health care

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the "Cover Now Act" outside the U.S. Capitol on June 17, 2021. The bill intends to close the health insurance gap in Texas and 11 other states that have not expanded Medicaid to uninsured adults. A similar fix is part

Health & Safety

A death in Dallas: what's at stake as Congress weighs Medicaid fix for uninsured

10:37am September 29, 2021

by Ashley Lopez

More than 2 million Americans are uninsured because they live in the 12 states that didn't expand Medicaid. 60% are people of color. Will Congress help by including them in the new spending bill?

The Vaccine Mandate For Healthcare Workers Means Hospitals Are Losing Staff

5:03pm September 27, 2021

by Ryan Finnerty

New York healthcare workers must be vaccinated for COVID-19 or lose their jobs. At one rural hospital, opposition to the vaccine is exacerbating an existing labor shortage, forcing cuts to services.

A supporter of pop star Britney Spears participating in a #FreeBritney rally on July 14 in Washington, D.C. When anyone poses a high risk of harm to themselves or others, psychiatrists are obligated to hospitalize them, even against their will. For many p

The Cost Of Forced Psychiatric Care Like Britney Spears Got Can Be Ruinous

9:06am September 27, 2021

by Christopher Magoon

The pop star was forced into psychiatric care — and compelled to pay for it. That could happen to anyone during an episode of serious mental illness, adding a financial threat to the health woes.

Health & Safety

Amid Nursing Shortage, Hospital CEO Says Vaccine Mandates Can Deter Staff

5:38pm September 25, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Dr. Randy Tobler, CEO of Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri, about Covid cases and staffing shortages at his facility.

Rural Hospitals Fear A Vaccine Mandate Would Dwindle Already Overextended Staffs

4:40pm September 23, 2021

by Tamara Keith

Rural hospitals want to see their workforce get vaccinated against COVID-19. But they're worried Biden's new mandate will cause staff shortages, and they're asking the administration for help.

Wilma Banks, who lives in the neighborhood of New Orleans East, sits on her bed next to her nebulizer and CPAP machine. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, when much of New Orleans was left without power, she wasn't able to power up the medical devices and

Entergy Resisted Upgrading New Orleans' Power Grid. Residents Paid The Price

8:28pm September 22, 2021

Entergy failed to rebuild a stronger system after hurricanes repeatedly damaged its electric grid. Then Hurricane Ida knocked out power for more than a week in the middle of a heat wave.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, appears before a Senate committee in July. Many public health leaders say letting the agency go so long without a permanent director has demoralized staff and sends the wrong mes

The FDA Has Been Without A Permanent Leader For 8 Months As COVID Cases Climb

8:18pm September 22, 2021

by Rachana Pradhan

Dr. Janet Woodcock, an administrative veteran of the Food and Drug Administration since the 1980s, has been acting director of the agency since January. Why is the permanent job so hard to fill?

Evidence seized from a drug trafficking operation in central California in early 2020 included methamphetamine and fentanyl with a street value of $1.5 million, authorities said.

Methamphetamine Deaths Soar, Hitting Black And Native Americans Especially Hard

5:08pm September 22, 2021

by Brian Mann

Newly published U.S. data finds overdose deaths from methamphetamine use more than doubled in recent years. Use of the stimulant among Black Americans surged nearly tenfold.

Everyday tasks — such as buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or brushing teeth — can suddenly seem impossible after a stroke that affects the brain's fine motor control of the hands. New research suggests starting intensive rehab a bit later than typical

The Best Time For Rehabilitation After A Stroke Might Actually Be 2 To 3 Months Later

7:24pm September 20, 2021

by Jon Hamilton

Intensive rehabilitative therapy that starts two to three months after a stroke may be key to helping the injured brain rewire, a new study suggests. That's later than covered by many insurance plans.

According to the State Department, 14 au pair agencies operate in the U.S. These private companies are required to offer the child care workers who contract with them basic health coverage. But the plans often amount to emergency or travel insurance — n

Health & Safety

The Affordable Care Act Can Help Au Pairs Avoid Medical Debt

2:48pm September 20, 2021

by Bryce Covert

Child care workers from outside the U.S. often buy health coverage through an agency. But those policies can have big gaps, critics warn. ACA plans are comprehensive and, with subsidies, can be cheap.