Americans' Rx Drug Spending Shows Rare Drop in 2012
Spending on prescription medicines in the U.S. fell for the first time in decades last year, as cash-strapped consumers continued to cut back on use of health-care services.
Medicaid
Report: Fees Vary Wildly Among Hospitals for Same Procedure
Hospitals within the same city sometimes charge tens of thousands of dollars more for the same procedures, according to government figures released for the first time.
Poll: Aging Americans in Denial About Need for Long-Term Care
Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care as they get older -- and are taking few steps to get ready, a new poll shows.
States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion Face Repercussions
Rejecting Medicaid expansion could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to the new federal health care law.
White House Seeks Marketing Medicine for Health Care Overhaul
How do you show average Americans that one of the most complex and controversial government programs ever devised is a good deal for them? With the science of mass marketing.
Health-Care Overhaul Seen Driving Claims' Costs Up 32%
A new study finds that insurance companies will have to pay out an average of 32 percent more for medical claims under President Barack Obama's health-care overhaul.
House Passes Budget, Averts Government Shutdown
The House has passed a huge stopgap spending bill to keep the government open through the end of September, sidestepping any threat of a government shutdown.
House Budget Plan Includes Sharp Cuts to Programs for Poor
A familiar budget plan to sharply cut safety-net programs for the poor and clamp down on domestic agencies is cruising to passage in the tea party-flavored House.
Obama's 'Charm Offensive' Yields No Budget Breakthrough
Obama's widely publicized recent string of meetings with rank-and-file lawmakers seemingly produces no breakthroughs -- though none were anticipated.
Save Money, Save Your Life: Wealthy People Live Longer
How much does it cost to live longer? Life expectancy has risen for most Americans, but recent studies show that the big winners are the rich.
GOP Proposal Promises Balanced Budget, Repeal Of 'Obamacare'
The latest Republican budget plan generally resembles prior ones, relying on higher tax revenues enacted in January and improved Medicare cost estimates to promise balance.
Could Slowing Health Care Costs Save Medicare?
The rise in health care costs has significantly outpaced both inflation and economic growth for decades, leading to increasingly dire projections about Medicare's long-term solvency in recent years. Yet some promising trends suggest the government program may get a new lease on life.
Free Puppies and Other Scams That Tug at Your Heartstrings
Con artists and scammers know no limits when it comes to using our big hearts against us. Here are some of the most appalling scams, schemes, and ploys being used today, and tips on how avoid becoming a victim.
What's Next for Obamacare Foes Now That Rick Scott Has Caved
On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, one of the most outspoken critics of President Obama's Affordable Care Act -- and the Medicaid expansion it carries with it -- announced that Florida will accept the federal windfall that the program will bring.