Dec 20 Trump administration wants to tighten work requirements for food stamps By Juliet Linderman, Associated Press The move comes just weeks after lawmakers passed a $400 billion farm bill that reauthorized agriculture and conservation programs while leaving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves roughly 40 million Americans, virtually untouched. Continue reading
Dec 19 Affordable Care Act sign-ups beat forecast in unpredictable season By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press The Obama health care law has yet again beaten predictions of its downfall, as government figures released Wednesday showed unexpectedly solid sign-ups for health coverage next year. Continue reading
Dec 18 Watch 5:05 Diphtheria takes a deadly stranglehold on war-torn Yemen By Beth Murphy Yemen is already suffering from a devastating civil war and widespread hunger. Now, circumstances caused by the conflict have also paved the way for diphtheria to thrive. The airborne disease kills 1 of every 10 patients even with medical treatment--and… Continue watching
Dec 17 Watch 7:30 Responding to Ebola in Congo is hard work, but made that much harder by violence Ebola has been reported in a number of locations in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, making the current outbreak the second worst in history. Getting medical care to the sick is complicated by ongoing violence. Nancy Aossey of International… Continue watching
Dec 17 Watch 8:52 Why helicopter parenting may jeopardize kids’ health By William Brangham, Jason Kane Has protective parenting gone too far? Several high-profile news stories, along with increasing rates of childhood obesity, anxiety and depression, have sparked a movement encouraging parents to allow their children greater freedom. The nonprofit Let Grow is leading the call… Continue watching
Dec 17 Watch 5:43 Why invalidating the ACA could cause ‘enormous disruption’ to American health care The day before this year's deadline to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, a judge in Texas ruled the law unconstitutional. As the case makes its way through the appeals process, Amna Nawaz sits down with… Continue watching
Dec 17 How a strange rumor of Walt Disney’s death became legend By Dr. Howard Markel When you hear "Disney on Ice," you may think of the wildly popular ice shows featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse and others skating in hockey arenas across the nation. But there's also the disturbing urban legend that Walt Disney’s corpse… Continue reading
Dec 17 A federal judge ruled against Obamacare. What happens now? By Mark Sherman, Associated Press If upheld, the ruling would impact well beyond the more than 20 million people who are directly covered through the Obama health law. Continue reading
Dec 17 How long do cold and flu viruses stay contagious on public surfaces? By Julia Griffin, Nsikan Akpan These pathogens don’t actually last for days or weeks outside the body, but you should still be proactive in protecting yourself from their spread. Continue reading
Dec 16 Flu vaccinations rise sharply in both children and adults By Helen Branswell, STAT The increase in early vaccination may be due to fresh memories of how bad last winter was, but other factors may also be at play. Continue reading