Health

Massachusetts pushes ban on flavored tobacco and vaping products

By Associated Press

The bill would also place a 75% excise tax on vaping products and require health insurers, including the state’s Medicaid program, to cover tobacco cessation counseling.

First CRISPR treatment for sickle cell, other blood disease shows early benefits in two patients

By Sharon Begley, Adam Feuerstein, STAT

The first two patients to receive a CRISPR-based treatment for the inherited blood disorders sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia have benefited from the experimental therapy and experienced only temporary and treatable side effects.

The hidden costs of 'free' flu shots

By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News

Flu shots are relatively cheap compared with most health services, but considering the tens of millions of Americans who get vaccinated each year, those prices add up.

New York joins states suing the largest U.S. e-cigarette maker

By Associated Press

The company was sued by California on Monday and North Carolina in May. Illinois, Massachusetts and several other states are also investigating the company.

Hospital psychiatric wards now feel more like prisons, some say

By Associated Press

Regulators say the new guidelines leave room to protect patient dignity and privacy, but many hospital officials tasked with updating facilities and their procedures say they’ve gone too far.

Trump is backing off banning flavored e-cigarettes

By Jonathan Lemire, Darlene Superville, Associated Press

Lobbyists, conservative groups and Republican lawmakers have warned Trump that a vaping crackdown could cost him with voters.

Climate change imperils 60 percent of Superfund sites

By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press

A congressional watchdog agency report says the Trump administration’s reluctance to directly acknowledge global warming is deterring efforts to safeguard Superfund sites.

Big study casts doubt on need for many heart procedures

By Marilynn Marchione, AP Chief Medical Writer

People with severe but stable heart disease from clogged arteries may have less chest pain if they get a procedure to improve blood flow rather than just giving medicines a chance to help, but it won't cut their risk of…

Birchwood Cafe's pancake recipe with Kernza, a greener grain

By Megan Thompson, Melanie Saltzman, Beth Dooley

During a recent visit to the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, chef and author Beth Dooley showed PBS NewsHour Weekend how to cook Kernza pancakes. The cafe, a local institution known for its commitment to local and sustainable ingredients, was one…

U.S. approves new drug to manage sickle cell disease, costs $85,000 to $113,000

By Linda A. Johnson, Associated PRess

The monthly infusion, which halves occurrences of sickle cell pain episodes, will carry a list price of roughly $85,000 to $113,000 per year, depending on dosing. Insured patients generally will pay less.