That discount at the pharmacy counter may pack hidden costs

Philly Voice (Health) 5/9 11:00P Rachel Spears, KFF Health News

Even as prescription drug costs rise, patients with commercial insurance have slowed their use of manufacturer-sponsored drug coupons in recent years due to affordability issues.

Trump promised cheaper drugs. Some prices dropped. Many others shot up

Philly Voice (Health) 5/8 11:00P Elisabeth Rosenthal and Arthur A

President Donald Trump has promised cheaper prescription drugs with the rollout of TrumpRx and some new Medicaid deals. But the share of Americans benefitting from these options is slim.

Reducing nurses' patient loads would save lives and reduce hospital costs, Penn study finds

Philly Voice (Health) 5/5 11:00P Courtenay Harris Bond

Establishing safer nurse-to-patient ratios in Pennsylvania would save thousands of lives and millions of dollars, new research from the University of Pennsylvania suggests. Unsafe nurse staffing levels are being exacerbated by a nursing shortage,...

What is hantavirus, the deadly illness that has stricken a cruise ship?

Philly Voice (Health) 5/5 10:47A Courtenay Harris Bond

A hantavirus outbreak likely has killed three people and sickened four others on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic, the World Health Organization says. The rare, deadly illness is contracted by coming into contact with the feces, urine or saliva...

An AI chatbot posed as a licensed mental health provider, and Pennsylvania is suing the company...

Philly Voice (Health) 5/5 9:11A Courtenay Harris Bond

Pennsylvania is suing Character.AI, claiming its chatbots have posed as licensed medical professionals to talk to people about their mental health.

Why some cancers are being diagnosed more often in younger, otherwise healthy adults

Philly Voice (Health) 5/4 1:20A Peter Key

Thanks to advances in treatment, many types of cancer diagnoses are less daunting than they once were.

Syphilis cases in expectant mothers have dramatically risen since the pandemic – here’s what’s...

Philly Voice (Health) 5/2 11:00P Casey Pinto, Penn State

The rate of maternal syphilis rose by 28% from 2022 to 2024, the CDC says. That increase is primarily driven by increased cases in the general population and barriers to prenatal care.

More than 140,000 Americans die from COPD each year – here’s why survival depends on more than...

Philly Voice (Health) 5/1 11:00P Olamide Asifat, Georgia Southern

Smokers have a higher risk of dying from COPD compared to people who have never smoked, but it does not the only factor that increases the risk of COPD death. Social isolation also increases the risk.

A legacy mindset can help you stay the course on your health goals — even when you feel like giving...

Philly Voice (Health) 4/30 11:00P Louis Bezich

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is challenging, and the pull to choose instant satisfaction over long-term benefits is real. Adopting a legacy mindset can help people stay the course.

Emergency room visits for tick bites hit highest level in a decade

Philly Voice (Health) 4/29 4:43A Michael Tanenbaum

Hospital visits for tick bites and illnesses are 'higher than normal' in nearly every part of the United States, the CDC says. The rate of emergency department visits this year is the highest since 2017.

Running the Broad Street Run on Sunday? Here's how to treat the final days before the race

Philly Voice (Health) 4/28 4:30A Michaela Althouse

The final week before a big race, like the Broad Street Run, is one for rest and recovery. Runners should tweak their diets, increase their sleep, ease up on mileage and ensure their gear is ready for race day.

Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows

Philly Voice (Health) 4/25 11:00P Kathryn Spearman, Penn State

The warning signs that precede homicides by an intimate partner are common but often misunderstood or unrecognized. Too often, escalating behaviors during separation may be chalked up to a messy divorce or custody battle. But such language...

A 'barbaric' problem in American hospitals is only getting bigger

Philly Voice (Health) 4/24 11:00P By Elisabeth Rosenthal, KFF Heal

Patients can remain in the emergency department for days while waiting for a real hospital bed, a practice known as ED boarding. Patients have been admitted to the hospital, but they are still in the physical domain of the ER. The rules governing...

Drug-resistant fungal infections are increasing in Philly health care facilities — just as they are...

Philly Voice (Health) 4/23 11:00P Courtenay Harris Bond

Cases of Candida auris, a drug resistant fungal infection, have surged in Philadelphia health care facilities, the city's health department says. Officials recommend hospitals take more aggressive measures against it.

When people in addiction go missing, their loved ones often turn to Facebook groups to find them

Philly Voice (Health) 4/22 11:00P Courtenay Harris Bond

For families of people in addiction, Facebook groups like Lost in Kensington offer a way for them to find loved ones who are living or missing on the streets of Philadelphia.