Selena Simmons-Duffin

Certain high-cost drugs are straining state budgets. A new deal approved Wednesday allows Louisiana to spend a fixed amount for unlimited access to a costly cure. Other states may try to follow suit.

When patients can't afford to pay their medical bills, many hospitals offer a payment plan — or free or discounted care. But some try to collect by suing patients and garnishing their wages.

President Trump is issuing an executive order intended to force hospitals to disclose prices. A lot of work remains to turn this order into a regulation, and the industry is resisting the move.

A new law would let the state make bulk purchases of prescription drugs from Canada. But it still faces hurdles that could keep it from becoming reality.

Having to come up with $1,000 unexpectedly can be a challenge for anyone. NPR's recent poll on rural health found that's especially true for one group: people with disabilities.

California's Santa Clara County argues that if the rule goes into effect in July, the county will suffer irreparable harm in terms of patient care and staffing costs.

In the 1980s, ACT UP demanded action from the U.S. government and got results with drama. AIDS activists today have fresh tactics for their new goal: a more affordable HIV prevention pill.

In the 1980s, AIDS activists demanded action from the U.S. government in a dramatic way, and got results. Now, they have a new goal: more affordable access to an HIV prevention pill.

Infants' Tylenol is the same strength as Children's Tylenol. Turns out, the price difference has to do with packaging and safety features.

The Health and Human Services Department has proposed to end Obama-era rules that protect transgender people from discrimination in health care. That could impact the Trump administration's plan to fight HIV.

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced a proposal to end Obama-era rules protecting transgender people from discrimination in health care.

Religious and ideological opposition to vaccines has fueled the current measles outbreak. But there's another factor driving low vaccination rates in some communities: poverty.

Civica Rx has plans to become an alternative source of generic drugs at reasonable prices for hospitals. The company's first medicines will be the antibiotics vancomycin and daptomycin.

Civica, a non-profit drug company, was founded last year by a hospital executive tired of short supplies and high prices for generic drugs. Civica has announced the first drugs it will be making.

A new lawsuit brought by 44 states and Puerto Rico alleges an "industrywide" conspiracy by generic drug manufacturers to collude on prices and divide up the market.

A new rule expands protection for health care workers who refuse to provide certain care on moral grounds. The rule cites a sudden rise in religious discrimination complaints. What's fueling the rise?

The government wants consumers to have sticker shock about drug prices. A new rule requires list prices be displayed in TV ads. Patients advocates are not sure it will do much to lower prices.

In her new book, Cribsheet, economist Emily Oster offers a lifeline to parents overwhelmed by contradictory parenting guidance. She offers a data-driven, and common-sense, approach to raising a baby.

As head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar is charged with making Trump's plan to end HIV in the U.S. by 2030 work. "We have an historic opportunity," he tells NPR.

There are, thankfully, tons of places to get parenting advice: relatives, co-workers, books and the Internet. The problem is that sometimes that advice is totally contradictory.