health costs Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Patty Murray Joins GOP Senate Colleague In Targeting High Health Care Bills, Drug Costs

By NPR News May 23, 2019

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the ranking member, and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate health committee, introduced legislation to address health care issues such as surprise medical bills and high drug costs. CREDIT: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

In a year already marked by a wide variety of congressional health care legislation, Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., on Thursday released the details of a plan they hope will help bring down health costs and eliminate surprise medical bills for patients.Read More

Pharmaceutical Company CEOs Face Grilling in Senate Over High Drug Prices

By NPR News February 26, 2019

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., left, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, right, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, asked drug company CEOs some tough questions about drug prices on Tuesday during a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. CREDIT: PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP

Senators called pharmaceutical industry leaders to account for the high costs of medicine during a Senate hearing. The executives deflected blame to insurance companies and middlemen. Read More

Should You Get That Scan? Your Doctor Might Not Be Great At Helping You Decide

By NPR News August 18, 2018

In a new study, researchers found that doctors are better at explaining the benefits of a common cancer screening that its potential downsides. But overtesting comes with risks and costs of its own. Read More