Public Health Challenges, News & Research

Find links to recent health care stories from all of NPR's news programs organized by date and categories such as "People & Places," "Research News," "Global Health," and "Legal Affairs." Check out the special sections on "What Americans Eat" as well as the "Editor's Picks."

The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) has developed the
Health Care Coverage Options Database, an on-line tool to help make
American health care consumers aware of all of the coverage options
available to them. The Database contains information about private health
insurance coverage, as well as the many public and private programs
available to Americans to help them obtain the medical care they need.
Policymakers, the media and other interested parties can also use the
Database as a means of comparing health care coverage options for
Americans on a state-by-state basis.

The National Rural Health Association is promoting a 5-year quality initiative to achieve the following Institute of Medicine recommendations: demonstrate programs that work, engage federal policymakers, develop the rural health care workforce, strengthen financial viability, and invest in information and communication technology. For detailed information on these goals and how you might get involved, go to the Web site.

"One in three U.S. residents used the Internet to find information on a medical problem in 2004 . . ." (Source: Kaisernetwork.org) People are turning to the Internet in increasing numbers for information on nutrition and diet, treatments and procedures, and drugs. Most visited sites were those connected to WebMD and the National Institutes of Health.

Health Behavior News Service is a resource for evidence-based scientific research to help people make decisions about their health and health care. HBNS monitors articles in peer-reviewed journals and research by nonprofit, public- and private-sector producers of systematic evidence reviews. It turns the research into readable, accurate and useful news stories on health promotion, disease prevention, chronic conditions and health care services. Registration for this service is free, but limited to newspaper, magazine, broadcast, newsletter, freelance and Internet journalists.

A new Robert Wood Johnson study, released in conjunction with "Cover the Uninsured Week," provides a state-by-state picture of the problems faced by more than 20 million working adults. A few of the findings: Problem is pervasive across the nation; Uninsured adults are unable to see a doctor when needed; and, They are more likely to report being in fair or poor health than those who are insured. Read the linked news release for a good summary of the report or download the whole report using the link at the bottom of the news release.

Started in 2003, Cover the Uninsured Week draws the nation's attention to the growing number of Americans currently uninsured. It fosters discussion and seeks to generate solutions to provide health insurance to more people in the United States. View video of launch event, download transcripts of the event and link to more resources.

May 1-8 is the week that events focused on obtaining health care coverage for all Americans will take place across the U.S. Find out what's happening in your area or learn more about the issues and what we can do by visiting the Web site. Events, fact sheets, legislative info, and state-by-state guides for the uninsured can be found online.

A study released on April 11 says the news media is generally apathetic toward reporting on Middle America. NPR's Talk of the Nation takes a closer look at the findings with Matthew Felling, media director, Center for Media and Public Affairs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a single Web page that provides, in clear and friendly terms, information on health and aging. Topics covered include health-related behaviors, chronic diseases, infectious diseases, immunizations, injuries, and Medicare.