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Shots - Health News

Shots

Health News From NPR

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Thursday

Friday

Health Insurance Premiums Will Go Up In 2016, But By How Much?

An analysis shows the monthly premiums for many people with Obamacare policies will not much change in 2016. But the high increases of some policies are drawing fire. Rob Colvin/ImageZoo/Corbis hide caption

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Rob Colvin/ImageZoo/Corbis

Health Inc.

Health Insurance Premiums Will Go Up In 2016, But By How Much?

Montana Public Radio

Most people buying Obamacare plans next year are likely to face a small increase in the price of monthly premiums, early numbers suggest. A few plans are asking for steep price hikes, but that's rare.

Health Insurance Premiums Will Go Up In 2016, But By How Much?

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Wednesday

Consumers In 'Grandfathered' Health Plans Can Face Higher Costs

Health plans begun under the Affordable Care Act are required to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods without cost to members. Older plans are exempt from that rule. iStockphoto hide caption

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Analysis

Health Inc.

Consumers In 'Grandfathered' Health Plans Can Face Higher Costs

KFF Health News

These older policies existed before the health law was enacted in 2010 and haven't change much. They cover about a quarter of insured workers, and aren't subject to the same rules as Obamacare plans.

Tuesday

Monday

Insurer Uses Personal Data To Predict Who Will Get Sick

Carol and John Iovine say the health coach their insurer assigned John after he had a torrent of grave health problems in 2014 has helped them get the medical care he still needs. And it's helped keep him out of the hospital. Todd Bookman/WHYY hide caption

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Todd Bookman/WHYY

Health Inc.

Insurer Uses Personal Data To Predict Who Will Get Sick

WHYY

A Philadelphia health insurance company analyzes its clients' health data and other factors to find the frailest and assign them health coaches. That may improve health, but is it a breach of privacy?

Insurer Uses Personal Data To Predict Who Will Get Sick

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Thursday

State Obamacare Exchanges Experience Growing Pains

An Access Health CT location in New Britain, Conn. Courtesy of Access Health CT hide caption

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Courtesy of Access Health CT

Health Inc.

State Obamacare Exchanges Experience Growing Pains

Minnesota, Colorado and Connecticut are figuring out how to keep their health insurance marketplaces afloat as federal startup funding runs out.

State Obamacare Exchanges Experience Growing Pains

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Wednesday

More Patients, Not Fewer, Turn To Health Clinics After Obamacare

The staff at the Charlotte Community Health Clinic: Nancy Hudson (left), Maria Elena Solanilla, Tonya Luna, Lisa Ortiz-Fraticelli, Charm May Agustin, Martha Brinsko and Tamara Withers-Thompson. Michael Tomsic/WFAE hide caption

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Michael Tomsic/WFAE

Health Inc.

More Patients, Not Fewer, Turn To Health Clinics After Obamacare

WFAE

Patients are flocking to community health clinics for care. Obamacare advertising brought a lot of people out of the woodwork who wanted health insurance but didn't qualify for it.

More Patients, Not Fewer, Turn To Health Clinics After Obamacare

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Tuesday

Texas Puts Brakes On Telemedicine — And Teladoc Cries Foul

Diagnosis by text or a phone call is often convenient and popular with patients. But is it good medicine? Apriori/iStockphoto hide caption

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Apriori/iStockphoto

Health Inc.

Texas Puts Brakes On Telemedicine — And Teladoc Cries Foul

KERA News

As consulting a doctor exclusively by phone, text or video becomes more popular, the Texas Medical Board moves to restrict these e-visits. Is the real battle over patient safety, money or turf?

Texas Puts Brakes On Telemedicine — And Teladoc Cries Foul

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Friday

When Are Employee Wellness Incentives No Longer Voluntary?

There are legal questions about how far employers can go to encourage participation in wellness programs. Bjorn Rune Lie/Ikon Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Bjorn Rune Lie/Ikon Images/Getty Images

Health Inc.

When Are Employee Wellness Incentives No Longer Voluntary?

Many workers like the programs, and employers say they help hold down health insurance costs. But there are legal questions about how far companies can go to encourage participation.

When Are Employee Wellness Incentives No Longer Voluntary?

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Texas Politicians And Businesses Feud Over Medicaid Expansion

While governor of Texas, Rick Perry refused to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid. Rick Wilking/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Rick Wilking/Reuters/Landov

Health Inc.

Texas Politicians And Businesses Feud Over Medicaid Expansion

Texas has turned down federal funds to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Hospitals and some business owners want the money, but it's a tough sell in Republican-dominated state politics.

Texas Politicians And Businesses Feud Over Medicaid Expansion

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Thursday

Wednesday

Supreme Court Says Locals Can Make Pill-Makers Pay For Drug Disposal

Tuesday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to not review an ordinance passed by Alameda County, California, means that drug makers will now need to pay for collection and disposal of unused drugs in the county. iStockphoto hide caption

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iStockphoto

Health Inc.

Supreme Court Says Locals Can Make Pill-Makers Pay For Drug Disposal

KQED

The court decision means companies are on the hook for helping at least some consumers in California safely dispose of leftover pills and other medicine. Similar measures are in the works elsewhere.

Friday

Covered California Votes To Cap What Patients Pay For Pricey Drugs

Retired California school teacher Mikkel Lawrence sits with his cat, Max. Lawrence has hepatitis C and has struggled to afford the medicine he needs to treat it. April Dembosky/KQED hide caption

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April Dembosky/KQED

Health Inc.

Covered California Votes To Cap What Patients Pay For Pricey Drugs

KQED

The agency that administers Obamacare in California moved to make expensive medicines more affordable in 2016. In most plans, patients will pay no more than $150 or $250 a month.

Wednesday

Grassley To Justice Department: Crack Down On Medicare Advantage Overbilling

Sen. Chuck Grassley has questions about what the feds are doing to investigate allegations of Medicare Advantage fraud. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Health Inc.

Grassley To Justice Department: Crack Down On Medicare Advantage Overbilling

The Center for Public Integrity

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking the Obama administration pointed questions about what is being done to investigate alleged fraud, waste and abuse by Medicare Advantage plans.

Tuesday