Led by the health insurance reform law, a flurry of drug and food recalls, key medical breakthroughs and plenty of layoffs and lawsuits, 2010 proved to be an exciting -- if not always positive -- year. Here's our rundown of the biggest health care stories.
As health-care costs skyrocket, the ranks of uninsured Americans are growing at their fastest rate ever. A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds that 50.7 million people, or 16.7% of the population, had no health coverage in 2009, up from 46.4 million, or 15.4%, in 2008.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has been sued by the U.S. Justice Department for what regulators say are actions by the insurer that boost both hospital and consumer costs while stifling competition.
A record one in six Americans is on Medicaid, the government's health program for the poor. And Medicaid is just one of several government anti-poverty programs that have seen large increases in caseloads -- and costs.
Long a must-have for stars and the very rich, concierge doctors are becoming more common among middle class folks who are fed up with long waits and rushed visits in traditional practices. These patients are willing to pay a price for doctors who are available 24/7 and who make house calls.
