Category: NPR

Medicaid provides health care for millions of low-income Americans. The presidential election could reshape Medicaid — at a critical moment for health care.

Where are hospitals reaching capacity? Which metro areas are running out of beds? NPR has learned federal agencies collect and analyze this information in detail but don’t share it with the public.

Hospitals in Utah are full and poised to start rationing care. They’re also filling up in Montana and Idaho. Colorado is trying to avoid those states’ fate.

Joe Biden’s pandemic plan has seven points. He’d ask states to mandate masks. He also has detailed proposals on testing, contact tracing, creation of a public health job corps and other measures.

With cases surging, the coronavirus pandemic is heating up as an election issue. Voters have seen President Trump’s approach to the crisis play out in real-time, but how would Biden handle things?

Female physicians spend more time with each patient than male doctors do and their patients report increased satisfaction. But the extra time adds up and results in less money.

Rural areas are of particular concern as COVID-19 cases rise in Wisconsin. One big worry: having enough staff in hospitals.

When the hospital tried to bill her for more than what she’d been quoted, Tiffany Qiu refused to pay the extra amount and the bill went to collections. She still didn’t back down.

Most nursing homes are connected by shared staff to seven others. Instead of limiting workers to one facility to curb COVID-19 spread, advocates urge better pay and more PPE for nursing home staff.

Nashville, Tenn., resident died of COVID-19 after being sent home from a hospital twice. Uninsured COVID-19 patients are rarely told their bills are covered by the government, an investigation shows.