Health News

I had never heard of dystonia — until my doctors told me I had it.    

States will have the option to use data from food stamps, other programs, to enroll adults in Medicaid. Officials say the changes are geared to states that are expanding the program next year, but they may also be adopted by others.

Patients and their families can play a big role in preventing readmissions. Here are resources and strategies to prevent complications after a patient is discharged.

The only thing less pleasant than a stay in the hospital is having to go right back there to deal with complications. And experts say it happens all too often.

A ban on abortion at the 12th week of pregnancy is likely to be declared unconstitutional, a federal district judge said.    

This week, the Recipes for Health columnist Martha Rose Shulman experiments with focaccia, an alternative to pizza that makes a great lunch, snack or sandwich.    

One doctor is going to the front lines in the battle against a new strain of bacterial meningitis affecting New York’s gay community.    

One shot confers lifetime protection and the “booster shot” given at 10 years is no longer necessary, the World Health Organization said.    

As Republicans raise new questions about the IRS’ responsibilities in implementing and enforcing the health law, KHN’S Mary Agnes Carey talks to Joanna Kerpen, a partner at the law firm McDermott Will & Emery, about the job ahead for the agency.

Specialized study of athletic footwear offers some broad guidelines to consider when buying athletic shoes, especially for team sports like football, soccer or basketball.    

One of the hardest parts about developing leukemia at age 22 was how restrictive it was: My treatments left me highly susceptible to infection, airplanes were strictly off limits and even a trip to my neighborhood bodega required a protective face mask.    

Just as the House took its 37th vote to repeal the health law, largely along party lines, the Republicans held their first hearing on the IRS's tax-exempt and government-entities division. Several media outlets report that Sarah Hall Ingram, who led the division when the questioned operations began, is now in charge of the branch overseeing implementation of parts of the health law.

GOP lawmakers seek an investigation of the Health and Human Services secretary's efforts to secure more funding for a private group that will help with the implementation of the health law. At the same time, an HHS spokesman offered more detail regarding whom she contacted.

With fewer people than originally projected likely to be affected by the tax, the cost of the health law will go up due to lost tax revenue.

In advance of its release, the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has triggered debate and controversy surrounding the many changes included in this 947-page book.

The New York Times reports on this marketing development.

A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.

The New York Times and Los Angeles Times report on specific hospitals that have been shown to be among the most expensive in the nation. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports on interest from some senators in overhauling Medicare's hospital payment system.

A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Kansas, Georgia, Wisconsin and California.

Also in the news, developments on Medicaid expansion from Arizona, Ohio and Iowa.

Mathew Staver, the university's lawyer, told the judges Thursday in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Liberty would face millions of dollars in penalties if it refuses to provide employee health insurance that violates its religious beliefs.