As hospital chains and insurers across the U.S squeeze each other, hoping to increase their market share, many patients are suddenly finding the doctors and hospitals they prefer are out of network.
Category: NPR
A Fainting Spell After A Flu Shot Leads To $4,692 ER Visit
A 39-year-old man fainted after getting a flu shot at work, so his colleagues called 911. The man turned out to be fine, but the trip to the emergency room cost him his annual deductible.
A Fainting Spell After A Flu Shot Leads To $4,692 ER Visit
A 39-year-old man fainted after getting a flu shot at work, so his colleagues called 911. The man turned out to be fine, but the trip to the emergency room cost him his annual deductible.
Fear Of Deportation Or Green Card Denial Deters Some Parents From Getting Kids Care
A Texas girl needs autism treatment, but her immigrant mother is afraid of turning to Medicaid. As more U.S. children go without health coverage, border watchers partly blame politics of intimidation.
Steep Climb In Benzodiazepine Prescribing By Primary Care Doctors
U.S. prescriptions for Valium, Ativan and other benzodiazepines have shot up since 2003, statistics show, especially for chronic pain. Roughly half those prescriptions are from primary care providers.
Trump Seeks Action To Stop Surprise Medical Bills
In a White House meeting with patients and doctors, President Trump directed his health secretary, Alex Azar, and labor secretary, Alex Acosta, to work on a solution for unexpected bills.
California Doctors Alarmed As State Links Their Opioid Prescriptions to Deaths
The Death Certificate Project aims to weed out doctors who are overprescribing opioids, but some physicians say the investigations are having a chilling effect on the legitimate treatment of pain.
House Democrats’ Focus On Abortion Could Stymie Work With Senate
Members of the new Democratic majority in the House vow to reverse restrictions that Republicans have imposed on abortions. But the efforts could lead to titanic fights that imperil other legislation.
Medical Students Push For More LGBT Health Training To Address Disparities
One in 5 LGBT adults has avoided medical care for fear of discrimination, according to a recent survey, and 80 percent of physicians surveyed say they feel “not competent” to treat LGBT patients.
How Much Is That CAT Scan? Now You Can Check (If You Know Billing Codes)
Starting this month, hospitals must publish prices for procedures and services online. Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal of Kaiser Health News tells NPR’s Lulu Garcia-Navarro it’s not very user friendly — yet.
