health care

A pharmacist counts pain pills. In an effort to curb the abuse of Oxycontin, Vicodin and other opioid painkillers, some health plans in Massachusetts now limit a patient's initial prescription to a 15-day supply, and plan to halve that number in February.

Insurers Hire Social Workers To Tackle The Opioid Epidemic

6:33pm January 25, 2016

by Deborah Becker

Some health plans in Massachusetts are putting tighter limits on painkiller prescriptions. Others are hiring their own social workers to help customers who struggle with opioid abuse quit for good.

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Just because you use insulin doesn't mean you have Type 1 diabetes.

What's Your Type? With Diabetes, It Can Be Unclear

2:48pm January 25, 2016

by Miriam E. Tucker

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are two different conditions, but people can get confused over which is which. Some doctors say it's time to overhaul diabetes definitions.

Tim Kilroy runs a business from his home in Arlington, Mass. His insurance company quit covering the long-acting Ritalin that helps him manage his ADHD.

Fight To Lower Drug Prices Forces Some To Switch Medication

1:28pm January 25, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

Health insurers are trying to spark a price war by refusing to pay for some brand-name medications unless they get a big discount. This forces some people to change their prescriptions.

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A man prepares to smoke synthetic marijuana on a street in East Harlem in New York City.

Young People Surprised By Risky Synthetic Drugs They Considered Safe

10:43am January 23, 2016

by Leana Wen

Cities across the U.S. have seen surges in ER visits and hospitalizations tied to an evolving category of chemical substances, such as K2 or Spice. What can be done?

Bernie Sanders Revives Debate Over Single-Payer Health Care

4:13pm January 22, 2016

by Scott Horsley

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has revived the debate over a single-payer health care system. NPR explores the arguments for and against it.

Evenly Divided Kansas Appeals Court Blocks 2015 Abortion Law

3:58pm January 22, 2016

by Bill Chappell

In a widely watched case, judges ruled 7-7 against a first-of-its-kind Kansas law that bans a common method of performing second-trimester abortions.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, has made a particular form of health care finance part of his campaign pitch.

Health & Safety

Debate Sharpens Over Single-Payer Health Care, But What Is It Exactly?

3:29pm January 22, 2016

by Julie Rovner

The phrase often used synonymously with government-run health care means different things to different people. Five points to help explain the Democrats' policy clash over the single-payer approach.

A human cell infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (shown in red).

Health & Safety

A Common Secret: Struggling With The Stigma Of Herpes

12:39pm January 22, 2016

by Sarah Ravani

Chances are that you know someone with the virus. But many people don't talk about it. Some say opening up about their herpes status helped them move on.

Childhood Vaccination Rates Climb In California

3:35pm January 21, 2016

by Lisa Aliferis

State health officials suspect California's big measles outbreak last year helped persuade parents to get their kids immunized against other illnesses, too.

The effects of opioid abuse can go unnoticed at work.

Opioid Abuse Takes A Toll On Workers And Their Employers

1:50pm January 20, 2016

by Yuki Noguchi

Many employers who test for drugs don't screen employees for opioids. Yet opioid abuse is linked to problems with workplace productivity and safety.

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