health care

Health insurance giant Aetna has announced a $37 billion plan to acquire rival Humana.

Aetna Announces $37 Billion Merger With Health Insurance Rival Humana

12:01pm July 03, 2015

by Scott Neuman

If the deal passes antitrust scrutiny, it would be the largest such acquisition in the insurance industry. It's the latest sign of consolidation in health insurance in the wake of Obamacare.

What's the best way to connect patients to dialysis machines?

Health & Safety

Caveats About Favored Access Method For Dialysis

4:45pm July 01, 2015

by Nadia Whitehead

Not all doctors are convinced that the preferred point of connection for patients to blood-cleaning dialysis machines is always the best.

Arturo Martinez watches his wife, Aurora Martinez, put on makeup in their San Rafael, Calif., home. She has Alzheimer's.

Can Technology Ease The Burden Of Caring For People With Dementia?

3:38pm July 01, 2015

by Amy Standen

Things like activity trackers and sensors might make it easier to keep people with dementia safe and help caregivers. Researchers are going to test that idea in the real world.

Queue Listen Now

Supreme Court Rules To Keep Texas Abortion Clinics Open

6:32pm June 29, 2015

The Supreme Court also ruled 10 clinics that perform abortion can stay open in Texas thereby giving the clinics a chance to appeal the federal court decision ordering them to close in early June.

Queue Listen Now

Stuart Kinlough/Getty Images/Ikon Images

Vaccine Against Meningitis B Gets A Boost From CDC

12:22pm June 29, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

A federal health advisory committee now says everyone aged 16 to 23 should talk to a doctor about whether they need to get immunized against a rare but dangerous strain of meningitis.

Queue Listen Now

The crowd reacts as the ruling on same-sex marriage was announced outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., Friday.

Health & Safety

Supreme Court's Decision On Same-Sex Marriage Expected To Boost Health Coverage

11:16am June 29, 2015

by Jay Hancock

Many companies are expected to expand coverage to same-sex spouses if they already offer benefits to opposite-sex spouses. But the recent Supreme Court decision doesn't require them to do so.

President Obama and Vice President Biden shake hands after the president spoke in the White House's Rose Garden Thursday about the Supreme Court decision in favor of Obamacare.

5 Challenges Still Facing Obamacare

9:47am June 29, 2015

The Supreme Court ruling affirming the legality of insurance subsidies for all eligible low-income Americans regardless of where they live clears up one big question. But there are others.

Virginia Case Raises Questions About Ethics Of Patient Care

1:26pm June 27, 2015

NPR's Rachel Martin interviews Katie Watson, a professor of medical humanities at Northwestern University, about the doctors who made inappropriate jokes about a sedated patient.

Queue Listen Now

Nephrologist Mitchell Lunn (left) and OB-GYN Juno Obedin-Maliver want to hear about the health issues on the minds of members the LGBTQ community.

Health & Safety

San Francisco Doctors Tap App For Nationwide LGBT Health Study

2:00am June 27, 2015

by Christina Farr

Researchers at University of California, San Francisco, are looking to an app for help in collecting health information from people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.

Supporters of the Affordable Care Act cheer outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., after a majority on the court ruled that Obamacare tax credits can continue to go to residents of any state.

Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare Subsidies

4:41pm June 26, 2015

by Jay Hancock

The 6-3 ruling halted a challenge that would have eliminated health insurance subsidies in at least 34 states for individuals and families buying coverage through the federal government's marketplace.