Medical Treatments

Roughly 1.4 million people in the U.S. live in nursing homes, and two-thirds are covered by Medicaid, the state-federal health care program for people with low incomes or disabilities.

Why Huge Quality Gaps Among Nursing Homes Are Likely To Grow If Medicaid Is Cut

5:00am September 28, 2017

by Jordan Rau

Medicaid covers about two-thirds of nursing home residents across the U.S., and pays significantly less than other types of insurance, including Medicare.

Critics of Anthem's policy say imposing a blanket rule that gives preference to freestanding imaging centers is at odds with promoting quality and will lead to fragmented care for patients.

Anthem Says No To Many Scans Done By Hospital-Owned Clinics

11:14am September 27, 2017

by Michelle Andrews

MRI and CT scans done at hospitals for outpatients are often too expensive, says the firm, which insures patients in 14 states. The shift in policy won't apply to mammograms or X-rays, Anthem says.

Republicans in Congress say they haven't given up on getting rid of the Affordable Care Act. They're just switching tactics.

Now What? 5 Looming Challenges For The Affordable Care Act

8:39pm September 26, 2017

by Julie Rovner

Republicans in Congress have dropped their attempts to repeal the health law for now. But Obamacare supporters say the Trump administration is still undercutting the law in ways that could damage it.

Piper Su, seen here with her son, Elliot, lives in Alexandria, Va. She has registered with several transplant centers in hopes of increasing the odds of getting an organ.

Searching For A Fairer Way To Distribute Donor Livers

12:11pm September 26, 2017

by Rob Stein

The nation's organ transplant network is considering changing how livers are distributed. The goal is to make the system fairer, but critics worry patients in poorer rural areas could lose out.

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Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., continues to tweak the health care bill he cosponsors in an effort to persuade reluctant senators to back it.

'Millions' Fewer Would Have Coverage Under GOP Health Bill, Says CBO Analysis

8:30pm September 25, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

The Congressional Budget Office says it won't have time to analyze all the impacts of the latest GOP effort to repeal the ACA, but it says millions more would be uninsured than under current law.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the flu vaccine an "essential" part of prenatal care, for protection of the newborn as well as the woman. Infants typically don't get their own flu shot until age 6 months or later.

Pregnant Women Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine, Doctors Advise

7:07am September 25, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Researchers and physicians say a study suggesting a link between the flu vaccine and miscarriage in a limited population is cause for more research, not a reason to change vaccination recommendations.

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Harrison Browne, seen here playing for the Buffalo Beauts, says he feels lucky to be part of a league that accepts him and wants him to feel comfortable.

Transgender Hockey Player Postpones Hormone Treatment To Keep Playing

5:00am September 24, 2017

by Maggie Mertens

Sports leagues have struggled with how to define gender when it comes to deciding who can play. Pro hockey player Harrison Browne has decided to postpone hormone therapy for one more year on the ice.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, second from left, speaks as Sen. John Barrasso, from left, Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. John Thune and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell listen during a news briefing after the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon on Tuesday.

Graham-Cassidy Health Bill Would Shift Funds From States That Expanded Medicaid

5:21pm September 21, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

The bill's sponsors say their plan to reallocate federal health funding among states is more equitable. It also would cause largely Democratic states to lose funding while Republican states gain.

While benzodiazepines and SSRI antidepressants are not risk-free, says Yale psychiatrist Kimberly Yonkers, "it should be reassuring that we're not seeing a huge magnitude of an effect here" on pregnancy.

Xanax Or Zoloft For Moms-To-Be: A New Study Assesses Safety

8:34am September 18, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

Is it OK to take antidepressants or anxiety medicine during pregnancy? Recent research suggests women who need treatment can take these drugs. Doctors recommend the lowest effective dose.

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Experiments that showed how to make the H5N1 bird flu virus more contagious raised concern about malicious misuse of laboratory research.

Efforts To Prevent Misuse Of Biomedical Research Fall Short

3:56pm September 14, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The National Academies of Sciences says not enough has been done to keep legitimate research on pathogens and toxins from being misappropriated and turned into biological weapons.