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Health Inc. : Shots - Health News As spending on care rises, the business of health keeps getting more important. We feature news on and analysis of drugmakers, health insurers, hospitals, doctors and others in the business of providing health care.

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Health News From NPR

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Tuesday February 28, 2012

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Feds Accuse Texas Doctor In $350 Million Medicare Fraud

February 28, 2012 • A Texas doctor and six co-conspirators indicted for an alleged long-running health care scam look to have set a new record for a medical practice: $350 million in fraudulent Medicare bills and $24 million under Medicaid over nearly six years ending in late 2011.

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Coming To A Strip Mall Near You, A Health Insurance Store

February 28, 2012 • Some health insurers are angling to appeal to millions of new insurance shoppers by opening retail stores where people can buy a policy, check on an existing claim, maybe even take a class in healthy cooking or yoga.

Thursday January 19, 2012

Stories About High Health Care Costs Win Prizes

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Stories About High Health Care Costs Win Prizes

January 19, 2012 • A nonprofit group that's trying to get doctors and other health professionals to be more thoughtful about health costs just named winners in an essay contest. Two essays by patients suggest haggling over prices and questioning the necessity of some care can pay off.

Friday January 13, 2012

Drugmakers Boost Prices, Despite Political Risks

AstraZeneca's Nexium is one of many drugs that had a hefty price increase this month. Rennett Stowe/Flickr hide caption

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Rennett Stowe/Flickr

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Drugmakers Boost Prices, Despite Political Risks

January 13, 2012 • This month, the biggest companies raised list prices for brand-name drugs an average of 4.5 percent. Back in Jan. 2008, the same companies raised prices an average of 2.8 percent.

Thursday January 12, 2012

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Biggest Bucks In Health Care Are Spent On A Very Few

January 12, 2012 • Just 1 percent of the population accounted for 21.8 percent of all U.S. health spending in 2009. And just 5 percent accounted for half the total spending.

Biggest Bucks In Health Care Are Spent On A Very Few

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Monday January 9, 2012

Why Millions Of Prescriptions Will No Longer Be Filled At Walgreens

A customer walks out of a Walgreens store in New York City. Adam Rountree/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Adam Rountree/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Why Millions Of Prescriptions Will No Longer Be Filled At Walgreens

KFF Health News

January 9, 2012 • Starting this year, many Americans may be surprised to find that their local Walgreens or Duane Reade is no longer in their insurance network. That's because of a dispute between two health care giants. If the back of your insurance card says Express Scripts, you are affected.

Why Millions Of Prescriptions Will No Longer Be Filled At Walgreens

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Tuesday December 27, 2011

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For Hospitals, There's No App For Adopting Tablet Computers

KFF Health News

December 27, 2011 • Hospitals may be the only places in America that aren't crazy for iPads. Security issues and incompatibility with hospital systems are two big reasons why tablet computers haven't caught on. But some doctors and patients say they're great for explaining complex medical issues.

Thursday December 15, 2011

Once Routine, Autopsies Now Scarce At U.S. Hospitals

Unlike the medical examiner's office in New Mexico, which routinely autopsies sudden or violent deaths, most U.S. hospitals perform postmortem examinations only rarely. John W. Poole/NPR hide caption

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John W. Poole/NPR

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Once Routine, Autopsies Now Scarce At U.S. Hospitals

December 15, 2011 • Hospitals have financial incentives to avoid autopsies. And a decline in the number of postmortem examinations performed means lost opportunities for improving medical care and distortions in health care statistics.

Wednesday December 14, 2011

Hospitals Torn On Reducing Repeat Admissions

Joseuly Claudio, 53, gets weekly checkups from nurse practitioner Mary McDonagh at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. Fred Mogul/WNYC hide caption

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Fred Mogul/WNYC

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Hospitals Torn On Reducing Repeat Admissions

KFF Health News

December 14, 2011 • Patients admitted repeatedly to hospitals can be a big source of revenue and a big quality problem. Soon Medicare will penalize hospitals that readmit too many patients too often. Hospitals are trying some new approaches to care to get ready for the change.

Hospitals Torn On Reducing Repeat Admissions

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Monday December 5, 2011

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Young People Put Dent In Nursing Shortage

December 5, 2011 • Persistent shortages of nurses may be coming to an end. The ranks of registered nurses are expected to grow at roughly the same rate as the population between now and 2030, a new study finds.

Thursday December 1, 2011

End Of An Era: Lipitor Goes Generic

After 14 years, the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor is going generic. JB Reed/Landov hide caption

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JB Reed/Landov

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End Of An Era: Lipitor Goes Generic

December 1, 2011 • Two new generic brands of cholesterol-lowering medication threaten sales to Pfizer's number one selling drug — Lipitor. Good news? More people can afford it now.

Tuesday November 22, 2011

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Merck Paying $950M To Settle Vioxx Charges

November 22, 2011 • More than seven years after taking Vioxx off the market, Merck has agreed to pay $950 million to settle federal charges it went too far in marketing the pain drug. Under the deal, the company also pleaded guilty to illegally selling the drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Tuesday November 15, 2011

Drug Shortages Affect More Than Half A Million Cancer Patients

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Drug Shortages Affect More Than Half A Million Cancer Patients

November 15, 2011 • So far this year, there have been shortages of more than 200 drugs, including treatments for cancer and high blood pressure. Cancer drugs have been hit the worst, and an analysis estimates 550,000 patients in the U.S. have been affected.

Thursday November 10, 2011

Wal-Mart's Clarification On Health Care Leaves Room For Big Moves

Wal-Mart's Dr. John Agwunobi (left) said in a statement that the company won't be "building a national, integrated, low-cost primary care health care platform." Even so, the leaves plenty of room for the retailer to pursue an expansion of health care services at its stores. Cliff Owen/AP hide caption

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Cliff Owen/AP

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Wal-Mart's Clarification On Health Care Leaves Room For Big Moves

November 10, 2011 • Even after downplaying some parts of a document requesting partners for future health care ventures, Wal-Mart's ambitions to do something bigger in providing medial services in its stores remains clear. The company is seeking help in managing chronic health conditions — from asthma to osteoporosis — that are among the most prevalent problems in the U.S.

Wednesday November 9, 2011

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Wal-Mart Plans Expansion Into Medical Care

KFF Health News

November 9, 2011 • The nation's biggest retailer is planning to offer a wide range of medical care in U.S. stores. A Wal-Mart document seeking partners for the effort says the company aims to become a major provider of primary care. Later, an executive with the retailer said the company document was "overwritten and incorrect."

Wal-Mart Plans Expansion Into Medical Care

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