HHS

Emergency medical technicians wheel a patient into the ER of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Emergency hospitalizations related to COViD-19 can be costly. Fine print in the HHS rules regarding the CARES Act seem to spare patients at least some o

In Fine Print, HHS Seems To Have Banned Surprise Medical Bills During The Pandemic

8:26pm April 17, 2020

by Emmarie Huetteman

Guidance regarding the CARES Act says health care providers who take emergency funds aren't allowed to "balance bill" coronavirus patients ― and every patient is a possible COVID-19 patient.

An inspector general's survey of U.S. hospitals finds them scrambling for supplies — even food and toilet paper. They've had to get masks from nontraditional places like autobody shops and nail salons, and also ask for handmade donations.

Health & Safety

U.S. Hospitals Surveyed Plea For More Federal Coordination Of Testing And Supplies

8:29pm April 06, 2020

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

An office of the Department of Health and Human Services surveyed 323 U.S. hospitals and found shortages of "intravenous therapy poles, medical gas, linens and food." Many are still scrambling.

A scientist works in a lab at Moderna in Cambridge, Mass., in February. Moderna has developed an experimental coronavirus medicine, but an approved treatment could be more than a year away.

HHS To Help Companies Develop COVID-19 Vaccines

4:15pm March 31, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

The Department of Health and Human Services outlines support for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, as the companies work to develop coronavirus vaccines. Beefing up manufacturing capacity is a priority.

Medical workers at Kaiser Permanente French Campus test a patient for the coronavirus disease COVID-19 at a drive-through testing facility in San Francisco on Thursday.

Trump Administration Announces Measures To Speed Coronavirus Testing

12:24pm March 13, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

The federal government has been sharply criticized for its slow response to the viral disease COVID-19, particularly when it comes to testing.

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts says the government has seized abortion drugs she has prescribed from overseas to patients in the U.S. The drugs are approved by the FDA to induce abortion under a doctor's direction.

European Doctor Who Prescribes Abortion Pills To U.S. Women Online Sues FDA

5:03pm September 09, 2019

by Sarah McCammon

A federal lawsuit seeks to block the Food and Drug Administration from taking enforcement actions against a European doctor or her U.S.-based patients for prescribing or buying abortion pills online.

Two reports from the federal government have determined that many cases of abuse or neglect of elderly patients that are severe enough to require medical attention are not being reported to enforcement agencies by nursing homes or health workers — even

Health Workers Still Aren't Alerting Police About Likely Elder Abuse, Reports Find

2:24pm June 12, 2019

by Ina Jaffe

Workers in nursing homes, hospital ERs and other health facilities are required by law to notify police whenever they notice likely signs of physical or sexual abuse. But that's often not happening.

Queue Listen Now

The Trump administration aims to boost competition among hospitals and cut costs by letting consumers see how widely prices can vary for the same medical or surgical procedure. But health economists say patients typically have little choice in choosing th

U.S. Hospitals And Insurers Might Be Forced To Reveal The True Prices They Negotiate

10:01pm March 11, 2019

by Alison Kodjak

A little-noticed Trump administration proposal would require hospitals, doctors and insurers to post the true, negotiated price for a medical procedure or service, as opposed to the "list" price.

Queue Listen Now

Despite the partial shutdown, the Food and Drug Administration will continue work that is critical to public health and safety.

Health & Safety

How The Federal Shutdown Is Affecting Health Programs

6:01pm January 03, 2019

by Shefali Luthra

As the partial closure of the government continues, here's a look at the affected programs that have a bearing on health and health care.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, seen here last month, said that the government will meet a federal judge's deadlines for family reunification.

National

Trump Administration Says It Will Comply With Family Reunification Deadlines

5:08pm July 05, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

At the same time, HHS Secretary Alex Azar criticized the deadlines as "artificial" and said that they prevent the government "from completing our standard or even a truncated vetting process."

Celgene has managed to thwart several generic drugmakers who want to compete with cheaper versions of its medicines.

Health & Safety

How A Drugmaker Gamed The System To Keep Generic Competition Away

1:57pm May 17, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

Celgene Corp. has thwarted rival drugmakers eager to make cheaper versions of medicines for a form of blood cancer. Now administration officials are criticizing practices they say hold generics back.