TOM MURPHY | Press Register

Home

Jeffrey Carlson stands for a portrait outside his home in Vadnais Heights, Minn., on Sunday, March 13, 2022. Carlson, a Type 1 diabetic with heart stents, contracted COVID-19 in January, but recovered quickly after being treated with Merck's molnupiravir medication. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri)

AP
free content

Doctors finding hurdles to using pills to treat COVID-19
By TOM MURPHY - AP Health Writer
Mon,03/21/22-9:21AM , 336 Reads
High-risk COVID-19 patients now have new treatments they can take at home to stay out of the hospital — if doctors get the pills to them fast enough.
Click Here to Read More

A chief nursing officer walks down a hallway in the recently reopened emergency room at a hospital in Houma, La., on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Patients worried about getting smacked with an unexpected bill after emergency care gained a layer of protection in January 2022 from a new federal law. The No Surprises Act prevents doctors or hospitals in many situations from billing insured patients higher rates because the care providers are not in their insurer’s coverage network. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

AP
registered content - login required to view
Click to register / login

EXPLAINER: New federal law targets medical bill surprises
By TOM MURPHY - AP Health Writer
Sun,01/30/22-8:19AM , 303 Reads
Patients worried about getting hit with an unexpected bill after emergency care gained a layer of protection this month from a new federal law.

The No Surprises Act prevents doctors or hospitals in many situations from billing insured patients higher rates because the care providers are not in their insurer’s coverage network.
Click Here to Read More

This image provided by Pfizer in October 2021 shows the company's COVID-19 Paxlovid pills. Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home. But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear. (Pfizer via AP)

AP
free content

EXPLAINER: New easy-to-use COVID-19 pills come with a catch
By TOM MURPHY - AP Health Writer
Sun,12/26/21-8:22AM , 264 Reads
Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home.

But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear.

The challenge is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills in a short window.
Click Here to Read More

AP
premium content - for subscribers only
Click to subscribe

US drugstores squeezed by vaccine demand, staff shortages
By TOM MURPHY - AP Health Writer
Sat,12/04/21-8:45AM , 375 Reads
A rush of vaccine-seeking customers and staff shortages are squeezing drugstores around the U.S., leading to frazzled workers and temporary pharmacy closures.
Click Here to Read More

Subscribe to TOM MURPHY