September 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Branding Health Care Exchanges To Make The Sale

In the process of creating its health insurance exchange, California wants to rename the marketplace. But it's tough to find a name that appeals to all Californians and explains the marketplace at the same time. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 25 2012 1:57 PM by Shots - Health Blog

More Vaccines Come Without Copays, Unless You're On Medicare

The federal health law makes it easier for most people with private insurance to get recommended vaccines without a copay. But the changes don't apply to people covered by Medicare. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 11 2012 9:20 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Insurance Costs Rise, But More Slowly

Annual family health insurance premiums rose about 4 percent to an average of $15,745 this year, a new survey finds. While the increase is less than the one seen last year, it exceeds both inflation and wage gains. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 11 2012 1:02 PM by Shots - Health Blog

'Test And Treat' Strategy For Curbing HIV Draws Questions

Testing everyone for HIV and then giving them early treatment could theoretically eliminate the epidemic in South Africa. A mathematical model of this "test and treat" strategy suggest that it might be more expensive and take significantly longer...

Published Thu, Sep 06 2012 1:35 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Take Aim At Epidemic Kidney Stones With Lasers

A recent study found one in 10 American men and one in 14 women has had a kidney stone. Being obese or diabetic seems to raise the risk of getting them. Now lasers are becoming the treatment-of-choice for kidney stones in academic medical centers. Read...

Published Mon, Sep 10 2012 12:27 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Teachers' Expectations Can Influence How Students Perform

Teachers' expectations about their students' abilities affect classroom interactions in myriad ways that can impact student performance. Students expected to succeed, for example, get more time to answer questions and more specific feedback. But...

Published Mon, Sep 17 2012 12:36 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Zanzibar Shows Cholera Vaccine Can Protect Even The Unvaccinated

The results comes from Zanzibar, an island state of Kenya, where half the people in six rural and urban areas received two doses of oral cholera vaccine. The vaccinations led to fewer bacteria circulating, lowering the infection risks even for those who...

Published Tue, Sep 04 2012 10:23 AM by Shots - Health Blog

The Next Frontier For Elite Med Schools: Primary Care

Mount Sinai School of Medicine is adding a Department of Family Medicine. It is now one of the only top medical schools to offer family medicine as a specialty for its students. Read More...

Published Sun, Sep 23 2012 1:15 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Vaccine For Dengue Fever Shows A Glimmer Of Hope

In a study with about 4,000 Thai schoolchildren, a vaccine for dengue fever works well against some strains of the dengue virus. But the overall level of protection was lower than hoped for. The results suggest that a vaccine for dengue fever can be developed...

Published Mon, Sep 10 2012 3:31 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Death Toll Climbs In Congo Ebola Outbreak

The number of deaths from an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo surged in the past week, prompting concern that the outbreak was spreading. A spokesman from the World Health Organization says the outbreak is not out of control. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 13 2012 1:54 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Insurer's Files Show Big Cost Differences For Same Illnesses

Some of the cost variations from a UnitedHealthcare database are startling. For treating a basic asthma episode, cases in the 10th percentile of distribution cost $98 each while those in the 90th percentile the cost was $1,535 per case. Read More...

Published Wed, Sep 05 2012 8:06 AM by Shots - Health Blog

How Your Job Could Hurt Your Heart

People with stressful jobs had a 23 percent higher risk of heart attack than those whose jobs weren't pressure cookers. A stressful job has to combine intense demands and little control over decisions about the work. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 14 2012 1:53 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Whooping Cough Vaccine's Protection Fades Quickly

Young kids who get all their whooping cough shots on time could become susceptible to the disease again when they're between 8 and 11. Researchers say the immune protection conferred by the current vaccine loses its punch. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 13 2012 8:24 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Two New Drugs May Help In Fight Against Obesity

Both the drugs — Belviq and Qsymia — were approved in July. They make you feel satisfied with less food — and not as hungry between meals. There are side-effects from the medications, including dry mouth, constipation and a slight tingling in fingers...

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 12:21 AM by Shots - Health Blog

On The Road To Polio Eradication In Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the last three countries to still have entrenched polio. To eradicate the virus, a group of "social mobilizers" travels to hard-hit slums to help overcome social and physical barriers to vaccination. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 21 2012 12:28 PM by Shots - Health Blog

September 2012 - NPR Health Blog

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