Category: NPR

How hospitals in southwest Florida are coping with the surge in patients after Hurricane Ian

A hospital on the southwest coast of Florida has seen a surge of patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Reporter Stephanie Colombini traveled there to see how the health care system is coping.

The pandemic allowed these families to stay on Medicaid. Now, their children risk healthcare

In the pandemic, the federal government allowed anyone on Medicaid to stay on, indefinitely. But that could end soon, raising fears in Missouri that kids in particular risk losing coverage.

A look at the conversations Vice President Harris has been having on abortion

Vice President Harris has held meeting after meeting on abortion rights since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. NPR sat in a recent sessions to find out more about her role on this issue.

Picking a good health insurance plan can be confusing. Here’s what to keep in mind

This guide from Life Kit includes podcast episodes on how to select the right health care plan, a glossary of common insurance jargon and why you should give your summary of benefits a close read.

Changes to abortion laws mean OB-GYNs have less opportunities to learn procedure

The recent change to abortion laws means providers will have far fewer opportunities to learn the procedure. It’s created a crisis for the training of OB-GYNs.

Medical debt ruined her credit. ‘It’s like you’re being punished for being sick’

New policies to keep medical bills from sinking credit ratings sound good but will likely fall short for many hit hardest by debt — especially Black Americans in the South, such as Penelope Wingard.

The CDC wants you to get a flu shot before what could be a bad flu season

The National Federation of Infectious Diseases and the CDC are urging people to get flu shots. Both groups say the flu is likely to come back after a two-year hiatus, and it could be a bad year.

Coronavirus (booster) FAQ: Can it cause a positive test? When should you get it?

There is a lot of information about coronavirus vaccines out there, and some of it seems vague or contradictory. We talked to experts to help answer some of the most common and confusing questions.

$80,000 and 5 ER visits: An ectopic pregnancy takes a toll

A New York woman seeking to end a dangerous ectopic pregnancy in a fallopian tube finds the procedure more complicated and expensive than expected — even in a state with liberal abortion laws.

Hospitals have specialists on call for lots of diseases — but not addiction. Why not?

U.S. overdose deaths have exceeded 100,000 a year, yet few hospitals are equipped to treat patients with addiction. A new kind of treatment team connect patients with help before they’re discharged.