June 06, 2017

by Susan Jaffe

People who mistakenly stayed on marketplace health plans after they qualified for Medicare may be eligible to have Medicare penalties reduced or waived, if they apply for the waiver by Sept. 30.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accompanied by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., meets with reporters on Capitol Hill last month, following a Republican policy luncheon.

The Senate's 4 Big Problems With Health Care

9:44pm June 05, 2017

by Susan Davis

Congress returns Monday from the Memorial Day recess without any discernible progress in the Senate on health care legislation — and time is getting short.

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Ben Gapinski, 10, (center) is greeted by his parents Dan and Nancy Gapinski after getting off the school bus. When Ben was a toddler, he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and needed constant monitoring to stay safe.

Wisconsin Family Stays Together With Help From Medicaid

5:43pm June 05, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

While Medicaid is best known as a health care program for poor people, more than 80 percent of its budget goes to care for elderly people, disabled people and children.

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Chester with Ivory (left), 11, Skylar (right), 12, and Kameron (center), 21 months.

In Texas, Abstinence-Only Programs May Contribute To Teen Pregnancies

12:23pm June 05, 2017

by Lauren Silverman

Teenage pregnancy rates have declined across the country, but some parts of Texas have made much less progress on that. Abstinence-only sex ed policies may be one reason why.

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Although illness struck the Borowicks' home twice, they managed to find strength and courage through humor.

Our Last Year Together: What My Camera Captured As My Parents Died Of Cancer

5:00am June 04, 2017

by Nancy Borowick

Photographer Nancy Borowick captured her parents' deep love and joy in life, even as they endured treatment in their 50s for the cancers they knew would soon kill them.

Juanita Milton, who suffers from COPD, uses her nebulizer with albuterol sulfate at her home in Live Oak, Texas.

Many COPD Patients Struggle To Pay For Each Breath

10:57pm June 02, 2017

by Sarah Jane Tribble

One in 9 Medicare enrollees have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and many of them can't afford the inhalers that keep them out of the emergency room.

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Purdue Pharma, which makes OxyContin, defended its efforts to combat opioid abuse after it was named in the Ohio suit.

Ohio Sues 5 Major Drug Companies For 'Fueling Opioid Epidemic'

8:18pm May 31, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

The state's attorney general filed the lawsuit Wednesday, alleging fraudulent marketing. "They knew they were wrong," Mike DeWine says, "but they did it anyway — and they continue to do it."

Illustration of hands giving money to the world.

We Asked, You Answered: Does U.S. Foreign Aid Raise Living Standards?

3:08pm May 31, 2017

by Malaka Gharib

Researchers are split on the issue. We asked our audience to weigh in.