Aug 10 WATCH: Trump says he'll make opioid crisis a 'national emergency' By Associated Press He tells reporters the drug crisis afflicting the nation is a "serious problem the likes of which we have never had" and says he's drawing up documents "to so attest."… Continue reading
Aug 10 Switzerland to hold referendum on paid paternity leave By Associated Press Parliament will now decide when the referendum can take place, though a vote is not likely for months. Continue reading
Aug 10 What it's like to age with asthma By Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News Death rates for older adults with asthma are five times that of younger patients, according to a new review of asthma among seniors. And medical complications are more common. Continue reading
Aug 10 These states declared an emergency over the opioid crisis. Here's what happened By Erin Mershon, Andrew Joseph, STAT Most national emergency declarations, which grant the government temporary new powers with little in the way of oversight, have come in response to natural disasters or the spread of infectious diseases like the H1N1 virus. They allow the federal government… Continue reading
Aug 10 Trump administration's actions raise health insurance premiums, study says By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Researchers from the Kaiser foundation looked at proposed premiums for a benchmark silver plan across major metropolitan areas in 20 states and Washington, D.C. Overall, they found that 15 of those cities will see increases of 10 percent or more… Continue reading
Aug 09 How a flood of antibiotics landed in your chicken By Nsikan Akpan In the book "Big Chicken," Maryn McKenna chronicles how humanity went from developing antibiotics to keep healthy to standing on the verge of an onslaught of unstoppable diseases. Continue reading
Aug 08 Column: How Big Pharma is hindering the fight against the opioid epidemic By Robin Feldman, The Conversation While opioids have become easier to obtain through illicit markets, a drug that could save countless lives has become increasingly out of reach. Continue reading
Aug 08 Column: The never-ending debate over finishing your antibiotics By Fedor Kossakovski Some health professionals are advocating for shorter antibiotics courses, going so far as to say maybe patients should stop taking antibiotics once they feel better. Continue reading
Aug 08 How the massive, pioneering and embattled VA health system was born By Dr. Howard Markel Over the past 96 years, the Veterans Administration -- now with over 1,700 care facilities serving more than 8.76 million veterans annually -- has experienced a roller-coaster ride of accomplishment, public opinion, resource allocation and criticism. Continue reading
Aug 07 Rural veterans face long paths to health care By Jen Fifield, Stateline While long drives and limited access to health care are familiar burdens for many rural residents, the problem is particularly acute for veterans in those areas. They are far older than other rural residents, and far more likely to be… Continue reading