GOP Congressman Defends House Zika Funding Package
NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma about why the House funding package is enough for now to confront the spread of the Zika virus in the U.S.
health care
It's Still Hard To Get Birth Control Pills In California Without A Prescription
California law now permits pharmacists to sell many types of hormonal birth control methods without a doctor's OK. But good luck finding a drugstore that will dispense the contraceptives that way.
Baby Boomers Will Become Sicker Seniors Than Earlier Generations
The seniors of tomorrow will have much higher rates of diabetes and obesity than the seniors of today, according to a data analysis. That means higher medical bills for them — and for taxpayers, too.
Online Eye Exam Site Makes Waves In Eye Care Industry
Need a vision test? Now you can do it online with a computer and a smartphone. The site has attracted a lot of attention in the tech world, but eye care professionals have concerns.
WHO Plans To Reshape Itself To Better Handle International Outbreaks
Health officials have warned for years that the world is not ready for the next big pandemic. Leaders at the World Health Organization are meeting this week to try to change that.
Small Ohio Town Passes Progressive Parental Leave Policy
The Village of Newburgh Heights, outside Cleveland, is a working class community of about 2,500 residents.
Former White House Ebola Czar Urges Congress To Act Faster On Zika
NPR's Kelly McEvers speaks with Ron Klain, former White House Ebola response coordinator, about his op-ed piece in the Washington Post about the Zika virus. He says the U.S. needs to create a public health emergency management agency, like FEMA for health emergencies, so our country is ready to act quickly without having to wait for Congress.
To Cut Wait Times, VA Tries MinuteClinics In Northern California
Veterans can visit 14 CVS MinuteClinics in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, Calif., for simple care, lab tests and prescriptions. Will the experiment work well enough to go nationwide?
Doctor Yearns For Return To Time When Physicians Were 'Artisans'
Dr. Abraham Nussbaum, author of a book examining the drive toward standardized quality measures and checklists, says he fears medicine is becoming just another job and not the calling it should be.
Hospitals Struggle With How To Innovate In Age Of New Technology
A growing number of hospitals offer state of the art technology. But what that means varies widely from hospital to hospital and in fact, many hospitals continue to grapple with how to upgrade and innovate in traditional systems. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Dr. Neal Sikka, who works on innovation and technology at George Washington University Hospital.