NPR Health Blog

The Case For A 'Check In' Instead Of A Checkup

Instead of an annual check-up, many doctors suggest that a regular "check-in" is a better idea. At a check-in, you can discuss any health concerns you have and get the limited tests and preventive screenings that are appropriate and helpful...

Published Tue, Nov 01 2011 6:10 AM by Shots - Health Blog

CDC: Time To Curb 'Shocking' Epidemic Of Narcotics Overdoses

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the nation's emergency rooms are seeing far more overdoses of prescription opioids such as OxyContin and Vicodin than heroin or cocaine. Read More...

Published Tue, Nov 01 2011 2:34 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Rising Health Costs Lead Companies To Drop Part-Time Benefits

Wal-Mart may be setting a new trend by slashing health care for part-time workers. ATC host Robert Siegel chatted with John Rother, president of the National Coalition on Health Care, about the issue. Read More...

Published Wed, Nov 02 2011 12:16 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Public Health Innovators On The Silver Screen

The first FastForward Health film festival aimed to start new discussions about nutrition, patient care, and community wellness. The organizers hoped to show that storytelling and art could be empowering for both patients and healthcare professionals...

Published Fri, Nov 04 2011 10:54 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Despite Rhetoric, Unions Push For Cadillac Compromise

By April Fulton When the President meets with union leaders later today to discuss health care, he's likely to get an earful on why he should stop touting a tax on high cost health plans -- health plans considered so sweet, they're dubbed Cadillac...

Published Mon, Jan 11 2010 12:39 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

Medical Marijuana Takes Root In New Jersey

By Nadja Popovich Any day now New Jersey is expected to become the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana. But don't expect the Garden State to become a pot-smoker's paradise. New Jersey is poised to join 13 other states in recognizing marijuana...

Published Tue, Jan 12 2010 12:55 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Medical marijuana

As Demand Wanes For Swine Flu Vaccine, Questions Rise On Unfilled Orders

By Richard Knox A syringe and vials of swine flu vaccine at a hospital in Essen, Germany, last year. (Martin Meissner/AP) In Europe the backlash against what critics call "the false pandemic" is in full cry. The World Health Organization is...

Published Wed, Jan 13 2010 5:55 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Swine Flu (H1N1), Vaccines

Morphine May Block PTSD After Serious Injuries

By Scott Hensley The potent painkiller morphine, one of medicine's oldest drugs, may have a previously unrecognized power to reduce the development of post-traumatic stress disorder in people who've been severely injured. A Marine walks by an...

Published Thu, Jan 14 2010 5:58 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Research, Pharmaceuticals, Mental Health

Democrats Downsize Cadillac Tax To Cement Union Support For Overhaul

By April Fulton AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, shown at a briefing on January 11, is one of the labor leaders who got concessions from Democrats on taxes of high-end health plans. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) After spending months playing hard to get...

Published Thu, Jan 14 2010 3:12 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

Medicaid Costs For State Present A Snag For Overhaul Snag

By Christopher Weaver Now that labor groups and the White House have patched things up over the Cadillac tax, some folks are predicting smooth sailing for Democrats' health-overhaul legislation. But, a handful of thorny issues remain, including anxiety...

Published Fri, Jan 15 2010 11:25 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

Incentive To Treat Bladder Cancer In Doctors' Offices Raised Medicare Costs

By Scott Hensley From the annals of bright health care ideas that have unintended consequences comes a tale of what happens when Medicare pays doctors more to do bladder cancer surgery in their offices. (Wikimedia Commons) http://media.npr.org/assets...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 9:34 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Cancer, Hospitals, Costs

Now A Drug For People With Normal Cholesterol

By Scott Hensley The era of blockbuster medicines has been defined by drugs that help the worried well stave off illness. How low can your heart risk go? (iStockphoto.com) http://media.npr.org/assets/blogs/health/images/2010/02/limbo_sq.jpg?s=12"...

Published Tue, Feb 09 2010 9:28 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Heart disease, FDA, Pharmaceuticals

Medicare Pay Fix For Doctors Hitches Ride On Jobs Bill

By Julie Rovner Snowstorm or not, the Senate is plowing ahead with legislation that is supposed to create new jobs with tax breaks for employers. One provision is clearly intended to help preserve a few very important jobs -- those of senators up for...

Published Wed, Feb 10 2010 5:40 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Doctors, Medicare

GOP Stalwarts' Top 10 List For Health Overhaul

By Christopher Weaver Yesterday we featured some core GOP health care ideas that have been refined during the past couple of decades by conservative health wonks such as John Goodman, of the Texas-based National Center for Policy Analysis. Today, you...

Published Wed, Feb 10 2010 1:01 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

Cast Your Vote On New Wrapper For New York's Condom

By Scott Hensley We miss New York, trendsetter in fashion and public health. Next stop? (NYC Dept. of Health.) Subway enters tunnel on condom wrapper. (NYC Dept. of Health.) --> After we moved to Washington last year, we realized just how much we'd...

Published Thu, Feb 11 2010 1:19 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Public Health

Syndication

Recent Posts

Tags

Archives

The Case For A 'Check In' Instead Of A Checkup

CDC: Time To Curb 'Shocking' Epidemic Of Narcotics Overdoses

Rising Health Costs Lead Companies To Drop Part-Time Benefits

Public Health Innovators On The Silver Screen

Despite Rhetoric, Unions Push For Cadillac Compromise

Medical Marijuana Takes Root In New Jersey

As Demand Wanes For Swine Flu Vaccine, Questions Rise On Unfilled Orders

Morphine May Block PTSD After Serious Injuries

Democrats Downsize Cadillac Tax To Cement Union Support For Overhaul

Medicaid Costs For State Present A Snag For Overhaul Snag

Incentive To Treat Bladder Cancer In Doctors' Offices Raised Medicare Costs

Now A Drug For People With Normal Cholesterol

Medicare Pay Fix For Doctors Hitches Ride On Jobs Bill

GOP Stalwarts' Top 10 List For Health Overhaul

Cast Your Vote On New Wrapper For New York's Condom