health care

Products that are regulated and taxed as medical devices include a wide range of machines and objects, including various scopes, scanners, tubing and pumps.

With Special Tax Suspended, Medical Device Firms Reap Big Savings

4:26pm February 16, 2016

by Mark Zdechlik

The medical device industry is enjoying a two-year moratorium on a tax that was created to support the Affordable Care Act. Are firms using their savings to create more jobs, as many claim?

A recurring bone infection landed Robert Peace in the hospital five times after a 2004 car accident fractured a hip. He blames his readmissions on a lack of follow-up care.

In Freddie Gray's Baltimore, The Best Medical Care Is Nearby But Elusive

10:04pm February 15, 2016

by Jay Hancock

The death of Freddie Gray highlighted distrust between Baltimore's African-American community and the police. There's also a divide between impoverished neighborhoods and the city's health system.

Scalia's Death May Mean Texas Abortion Case Won't Set U.S. Precedent

7:23pm February 15, 2016

by Jennifer Ludden

Justice Antonin Scalia's death comes just weeks before the Supreme Court hears its biggest abortion case in a decade. The reach of that decision will likely be impacted by his absence.

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Karyn Jackson (right) helped Fernando Rico, of Pasadena, Calif., complete a Covered California application for health insurance at an enrollment fair in 2014.

Will HealthCare.gov Get A California-Style Makeover?

11:53am February 11, 2016

by Pauline Bartolone, CALmatters

The feds propose taking a page out of Covered California's book and moving to a simplified marketplace for health insurance.

The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is a fat-soluble compound called THC.

Why Is It So Hard To Test Whether Drivers Are Stoned?

2:08pm February 09, 2016

by Angus Chen

Blood alcohol levels match well with a person's impairment. But the THC in marijuana doesn't move around the body the same way, so blood tests can miss people who are stoned.

How 401(k) Withdrawals Can Complicate Health Plan Subsidies

12:27pm February 09, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

When someone taps into pretax retirement savings, the IRS considers it income. An unexpected withdrawal can change a person's subsidy for health premiums.

Contractors who supply workers to farmers say requirements of the Affordable Care Act and the immigration status of many of the workers create a Catch-22.

Farm Contractors Balk At Obamacare Requirements

9:24am February 09, 2016

by April Dembosky

The federal health law is putting farmers in a tough spot. Many contractors supplying workers have to offer health coverage. Insurance is costly, and contractors worry about immigration fallout.

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Farm Contractors Balk At Affordable Care Requirements

7:21am February 09, 2016

by April Dembosky

Many in the agriculture industry in California are worried about an Obamacare requirement that employers offer workers health insurance in companies of 50 or more people.

When Men Get Breast Cancer, They Enter A World Of Pink

2:02pm February 08, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

Most breast cancer cases are in women, so treatment and support are geared toward them. Men with breast cancer can feel isolated. One man was given a pink ice pack.

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Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz initially claimed his private insurance had been canceled. It turned out his insurer had transferred him to a plan with a narrow network of providers.

Health & Safety

A Voter's Guide To The Health Law Chatter

7:00am February 06, 2016

by Julie Rovner

A law as broad and complex as the Affordable Care Act invites both criticism and praise. Here's a look at some of the claims made on the presidential campaign trail.