Is Birth Control Preventive Medicine?
That’s the question federal officials will by answering in the next year as they continue writing regulations to implement the Affordable Care Act.
Articles from Contributor
Bowl Half Empty? How to Tell If Your Dog Is a Pessimist
The only time my dog’s tail stops wagging is when she’s asleep. She’s a really happy pup, in other words — or at least I thought she was. The lead author of a new study in the journal Current Biology suggests she may have a …
How to Keep Surgeons From Leaving Things Behind
It may seem unthinkable, but as many as 1 out of 1,000 people who undergo abdominal surgery end up in the recovery room with a foreign object mistakenly left inside them.
![307_Healthcare.com[1]](https://healthland.time.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2010/10/307_healthcare-com1.jpg?w=307&h=200&crop=1 "307_Healthcare.com[1]")
Need Health Insurance? Click Here.
If you’ve ever tried to sign up for health insurance on the open market – meaning, not through work or a government program like Medicare – you know how painfully difficult it can be.
Happy Insurance Regulation Day!
Today, some major health insurance regulations created by the Affordable Care Act kick in. These consumer protections have kind-hearted-sounding descriptions like “coverage for kids with pre-existing conditions,” but they come …
Confused About Health Reform? Help Is Here
On the whole, Americans don’t understand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) very well. After the jump, some proof of the confusion, as well as a helpful — and adorable — video tutorial that might help clear some things up.
Why Being Poked and Prodded Is a Good Thing
Richard Knox had a great story on NPR today looking at how technologies are replacing the oldest form of doctoring – the physical exam. Knox’s reporting focuses on how modern medical training doesn’t emphasize the …
Number of the Day: 50.7 Million
The Census bureau announced today that 50.7 million people in the U.S., including 7.5 million children, did not have health insurance in 2009, up from 46.3 million in 2008. The number of U.S. residents with insurance in 2009 was …
The Mysterious Case of Donald T., Autism’s First Child
The Atlantic has an absorbing tale in the current issue about the first person ever diagnosed with autism. The man, now 77, is named Donald Gray Triplett and the story’s authors tracked him down in Mississippi where — 74 years after he was institutionalized for exhibiting introverted behavior — he spends his days playing golf, …
Why Medical Malpractice Suits Have Little to Do with Doctor Performance
A few days ago I wrote about how difficult it is for patients to be empowered consumers. A new study released today provides more evidence that patients are basically in the dark when it comes to knowing how well doctors do their jobs.
Meet the Man Behind Health Care Reform
If you’ve heard of Donald Berwick, the new chief of Medicare and Medicaid, chances are good that what you’ve heard has been pretty scary. Charges levels by Republicans critical of the new Affordable Care Act (ACA) include: He wants to create a British-style health care in the U.S.! He wants to ration care! He has secret ambitions to …
Health Insurance Broker: Friend or Foe?
If you own a small business and provide health insurance to your employees, good for you! Many of your peers do not. But if you do, chances are good that you use an insurance broker or agent.
Empowering the Patient as Consumer: Health Care Gets Grades
As a journalist, I’m accustomed to doing research online. Before I interview someone, travel somewhere to report or cite data from an organization, I typically do a background search. When I decide to buy something, I operate …