Jul 06 Prescription opioids tripled between 1999 and 2015, CDC says By Laura Santhanam The amount of opioids prescribed in 2015 was enough for every American to be medicated around the clock for three weeks, according to a new CDC report. Continue reading
Jul 06 If full Obamacare replacement fails, a limited bill will be needed, says McConnell By Bruce Schreiner and Alan Fram, Associated Press A bill focused on buttressing the nation's insurance marketplaces will be needed if the full-fledged Republican effort to repeal much of President Barack Obama's health care law fails, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said today. Continue reading
Jul 06 Trimming these invasive flowers could help curb malaria By Roni Dengler Biologists working in Mali found an invasive tree also doubles as a buffet and a haven for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Continue reading
Jul 05 Watch 8:21 Senate health care plan 'not viable' for New Hampshire, says Gov. Sununu By PBS News Hour New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced last week that he could not support the Senate Republican plan to reform health care. Sununu joins Judy Woodruff to explain his concerns about the current bill, plus how efforts to combat the epidemic… Continue watching
Jul 03 Watch 5:27 Opioid addiction rates far exceed growth of medically assisted treatment, report finds By PBS News Hour A new report offers striking revelations about opioid use in the U.S. When insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield analyzed 30 million medical records, it found that roughly 20 percent of patients filled at least one prescription for opioid painkillers… Continue watching
Jul 03 Watch 7:05 Senate health bill puts many moms and babies at risk, says March of Dimes president By PBS News Hour How would the current Senate Republican health care plan affect pregnant women, mothers and babies? Judy Woodruff speaks with Stacey Stewart, president of March of Dimes, about how many women depend on Medicaid to get prenatal care and have healthy… Continue watching
Jul 02 McConnell has about $200B to make deals on 'Obamacare' repeal By Michael McAuliff, Kaiser Health News Many policy experts, lobbyists and senators seem skeptical that the Better Care Reconciliation Act could be saved, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has $200 billion to build a bridge to victory. Continue reading
Jul 01 Freeze-dried placenta pills likely caused this newborn's dangerous bacterial infection By Catherine Caruso, STAT A case report describes a baby born in 2016 who suffered repeat strep infections — which were then traced back to the placenta pills taken by mother. Continue reading
Jul 01 Insect venom shortage stings allergy sufferers this summer By JoNel Aleccia, Kaiser Health News Allergists are warning of a shortage of a little-known product — honeybee, hornet and wasp venom extracts used in shots that prevent life-threatening reactions. Continue reading
Jun 30 Watch 3:15 My daughter escaped being a scary health statistic. Here's what I learned. By PBS News Hour When Elizabeth Silver's daughter was 6 weeks old, she suffered a serious stroke and spent weeks in the NICU. Confronted with damning statistics, Silver began to see the numbers as one version of a story, with room for interpretation. The… Continue watching