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NPR Topics: Health Care

The state of health care, health insurance, new medical research, disease prevention, and drug treatments. Interviews, news, and commentary from NPR's correspondents. Subscribe to podcasts.

Bridging Gap Between Mental, Physical Health Care Provisions slipped into the economic bailout bill mandate that employers and insurance companies give mental health issues parity with physical health issues. Among the changes? Companies will not be able to charge different rates for mental — versus physical — health services. Mental Health Parity Approved With Bailout Bill The financial bailout President Bush signed last week actually began its legislative life as a bill addressing mental health benefits. The law intended to save Wall Street also requires many businesses to offer mental health coverage equal to that for other illnesses. NBA's Alonzo Mourning Touts 'Resilience' In Memoir In 2000, the muscular, 6-feet-10-inch NBA star was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening kidney disease. Alonzo Mourning made a full recovery following a transplant. Now, he's written a memoir about the obstacles he had to overcome on the road back to the NBA. When Not In Control, People Imagine Order New research shows that when people perceive they have no control over a given situation, they are more likely to see illusions, patterns where none exist and even believe in conspiracy theories. The study suggests that people impose imaginary order when no real order can be perceived. What Does Obama's Health Plan Really Cost? Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama says his health plan would make insurance available to all Americans. But health policy analysts say that the estimated cost of the plan is far higher than what the campaign is saying. McCain's Health Plan Focuses On High-Risk Pools John McCain's plan to insure more people would rely heavily on high-risk health insurance pools, where individuals with pre-existing conditions buy their own insurance. Critics argue that these pools are expensive and cover only a fraction of the uninsured and uninsurable. Sun An Important Source Of Vitamin D Vitamin D is essential for strong bones. Our bodies use sunlight to create their own vitamin D. Bruce Hollis, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, talks about how the process works. Psychiatrists Protest Pentagon Interrogations The nation's leading organization of psychiatrists says the Pentagon has reneged on an agreement not to use psychiatrists in interrogations of detainees at Guantanamo and other detention sites. Doctors Urge Research On Cell Phone-Cancer Issue The vast majority of scientific studies show no association between cell phone use and brain cancer. But several doctors say the issue isn't settled, and they are asking Congress for more research. Panelists: Is Health Care A Federal Responsibility? Read about the panelists debating the proposition "Universal health coverage should be the federal government's responsibility" in the latest in the Intelligence Squared U.S. series. Is The Government Responsible For Health Care? As part of the Intelligence Squared U.S. series, six experts debate the proposition "Universal health care should be the federal government's responsibility." Drugs Hint At Potential Reversal Of Autism Fragile X is a mutation on the X chromosome that can cause mental retardation and autism. But early studies suggest several new drugs may help correct the mutation and diminish some of its effects, including autism. Obama Ad Targets McCain's Health Care Plan A key element of John McCain's health care proposal is deregulation of the health insurance system. But a campaign ad for Barack Obama likens the plan to the deregulation of Wall Street and calls it a "prescription for disaster." Health Care And The Campaigns: A Discussion Carrie Staton is an uninsured mother of two; her husband has multiple sclerosis and she's coping with diabetes. Ralph Smith is a small business owner struggling to pay for his employees' health benefits. Smith and Staton both live in the swing state of Virginia. Host Andrea Seabrook asks representatives of both presidential nominees to explain how their health care plans would help Smith and Staton. Why Intensive Care Leads To PTSD A new study shows about 20 percent of patients checking out of hospital intensive care units suffer post traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Sydney Spiesel — a practicing pediatrician and professor at Yale Medical School — talks to Madeleine Brand about why this happens and what hospitals can do.