Category: NPR

California lawmakers cleared a bill for one of the country’s strongest mental health parity laws. If signed, it would improve insurance coverage for substance use disorders and addiction.

Certain diagnoses are harder to catch without an in-person connection. And beyond that, a doctor reflects on the loss of a ritual that can provide “real comfort and meaning” to physician and patient.

This pandemic is like war, and federal, state and local health officers are leading the U.S. response. Yet unlike war heroes, who are lionized, they are facing unprecedented attacks and death threats.

A vaccine against the coronavirus needs to keep people from getting very sick and dying. But preventing the spread of the disease is also important, and vaccines delivered by nasal spray may do that.

Atlantic journalist Alexis Madrigal says millions of at-home saliva tests for COVID could be the key to a safe reopening — even if the tests are less accurate than the traditional PCR tests.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its coronavirus testing guidelines, raising questions about whether the move was done to reduce testing.

The Food and Drug Administration’s chief said Sunday the therapy reduces deaths among COVID-19 patients by 35%. On Monday he apologized, acknowledging that statistic greatly exaggerates any benefit.

An uninsured Colorado man who had appendicitis owed $80,232 after two surgeries. After months of negotiating with the hospital, he still owes far more than most insurers would pay for the procedures.

NPR’s Ari Shapiro talks with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar about the Food and Drug Administration allowing the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19.

Nurses are among the Philippines’ most sought-after exports. One front-liner in New York City has won over colleagues with a morale-boosting performance and has mentored health care workers back home.