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A 'potentially powerful model' for treating sickle cell

A sickle cell clinic in South L.A. is believed to be the first of its kind: It brings primary and specialty care providers under one roof to treat the disease. Rebecca Plevin
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Recent Health coverage

Universal Mask Wearing Could Save Some 130,000 Lives In The U.S., Study Suggests

Jason Slotkin | NPR |

The study is based on some assumptions under different scenarios. It suggests that if 95% of Americans wore masks in public it could drastically reduce the amount of COVID-19 deaths by February.

A Federal Coronavirus Vaccine Contract Released At Last, But Redactions Obscure Terms

Sydney Lupkin | NPR |

Most of the federal contracts with companies involved in the crash program to make COVID-19 vaccines haven't been made public. The lack of disclosure raises questions about accountability.

Will FDA Heed Its Outside Experts' Advice On COVID-19 Vaccines?

Sydney Lupkin | NPR |

A panel of doctor and scientists raised questions about the expedited regulatory path the Food and Drug Administration is considering for COVID-19 vaccines.

Researchers Find Doubts About COVID-19 Vaccine Among People Of Color

Laurel Wamsley | NPR |

At a series of listening sessions, participants voiced worries that the development of a COVID-19 vaccine is being politicized and rushed. Public health experts are taking vaccine hesitancy seriously.

Comparing Biden's And Trump's Different Visions For Health Care

Selena Simmons-Duffin | NPR |

From Medicare to Obamacare to controlling drug costs, the candidates mostly differ in their approach to health care. Here's a quick guide to their views and proposals.

Hospital Bills For Uninsured COVID-19 Patients Are Covered, But No One Tells Them

Blake Farmer | NPR |

The CARES Act provides funds to pay medical bills for uninsured COVID-19 patients. But the death of a young man in Nashville shows people often don't know about the program until it's too late.

CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes Of COVID-19 Exposure Needed To Be A 'Close Contact'

Joe Neel and Barbara Campbell | NPR |

Health officials used to advise going into quarantine and being tested for the coronavirus if you were near an infected person for 15 minutes. Now the rule is a total of 15 minutes during one day.

More Health

How Will The Limited Supply Of Antibody Drugs For COVID-19 Be Allocated?

Richard Harris | NPR |

Experimental medicines have the potential to help people with COVID-19 avoid hospitalization. The scarce supply of the treatments would have to be rationed, if regulators OK their use.

Audio

Salem, Mass., Says Stay Away If You Know What's Good For You This Halloween

Barbara Campbell | NPR |

The witchcraft capital of the U.S. usually courts October visitors but is worried about the coronavirus this year. Officials are taking steps to repel out-of-town goblins.

NIH Director 'Guardedly Optimistic' About COVID-19 Vaccine Approval By End Of 2020

James Doubek and Steve Inskeep | NPR |

But Dr. Francis Collins says it's unlikely a vaccine will be approved before late November. He also urges people to trust health experts like Anthony Fauci who "don't really have an ax to grind."

Audio

Studies Point To Big Drop In COVID-19 Death Rates

Geoff Brumfiel | NPR |

More hospitalized patients are surviving than early in the pandemic. Improved treatments make a big difference, but so does flattening the curve to keep hospitals from overfilling, researchers say.

Audio

The Affordable Care Act's Fate Is In Flux But 2021 Health Plan Prices Are Stable

Julie Appleby | NPR |

The Affordable Care Act's future is uncertain and there's no end in sight to the pandemic. But for the 2021 insurance year consumers can expect to see modest increases in prices, if any.

A Big Alzheimer's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously, Despite The Pandemic

Jon Hamilton | NPR |

Researchers launched a major study of an experimental Alzheimer's drug this summer. They also learned a lot about how to protect participants who must make frequent visits to a medical center.

Audio

40 Million Coronavirus Cases Are Now Reported Worldwide

Bill Chappell | NPR |

With the flu season looming, the rate of new cases in the U.S. and other countries is rising at rates not seen in months.

Coronavirus Cases Rise To Highest Level Since Late July

Will Stone | NPR |

Raging outbreaks in the Midwest and Great Plains are driving the numbers, but every region of the country is showing growth in new infections.

COVID-19 Test Results Get Faster, But Still Too Slow To Help Slow Disease Spread

Rob Stein | NPR |

The average wait time for results of a coronavirus test has dropped to about three days, but that is still too slow to keep infected people from unknowingly spreading the virus, researchers report.