Health

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed its recommendations for lung cancer screening last year to expand testing to more smokers.  A recent study funded by the National Cancer Institute finds that a blood test can provide a better way to identify... Read More

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a new study showing that children and teens up to age 18 who are infected with COVID-19 are more likely than those who are not infected to be diagnosed with diabetes a month... Read More

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised the public of potential plans to renew its mask guidance from last July.  The move by the CDC follows recent findings from health departments in states like New York and... Read More

David Bennett, a 57-year-old from Maryland, became the first human patient in the world to have successfully received a transplant of a genetically modified pig’s heart.  As of Monday, Bennett was still in recovery and breathing on his own, but... Read More

Officials from the Virginia Department of Health announced in a recent statement that the Office of Vital Records is experiencing a shortage of workers because of a surge in COVID-19 infections, and the use of live operators in call centers will... Read More

A recent study from researchers at New York University examines the disparities in quality performance between rural and urban home health agencies between 2014 and 2018. The findings show that rural health agencies consistently begin home care quicker than in urban settings,... Read More

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made an announcement on Tuesday to limit restrictions on coverage for the new Alzheimer’s drug treatment Aduhelm to only individuals involved in clinical trials.  “We agree with the [National Institute of Aging] meta-analysis that there... Read More

Many fast-food restaurants in the U.S. will soon offer plant-based foods, a trend that emerged in recent years as retailers tested whether there was a high enough demand from American consumers for plant-based menu options. On Monday, representatives from Kentucky... Read More

WASHINGTON — The House Rules Committee on Monday rejected an amendment to the Guard and Reserve G.I. Bill Parity Act that would guarantee Armed Services members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for G.I. Bill education benefits. The... Read More

WASHINGTON — Beginning Jan. 15, private health insurers will be required to cover the cost of home testing kits despite recent concerns from elected officials and researchers over the reliability and availability of rapid antigen testing. “I’ve heard from so... Read More

Pfizer’s Paxlovid is the first pill treatment to combat severe COVID-19 infection, and new figures from Israel’s Ministry of Health show the pill may hold promise in saving lives. Shortly before Christmas Day, Paxlovid was authorized for at-home treatment of... Read More

Yale researchers recently developed an mRNA-based Lyme disease vaccine capable of targeting antigens in tick saliva to prevent their ability to transmit pathogens.  According to the CDC, nearly half a million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Lyme Disease... Read More

A team of British researchers recently found there are no real hangover cures. Their findings followed a systematic review of numerous remedies that claim to be effective at curing a hangover from alcohol, such as red ginseng, Korean pear juice... Read More

Scientists are seeing signals that COVID-19′s alarming omicron wave may have peaked in Britain and is about to do the same in the U.S., at which point cases may start dropping off dramatically. The reason: The variant has proved so wildly contagious... Read More

WASHINGTON — One day after the United States shattered the world record for the number of coronavirus infections, some of the nation’s top infectious disease experts only cautiously held out hope for an end to the pandemic soon. One of... Read More

LONDON (AP) — Cybersecurity and space are emerging risks to the global economy, adding to existing challenges posed by climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, the World Economic Forum said in a report Tuesday. The Global Risks Report is usually released ahead of the annual... Read More

WASHINGTON — In a rare Friday hearing, the Supreme Court this morning considered to what extent the Biden administration can impose COVID-19 vaccine mandates on large employers and health care workers. Throughout the oral arguments on the consolidated cases National... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up two major Biden administration efforts to bump up the nation's vaccination rate against COVID-19 at a time of spiking coronavirus cases because of the omicron variant. The justices on the conservative-oriented court... Read More

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Vaccinated, masked and ready-to-revel New Orleans residents will usher in Carnival season Thursday with a rolling party on the city's historic streetcar line, an annual march honoring Joan of Arc in the French Quarter and a... Read More

SAN ANTONIO — COVID-19 infection rates continue to complicate the school year as some districts have either delayed their start dates or shifted to virtual learning in response to the growing spike in cases. As many schools nationwide have either... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veteran Affairs is seeking public comment on a proposal to waive copayments for medications and health care services for veterans who have been identified as being at a high risk for suicide. According to a... Read More

SHAWNEE, Kan. — Members of the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas implemented changes to their test-to-stay practice this week, based on new guidance supported by the Biden administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on using the method... Read More

WASHINGTON — A federal law banning surprise medical bills U.S. patients may receive following an emergency room visit, air ambulance trip, or receiving care out-of-network went into effect on Jan 1., but health policy expert Jack Hoadley finds that gaps... Read More

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has provoked outcries in parliament and protests from election rivals by using a vulgarity to describe his strategy for pressuring vaccine refusers to get coronavirus jabs. Macron used the French word “emmerder,” rooted... Read More

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan initiative crafted by Reps. Nancy Mace and Derek Kilmer would provide much needed grant money to support the construction of tiny homes for homeless veterans. Six years after the Veterans Community Project started building tiny homes... Read More

WASHINGTON — Two coaches from the Washington Nationals baseball team are adding to the lawsuits spun off from mandates by the federal government and private employers requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The federal mandate announced by President Joe... Read More

WASHINGTON — Two new over-the-counter COVID-19 tests intended for home use have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Both of the tests, one manufactured by SD Biosensor and distributed by Roche and the other manufactured by Siemens, are... Read More

WASHINGTON — All students and staff planning to return to the District of Columbia’s public schools after their holiday break must first provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, Mayor Muriel Bowser and schools chancellor Lewis Ferebee announced Wednesday. School... Read More

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut its recommended quarantine time for people who test positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to just five on Monday, so long as the infected individual is asymptomatic. The new guidance... Read More

BRUSSELS (AP) — After struggling with the coronavirus for far too long, the world understands all too well Belgium's word of the year, “knaldrang!” — the urge to party, the need to let loose. Yet as New Year celebrations approach,... Read More