Bram Sable-Smith
Stories By
Bram Sable-Smith
Story Archive
Tuesday
Anti-abortion protesters march past the Planned Parenthood in Bloomington, Ind., after the Rally for Life march in January 2023. The facility offers birth control and testing for sexually transmitted diseases now that abortion is banned in Indiana. Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption
Tuesday
On the last full day of a Bahamas excursion, Vincent Wasney had three epileptic seizures. While being evacuated, he received a bill for expenses incurred during the cruise. Kristen Norman for KFF Health News hide caption
He fell ill on a cruise. Before he boarded the rescue boat, they handed him the bill
Friday
They were injured at the Super Bowl parade. A month later, they feel forgotten
Tuesday
Bethany Birch paid more than $5,200 toward her medical debt after getting sued by Ballad Health in 2018. Owing to a Tennessee court judgment, she accrued an additional $2,700 in interest over that time. Maddy Alewine/KFF Health News hide caption
The hospital bills didn't find her, but a lawsuit did — plus interest
Monday
Jeff and Kareen King received a hospital bill for $160,000 a few weeks after Jeff had a procedure to restore his heart rhythm. Bram Sable-Smith/KHN hide caption
Monday
The story of a Kansas couple struggling to avoid bankruptcy over medical debt
Wednesday
After a car crash, Peggy Dula was billed $3,606 in ambulance fees by a taxpayer-funded municipal fire department. Bram Sable-Smith/KHN hide caption
Thursday
Some lost their homes. Some emptied their retirement accounts. Some struggled to feed and clothe their families. Medical debt now touches more than 100 million people in America, as the U.S. health care system pushes patients into debt on a mass scale. Jamar Coach; Eamon Queeney; Laura Buckman for KHN and NPR hide caption
Tuesday
A Google search for Obamacare plans can direct consumers to a series of "lead-generating" websites: nongovernmental webpages that connect insurance brokers to consumers. Getty Images hide caption
Tuesday
Saturday
Thursday
Vaccinate and test. That advice isn't much help to parents who have kids under 5.
Friday
Like many seniors, William Stork of Cedar Hill, Mo., lacks dental insurance and doesn't want to pay $1,000 for a tooth extraction he needs. Health advocates see President Biden's Build Back Better agenda as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide dental coverage to people like Stork who are on Medicare. An unlikely adversary: the American Dental Association. Joe Martinez for Kaiser Health News hide caption
Wednesday
Examining COVID-19 Cases In Hard-Hit Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee
Wednesday
Ric Peralta and his wife Lisa are both able to check Ric's blood sugar levels at any time, using the Dexcom app and an arm patch that measures the levels and sends the information wirelessly. Allison Zaucha for NPR hide caption
It's Not Just Insulin: Diabetes Patients Struggle To Get Crucial Supplies
Friday
Vaping has been linked to a cluster of hospitalizations in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. sestovic/Getty Images hide caption
Saturday
Thor Ringler (right) interviewed Ray Miller (left) in Miller's hospital room at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wis., in April. Miller's daughter Barbara (center) brought in photos and a press clipping from Miller's time in the National Guard to help facilitate the conversation. Bram Sable-Smith for NPR hide caption
Sunday
Eli Lilly and Company, based in Indianapolis, is rolling out a half-price version of its insulin Humalog that will be sold as a generic. Darron Cummings/AP hide caption
Monday
Angela Lautner, who lives in Elsmere, Ky., has Type 1 diabetes and is an advocate for affordable insulin. Maddie McGarvey for NPR hide caption
'We're Fighting For Our Lives': Patients Protest Sky-High Insulin Prices
Sunday
Located in Northern Wisconsin along the shores of Lake Superior, Ashland, Wis. has had enough of substance abuse issue. NorthLakes Community Clinic brought in Dr. Mark Lim to start a team providing substance abuse and mental health services. Derek Montgomery for NPR hide caption
For One Rural Community, Fighting Addiction Started With Recruiting The Right Doctor
Sunday
Charlie Hinderliter got a bad case of the flu back in January. He spent 58 days in the hospital, underwent two surgeries and was in a medically induced coma for a week. Neeta Satam for NPR hide caption
Last Year, The Flu Put Him In A Coma. This Year He's Getting The Shot
Saturday
"It shouldn't have happened," says Nicole Smith-Holt of Richfield, Minn., gazing at the death certificate of her son Alec Raeshawn Smith. Bram Sable-Smith for NPR hide caption