Medical Treatments

Eleven days after surgery on her shoulder and foot, Sherry Young of Lawton, Okla., got a letter from her insurance plan saying that it hadn't approved her hospital stay. The letter "put me in a panic," says Young. The $115,000-plus bill for the hospital s

Health & Safety

Sticker Shock Jolts Oklahoma Patient: $15,076 For 4 Tiny Screws

2:22pm May 14, 2018

by Liz Szabo

A woman with foot pain was floored by the high cost of titanium screws used in her surgery. "Unless the metal [was] mined on an asteroid, I do not know why it should cost that amount," she said.

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In a speech Friday, President Trump announced a plan that lists dozens of "potential" steps his team may take to lower drug prices, along with many others that were included in his budget proposal and will require congressional action.

Trump Drug Pricing 'Blueprint' Could Take Years To Build

12:17am May 12, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

The 39-page drug price plan includes an array of ideas that the administration will consider, but it's unclear which ones will be implemented.

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Dr. Paul Marik (left) discusses patient care with medical students and resident physicians during morning rounds at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in 2014 in Norfolk, Va.

Can A Cocktail Of Vitamins And Steroids Cure A Major Killer In Hospitals?

9:58am May 11, 2018

by Richard Harris

Two big studies aim to rigorously test what could be a revolutionary treatment for a common and deadly disease: sepsis. Many doctors are awaiting the results before changing their practice.

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Many cancer patients seek treatment with medical marijuana.

When Cancer Patients Ask About Weed, Many Doctors Say Go For It

4:42pm May 10, 2018

by Christine Herman

About half of oncologists recommend medical marijuana to patients, though most feel ignorant of its proper medical use.

Marnobia Juarez came to the U.S. from Guatemala and lives in Maryland. She dreams of getting her green card, but increasingly worries that won't happen under Trump's policy. Juarez was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and receives care through a state

Under A Trump Proposal, Lawful Immigrants Might Shun Medical Care

5:00am May 10, 2018

A proposed change in immigration policy from the Trump administration could make it harder for immigrants to obtain a green card if family members use Medicaid, WIC or other federal medical benefits.

A 3D model of two live human stem cells, with colors representing the cells' various internal structures.

Artificial Intelligence Takes Scientists Inside Living Human Cells

3:10pm May 09, 2018

by Jon Hamilton

Diseases like cancer involve changes that occur inside a cell — and usually out of sight. A new technology can reveal a cell's inner workings, using inexpensive graphics processors from video games.

Patients with private insurance like the drug coupons because they can help make specialty medicines more affordable. But health care analysts say the coupons may also discourage patients from considering appropriate lower-cost alternatives, including gen

Why Can't Medicare Patients Use Drugmakers' Discount Coupons?

5:00am May 09, 2018

by Michelle Andrews

U.S. law prohibits people on Medicare from using the discount coupons the makers of expensive medicines offer. The law aims to reduce federal drug spending and Medicare fraud, but can feel unfair.

A pharmacist speaks with a customer at Walmart Neighborhood Market in Bentonville, Ark., in 2014. On Monday Walmart introduced a new set of guidelines for dispensing opioid medications.

Walmart Will Implement New Opioid Prescription Limits By End Of Summer

7:28pm May 08, 2018

by Vanessa Romo

The giant pharmacy chain introduced new rules restricting painkiller prescriptions to 7 days and putting a cap on dosage strength. Pharmacies will carry an overdose antidote wherever it's legal.

Black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, can carry Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Is On The Rise Again. Here's How To Prevent It

11:06am May 07, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

The tick-borne illness is spreading north and south — about 300,000 U.S. cases a year. As scientists work on better diagnostic tests and surveillance tools, you can take steps to cut your risk.

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The Surgeon General recommends more Americans carry naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote.

Health & Safety

Reversing An Overdose Isn't Complicated, But Getting The Antidote Can Be

7:55am May 07, 2018

by Jake Harper

The U.S. surgeon general has recommended that naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, be widely available to consumers. But there are several barriers to consumers' ability to acquire it.

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