NPR Health Blog

New Contraception Rules Spark 'Conscience Clause' Debate

Religious exemptions that allow health care workers to decline certain services to patients if they have a religious exemption should not include contraception. That's the bottom line of the administration's new regulations on the "conscience...

Published Fri, Feb 18 2011 3:03 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

More Americans Are Checking Prices Before Getting Health Care

Among recent health care consumers, 16 percent said they'd looked for prices beforehand, compared with 11 percent who'd answered that way two years ago. The most common source is a doctor's office, cited by 50 percent of people who checked...

Published Thu, May 31 2012 2:11 PM by Shots - Health Blog

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

Lubbock Beats McAllen For Medicare Cost Crown

By Kate Steadman Move over McAllen, Texas. When it comes to Medicare spending, you've been ousted by Lubbock. Everything, including Medicare spending, is big in Texas. (iStockphoto.com) Everything, including Medicare spending, is big in Texas. (iStockphoto...

Published Wed, Dec 02 2009 12:30 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

A Republican's Guide To Slowing The Senate Health Debate

By Julie Rovner Republicans aren't filibustering to block the Senate health overhaul bill just yet, or so they say. But when it comes to slowing things down, well, Budget Committee ranking member Judd Gregg of New Hampshire put together a handy how...

Published Thu, Dec 03 2009 9:05 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul, Congressional activity

'Is That So?' Looks At Mammograms and Medicare

By Maggie Mertens Yesterday's Senate debate about amendments to the Democrats' health overhaul bill sent NPR health policy guru and one-woman truth squad Julie Rovner into overdrive. 'Is that so,' Sen. Coburn? (Alex Wong/Getty Images)...

Published Fri, Dec 04 2009 5:54 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

While Senators Speechify, We Answer More Listener Questions

Settle in for a long weekend of health care debate, folks. As promised, the Senate will keep turning health care on the legislative spit. Friday afternoon was just a tune up, with jawboning and a few votes on topics like long-term care and Medicare cuts...

Published Fri, Dec 04 2009 3:01 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

Abortion-Rights Advocates Pin Hopes On Defense Bill

Last month, with little notice or fanfare, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, got an amendment included in the huge annual Department of Defense bill that would permit military health insurance to cover abortions for servicewomen whose pregnancies...

Published Thu, Jun 07 2012 2:00 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Deploy Shots And Drugs Against Whooping Cough Outbreak

Some 338 people have been infected with whooping cough in Oregon this year. But that's just a small fraction of the number of cases the state of Washington is reporting. Health experts say the booster shot is not 100 percent effective at preventing...

Published Mon, Jun 11 2012 1:34 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Have Trouble Keeping Up With Painkiller Abusers

More than 40 states have systems in place to monitor prescription drugs, but budget strains and unwieldy databases have hindered their use by doctors and pharmacists to curb drug abuse. Read More...

Published Tue, Jun 12 2012 7:55 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Disabled Woman Dies While Awaiting Second Chance At Kidney Transplant

A woman with intellectual disabilities who was denied a kidney transplant in 2006 died Tuesday in her sleep. The Oklahoma transplant center that turned her down said a woman with a mild intellectual disability did not have the mental competency to make...

Published Wed, Jun 13 2012 8:13 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Why Many Young Adults Might Lose Coverage If Health Law Falls

One of the most popular parts of the health overhaul law is a provision that lets parents keep children on their insurance policies until age 26. Several big insurers say they plan to keep that in place even if the Supreme Court strikes down the rest...

Published Fri, Jun 22 2012 12:04 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Obesity Stokes Rheumatoid Arthritis With More Than Just Extra Weight

A recent study by researchers the Mayo Clinic found that obese individuals were 25 percent more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than people of normal weight. They say fat cells also make proteins and estrogen that also inflame joints in people...

Published Mon, Jun 25 2012 12:02 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Could Kaiser Permanente's Low-Cost Health Care Be Even Cheaper?

Kaiser Permanente is often cited as an example of a health maintenance organization that keeps costs reined in. In fact, portions of the Affordable Care Act were crafted with the Kaiser model in mind. But critics say the price gap between Kaiser and other...

Published Mon, Jun 25 2012 2:36 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Feds Move To Curb Abusive Debt Collection By Nonprofit Hospitals

The Treasury Department has proposed restrictions on debt collectors, required under the 2010 federal health law, to protect patients at nonprofit hospitals. A Supreme Court ruling that strikes down the entire law would scotch the new rules. Read More...

Published Wed, Jun 27 2012 7:20 AM by Shots - Health Blog

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New Contraception Rules Spark 'Conscience Clause' Debate

More Americans Are Checking Prices Before Getting Health Care

What Health Overhaul And First-Time Homebuyers Have In Common

Lubbock Beats McAllen For Medicare Cost Crown

A Republican's Guide To Slowing The Senate Health Debate

'Is That So?' Looks At Mammograms and Medicare

While Senators Speechify, We Answer More Listener Questions

Abortion-Rights Advocates Pin Hopes On Defense Bill

Doctors Deploy Shots And Drugs Against Whooping Cough Outbreak

Doctors Have Trouble Keeping Up With Painkiller Abusers

Disabled Woman Dies While Awaiting Second Chance At Kidney Transplant

Why Many Young Adults Might Lose Coverage If Health Law Falls

Obesity Stokes Rheumatoid Arthritis With More Than Just Extra Weight

Could Kaiser Permanente's Low-Cost Health Care Be Even Cheaper?

Feds Move To Curb Abusive Debt Collection By Nonprofit Hospitals