On Disabilities

M spends so much time daydreaming that it interferes with her life.

Invisibilia: When Daydreaming Gets In The Way Of Real Life

2:19pm April 05, 2018

by Meredith Rizzo

In this episode of the Invisibilia podcast, our hosts explore how it feels to be "in between," including the story of one woman who spends so much time daydreaming that it interferes with her life.

Veterans in Murfreesboro, Tenn., enjoy a wheelchair tai chi class; other alternative health programs now commonly offered at VA hospitals in the U.S. include yoga, mindfulness training and art therapy.

To Treat Pain, PTSD And Other Ills, Some Vets Try Tai Chi

6:42pm April 02, 2018

by Blake Farmer

In hopes of reducing some veterans' reliance on pills for physical pain and psychological trauma, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is taking a look at alternative therapies.

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Kit Parker and his team have developed wound dressings that use incredibly thin fibers to speed healing and reduce scarring.

Failure To Save A Child In Wartime Inspires Wound-Healing Tech

5:06am April 02, 2018

by Jon Hamilton

As a soldier, Kit Parker saw horrific injuries. As a scientist, he led an effort to create high-tech dressings that speed healing and reduce scarring.

A document developed by a New York end-of-life agency permits people who want to avoid the ravages of advanced dementia to make their final wishes known — while they still have the ability to do so. One version requests that all food and fluids be withh

'Aggressive' Advance Directive Permits Halting Food And Water In Severe Dementia

1:19pm March 29, 2018

by JoNel Aleccia

Supporters call this right-to-die proposal the strongest move yet to document a person's advance wishes in cases of severe dementia. Critics say it would deny basic care to society's most vulnerable.

Dr. Carla Rossotti (left), a general practitioner, and her health care team leave the home of the their patient, 37-year-old Osvaldo Daniel Martinez. He has the symptoms of a degenerative disease, Rossotti says, but he needs a neurologist's evaluation bef

For One Father And Son In Puerto Rico, A Storm Was Just The Latest Trial

8:47pm March 22, 2018

by Sarah Varney

The Martinez family has been waiting more than a year for a neurologist to diagnose the son's condition. He needs a diagnosis to be eligible for the health care he needs, but can't get an appointment.

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Mounting research suggests that African-American and Latino children with autism are diagnosed late because of bias on the part of health care providers or a lack of information among patient families.

Black And Latino Children Are Often Overlooked When It Comes To Autism

4:42pm March 19, 2018

by Casey Rentz

Research suggests that African-American and Latino children with autism are diagnosed later in life because of healthcare provider bias and families' lack of access to care, among other reasons.

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says Thursday's letter from the Trump administration "was not a rejection of our approach," but rather an invitation to keep talking about how to make Idaho's state-based health plans pass muster.

No Go For Idaho: State Will Have To Rethink Its 'Freedom' Health Policies

8:52pm March 09, 2018

by Julie Appleby

The Trump administration has advised Idaho that its plan to allow insurance policies that fall short of Obamacare standards could result in penalties for insurers. But another strategy might yet fly.

The Florida Senate approved a bill last weekend that would cover lost wages for first responders with PTSD, and the House followed suit on Monday. Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he will sign the bill.

Workers' Comp Benefits For Florida First Responders To Include PTSD, Governor Says

9:54am March 09, 2018

by Abe Aboraya

In the wake of the Parkland shooting, Florida plans to expand paid time off benefits to first responders suffering from PTSD. Those diagnosed before Parkland are not included.

Getting health care to rural areas may involve tough decisions about the role of hospitals.

Rethinking Rural Health Solutions To Save Patients And Communities

3:14pm February 28, 2018

by Adrienne St. Clair

Hospitals have long been linchpins of rural communities, providing jobs as well as health care. But policy analysts say some hospitals may have to change or close to better serve rural health needs.

When wildfire smoke choked their community last summer, Amy Cilimburg (left), the director of Climate Smart Missoula, helped Joy and Don Dunagan, of Seeley Lake, Mont., get a HEPA air filter through a partnership with the Missoula City-County Health Depar

When Wildfire Smoke Invades, Who Should Pay To Clean Indoor Air?

8:14am February 25, 2018

by Nora Saks

Public health agencies are set up to regulate air pollution from cars, trucks and factories. Wildfire smoke presents a different set of threats, prompting some of those agencies to rethink priorities.