NPR Health Blog

Millions Face Insurance Crisis As COBRA Subsidy Ends

By Scott Hensley It's bad enough losing a job with the economy as bad as it is. But losing affordable health insurance is at least as big a worry for millions of Americans. Now those worries are likely to worsen. Starting this week, $25 billion in...

Published Wed, Dec 02 2009 5:59 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Insurance

Senate Democrats' First Amendment To Health Overhaul Would Protect Mammography

By Christopher Weaver The first change offered by Senate Democrats to their health overhaul bill appears crafted in part to blunt criticism of government rationing sparked by recent guidelines that recommend women get routine mammograms starting at 50...

Published Tue, Dec 01 2009 1:41 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul, Cancer, Women's health, Prevention, Ethics, Radiology

What Health Overhaul And First-Time Homebuyers Have In Common

By Julie Rovner Having trouble finding the Senate health debate in your handy issue of the Congressional Record or online? Is our health insurance in there too? (iStockphoto.com) Is our health insurance in there too?(iStockphoto.com) --> There's...

Published Tue, Dec 01 2009 12:40 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul, Congressional activity

Down Syndrome Births Rise Unexpectedly

By Joseph Shapiro You might be surprised to learn there's been an increase in the number of children born with Down syndrome in recent years. The conventional wisdom holds that with more prenatal screening, the rate at which children would be born...

Published Tue, Dec 01 2009 9:50 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Public Health, Children, People with disabilities

FDA Misses Deadline On BPA Risk Assessment

By Jon Hamilton Don't expect the plastic additive bisphenol A to disappear from water bottles and food containers anytime soon. Is drinking from this water bottle dangerous? FDA hasn't told us yet. (iStockphoto.com) Is drinking from this water...

Published Tue, Dec 01 2009 8:20 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Public Health, FDA, Food Safety

Pfizer Piles Into Biotech With Deal For Gaucher's Drug

By Scott Hensley Lipitor, Celebrex and Zoloft are some of the pills taken daily by millions of people that helped make Pfizer the world's largest drugmaker. But the company's plans for the future now include a big dose of pricey biotech medicines...

Published Tue, Dec 01 2009 6:06 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Pharmaceuticals

Most Adopted Children Are Happy, Healthy

By Joseph Shapiro The kids are alright. At least, the adopted kids are doing OK. National data says adopted children in America are doing well. (iStockphoto.com) National data show adopted children in America are doing pretty well. (iStockphoto.com) Read...

Published Mon, Nov 30 2009 1:35 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Children

Early, Intensive Help For Autistic Kids Shows Promise

By Jon Hamilton Toddlers with autism spectrum disorder seem to do better if they're enrolled in a program of intensive therapy, according to a study in the January issue of Pediatrics . (iStockphoto.com) (iStockphoto.com) --> But the approach is...

Published Mon, Nov 30 2009 12:58 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Autism

Tests Find Chicken Often Contaminated, But Better Than Before

By Maggie Mertens Now that you've polished off those Thanksgiving leftovers, take a bite out of this news from the poultry aisle. There's a 66-percent chance this chicken is bacteria-free. (iStockphoto.com) There's a 66 percent chance this...

Published Mon, Nov 30 2009 12:01 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Food Safety

Senate Health Bill Holds Line On Insurance Premiums, Expands Coverage

By Scott Hensley Would Sen. Harry Reid's health bill get you a better deal on your insurance? Click on the image to see a table summarizing expected changes to health insurance premiums under the Reid bill. Probably. Even if you pay more, you'll...

Published Mon, Nov 30 2009 11:24 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

Swine Flu Takes Light Toll At Hajj

By Scott Hensley Worries ran high that the new H1N1 virus would wreak havoc at the hajj, the annual pilgrimage that brought 2.5 million Muslims to Mecca this year. But the number of cases and fatalities from swine flu turned out to be much lower than...

Published Mon, Nov 30 2009 8:43 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Swine Flu (H1N1)

Senate To Begin Picking At Health Overhaul Bill

By Scott Hensley You're back in business after a Thanksgiving break, and Monday afternoon the Senate will be too. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will welcome his caucus back to Washington today. (Nicholas Kamm/Getty Images) Senate Majority Leader...

Published Mon, Nov 30 2009 5:54 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul, Congressional activity

Giving Thanks For Some Means Getting Ready For Life's End

By Scott Hensley If things get slow around the Thanksgiving table, you might consider bringing up the tough topic of what everyone wants done about their care at the end of life. A bunch of folks interested in advance directives and palliative care are...

Published Wed, Nov 25 2009 1:45 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: End of life

White House Defends Overhaul's Cost-Cutting

By Julie Rovner Tiring of gripes that overhaul proposals won't slow health spending, the White House chose the afternoon before the long Thanksgiving weekend to tell reporters, essentially, "They will, so." OMB Director Peter Orszag says...

Published Wed, Nov 25 2009 12:45 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul, Costs

Sparring Over Cost Controls In Senate Health Bill

By Kate Steadman Democratic lawmakers talking with voters over the holiday might want to take a look at a blog post by The Atlantic's Ron Brownstein that the Obama administration has reportedly labeled "required reading." Brownstein's...

Published Wed, Nov 25 2009 11:11 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News