Oct 26 Watch 7:34 What happens now that the opioid crisis is officially a public health emergency? By PBS News Hour President Trump has officially designated the opioid epidemic as a public health emergency. Besides the symbolism, what does the declaration mean for tackling the crisis? William Brangham speaks with Bertha Madras of the President’s Commission on Combatting the Opioid Crisis… Continue watching
Oct 26 Watch 5:19 Investigation reveals pattern of neglect by hospice caretakers By PBS News Hour In-home hospice care promises 24/7 support for dying patient’s needs, but a new investigation combed through thousands of hospice inspection records and found that calls for help in times of crisis were met with delays, no-shows or were never answered. Continue watching
Oct 26 Words matter when it comes to declaring the opioid crisis an emergency By Laura Santhanam, Daniel Bush President Donald Trump's public health emergency declaration elevated his administration’s response to the opioid crisis -- and stopped short of declaring a national emergency. Here's the key difference. Continue reading
Oct 26 2.1 million Americans use water wells with hazardous levels of arsenic, USGS estimates By Nsikan Akpan While arsenic is an ancient health threat, this analysis offers one of the first nationwide appraisals for the groundwater contaminant and spotlights regulatory gaps in the nation’s water infrastructure. Continue reading
Oct 26 'No one is coming.' Hospice patients abandoned at death's door By JoNel Aleccia, Melissa Bailey, Kaiser Health News An analysis by Kaiser Health News of 20,000 government inspection records revealed that missed visits and neglect are common for patients dying at home. Families across the country have called for help in times of crisis and been met with… Continue reading
Oct 26 WATCH: Donald Trump declares opioid crisis a public health emergency By Laura Santhanam President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency, but provided no new funds to confront this problem nor took media questions during a press briefing in the White House East Room Thursday. Continue reading
Oct 25 Fact or fiction: Do redheads feel more pain? By Julia Griffin, Nsikan Akpan Redheads are rumored feel more pain and need more painkillers than their blonde and brown-haired cousins, but the science itself is murky. Continue reading
Oct 25 ACA 'silver plan' premiums up an average of 34 percent, new analysis finds By Associated Press An analysis of newly released government data finds that premiums for the most popular health plans under the Affordable Care Act are going up by an average 34 percent next year. Continue reading
Oct 25 Online 'window shopping' for 2018 health law plans underway By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Consumers can start previewing plans and premiums online Wednesday for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act in 2018. Continue reading
Oct 25 WATCH: House committee gives update on efforts to address opioid crisis By Associated Press The Committee on Energy and Commerce is expected to give an update on efforts to combat the opioid crisis at 10 a.m. ET. Continue reading