health care

Health & Safety

Congressional Panels Probe Opiate Prescriptions At Wis. VA Hospital

7:33am March 30, 2015

by Maureen McCollum

Two congressional committees travel to the town of Tomah, Wis., on Monday to hold a hearing on the VA hospital there. The hospital has been singled out for over prescribing opiates to vets.

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House Speaker John Boehner takes the gavel from Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Jan. 6 at the start of the 114th Congress.

Amazingly, Congress Actually Got Something Done

6:58pm March 26, 2015

by Ron Elving

The leaders and members must, in a word, compromise. And on this occasion, Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi did just that, with skill and savvy.

Tax preparation software doesn't always calculate the complexity of Affordable Care Act subsidies and credits properly.

Affordable Care Act Makes This Tax Season Painful For Many

5:08pm March 26, 2015

by Michelle Andrews

Figuring out the penalty for not signing up for health insurance is just one complication. Tax filers who made more money last year than they anticipated may have to pay back some of their subsidy.

High-Deductible Health Plans Cut Costs, At Least For Now

5:07pm March 26, 2015

by Jay Hancock

Health plans that require people to pay thousands of dollars up front cut costs in the first three years, a study finds. But no one knows if costs will rise later as people avoid preventive care.

Know Your Exposure: A Cancer Quiz

4:48pm March 26, 2015

by Paige Cowett

Throughout life we are subjected to many things that can affect our risk for developing cancer. Take our quiz to learn more.

If Reps. Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner win and their plan becomes law, it would kill what's known on Capitol Hill as the "doc fix."

Is Capitol Hill Ready To Rest Its Near-Annual 'Doc Fix' Exercise?

12:11pm March 26, 2015

by Juana Summers

Doctors who treat Medicare patients will face a huge cut, 21 percent, if Congress doesn't act by the end of the month. House leaders now think they fix a problem that has plagued Congress since 1997.

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Some surgeons aren't adept at laparoscopic surgery, although it is often the better choice for patients.

Patients Often Aren't Offered Minimally Invasive Surgery

10:32am March 26, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Laparascopic surgery can be faster, safer and cheaper, but patients don't always get the choice even if it's appropriate, a study finds. Using it more often would reduce complications and save money.

The Josephson family in 2001, after Dixie (third from left) was told she had cancer.

Health & Safety

A Woman's Journey From Cancer Diagnosis To 'Professional Patient'

10:31am March 26, 2015

by Paige Cowett

Advances in cancer treatments have made some forms of the disease a chronic condition. But protracted treatment, even when successful, comes at a high personal toll for patients and their families.

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Unfilled requests for public records are piling up as the government claims it is being overwhelmed by Obamacare.

Feds Claim Obamacare Launch Is Hindering Government Transparency

4:53pm March 25, 2015

by Fred Schulte

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a backlog of some 3,000 FOIA requests and says it may need 10 years or more to dig out from under some large cases.

If he's a nurse anesthetist, he could be making $17,290 a year more than his female counterparts.

Even In Nursing, Men Earn More Than Women

4:52pm March 25, 2015

by Julie Rovner

Almost all registered nurses are women, but men in the profession are paid more, a study finds. The differences were especially startling in outpatient settings and for nurse anesthetists.