The U.S. faces a shortfall of about 450,000 nurses and 120,000 doctors in the coming years. The Senate’s top health committee, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, is considering bipartisan solutions.
Category: NPR
An ER doc reflects on life, death and uncertainty in the early days of COVID-19
Dr. Farzon Nahvi spent the first few months of the pandemic as an emergency room physician in Manhattan. He talks about trying to improvise treatments during that time. His new book is Code Gray.
Frail people are left to die in prison as judges fail to act on a law to free them
Petitions for compassionate release soared in the pandemic, but federal judges denied most requests. This week officials will review guidelines aimed at freeing imprisoned people who pose no threat.
Over-the-counter Narcan will save lives, experts say. But the cost will affect access
Advisers to the FDA put the opioid overdose-reversal drug a step closer to being sold without a needing a prescription. Even if approved, the medication may not reach many people who need it.
Why hundreds of doctors are lobbying in Washington this week
They came to tell Congress about their “recovery plan” for physicians, which includes a Medicare pay boost and an end to some frustrating insurance company requirements.
The Marburg outbreak in Equatorial Guinea is a concern — and a chance for progress
Marburg virus is hard to detect early on–and goes on to kill about half its victims. Researchers hope to work quickly during this outbreak to make progress on emerging vaccines and treatments.
How seniors could lose in the Medicare political wars
Politicians are again pointing fingers over cutting Medicare. Any party accused of threatening the program tends to lose elections, but without a bipartisan agreement, seniors stand to lose the most.
Nearly $50,000 a week for a cancer drug? A man worries about bankrupting his family
Medicare suddenly stopped paying for the pricey drug that prolongs his life. As he waits for an appeal, this retired physician wonders if he should give up treatment to spare his family the cost.
‘Dr. Lisa on the street’ busts health myths and empowers patients
She’s seen what happens when people don’t trust or understand their doctor. Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick founded ‘Grapevine Health’ to get solid information out, especially to Black and Latinx patients.
In Tennessee, a Medicaid mix-up could land you on a ‘most wanted’ list
Medicaid enrollment swelled during the pandemic. And some states are being especially aggressive at policing their rolls.
