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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.
Shots - Health News

Shots

Health News From NPR

Health Inc.

Wednesday

Many Well-Known Hospitals Fail To Score High In Medicare Rankings

Memorial Hermann Hospital System in Houston was one of very few nationally renowned hospitals to get a five-star ranking from Medicare. Ed Uthman/Flickr hide caption

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Ed Uthman/Flickr

Health Inc.

Many Well-Known Hospitals Fail To Score High In Medicare Rankings

KFF Health News

Hospitals have been fighting to block the rankings, but Medicare released them Wednesday. Of the 102 hospitals that got a five-star rating, few are among those generally praised for great care.

Tuesday

Insurers May Share Blame For Increased Price Of Some Generic Drugs

When your health insurer reclassifies a prescription drug you take from tier 1 to tier 2, it can sharply increase the portion of the drug's cost that you're expected to pay. Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

Health Inc.

Insurers May Share Blame For Increased Price Of Some Generic Drugs

KFF Health News

Consumers often blame drug companies for the rapidly rising costs of some commonly used generic drugs. But changes made by insurers influence the price of these drugs, too, it turns out.

Monday

Single Mom's Search For Therapist Hampered By Insurance Companies

Natalie Dunnege and her son, Strazh, work on an art project at home in San Francisco. Her health insurance would cover therapy sessions to help with her depression, Dunnege says, but she hasn't been able to find a counselor who is taking new patients. Sheraz Sadiq/KQED hide caption

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Sheraz Sadiq/KQED

Health Inc.

Single Mom's Search For Therapist Hampered By Insurance Companies

KQED

Recent health laws were supposed to give people easier access to mental health care. But some adults who have anxiety or depression and need help are still having a tough time lining up treatment.

Single Mom's Search For Therapist Hampered By Insurance Companies

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Thursday

Rehab Hospitals May Harm A Third Of Patients, Report Finds

The physical therapy workouts a rehabilitation facility offers can be a crucial part of healing, doctors say. But a government study finds preventable harm — including bedsores and medication errors — occurring in some of those facilities, too. Andersen Ross/Blend Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Andersen Ross/Blend Images/Getty Images

Health Inc.

Rehab Hospitals May Harm A Third Of Patients, Report Finds

ProPublica

Patients sent to rehabilitation facilities to recover from medical crises or surgery too often suffer additional harm from the care they get there, according to research by U.S. health officials.

Tuesday

Covered California's Health Plan Rates To Jump Sharply In 2017

Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange, said the projected rate increases for 2017 are linked to increases in the cost of health care in the state. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

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Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Health Inc.

Covered California's Health Plan Rates To Jump Sharply In 2017

KFF Health News

After two years of moderate rate hikes, a double-digit increase in the cost of insurance premiums in California is likely to resonate across the U.S. in the debate about the benefits of Obamacare.

Monday

Thursday

Wednesday

Doctors At Southern Hospitals Take The Most Payments From Drug, Device Companies
Hannah Birch and David Sleight/Propublica

Health Inc.

Doctors At Southern Hospitals Take The Most Payments From Drug, Device Companies

ProPublica

A hospital's location and whether it is for-profit make a big difference in the share of its doctors taking industry payments like meals, travel and speaking fees. Check out the ProPublica analysis.

Doctors At Southern Hospitals Take The Most Payments From Drug, Device Companies

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Friday

Tuesday

Even A Small Meal For A Doctor Can Tip The Balance For A Brand-Name Drug

A single modest meal for a doctor was associated with a higher likelihood he or she would prescribe Crestor, a cholesterol drug, instead of a generic. Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Health Inc.

Even A Small Meal For A Doctor Can Tip The Balance For A Brand-Name Drug

ProPublica

Researchers say the time doctors spend with drug company representatives when they are dropping off meals is probably more important than the food in influencing prescription choices.

Wednesday

Despite Overdose Epidemic, Georgia Caps The Number Of Opioid Treatment Clinics

Methadone and similar drugs are legal synthetic opioids that are used to help block the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of people trying to wean themselves off prescription painkillers or heroin. Michell Eloy/WABE hide caption

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Michell Eloy/WABE

Health Inc.

Despite Overdose Epidemic, Georgia Caps The Number Of Opioid Treatment Clinics

WABE

Georgia has stopped licensing new clinics that provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Some call the state's move irresponsible. Others say the clinics aren't regulated enough.

Despite Overdose Epidemic, Georgia Caps The Number Of Opioid Treatment Clinics

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Friday

Investors See Big Opportunities In Opioid Addiction Treatment
Jonathan McHugh/Ikon Images/Getty Images

Health Inc.

Investors See Big Opportunities In Opioid Addiction Treatment

Opioid addiction treatment is a growth market, and private equity firms are buying up treatment centers and chains. But it's too soon to say how this might affect access to care and quality.

Investors See Big Opportunities In Opioid Addiction Treatment

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Friday

Is Virginia Health Insurer's Decision To Drop Bronze Plans An Omen?

A subsidiary of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Virginia won't offer an insurance plan on the lowest tier of the marketplace next year. Morgan McCloy/NPR hide caption

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Morgan McCloy/NPR

Health Inc.

Is Virginia Health Insurer's Decision To Drop Bronze Plans An Omen?

KFF Health News

Bronze plans provide the least generous coverage of the four tiers on insurance marketplaces, paying 60 percent of benefits, on average, compared with 70 percent for the more popular silver plans.

Wednesday

Autism Can Be An Asset In The Workplace, Employers And Workers Find

Gerald Franklin, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, is now lead developer for a website that matches workers with prospective employers. Job-related videos, he says, can help people with special needs showcase their talent. Courtesy of Gerald Franklin hide caption

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Courtesy of Gerald Franklin

Health Inc.

Autism Can Be An Asset In The Workplace, Employers And Workers Find

Roughly 40 percent of young adults with autism spectrum disorder aren't finding jobs. But some employers are now recruiting adults on the spectrum as an untapped talent pool of focused workers.

Autism Can Be An Asset In The Workplace, Employers And Workers Find

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Thursday