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Medical Price Roulette
Man relieved of $1.7 mllion debt relief
An update on the story of Alexis Hernandez, who fought to survive after an explosion only to be hit with a $1.7 million medical debt for his treatment at a burn center in Brooke Army Medical center. While his debt was finally waived after the story and urgings of legislators, others with similar stories still face their huge medical bills. Anna Werner reports
COVID long-haulers may face financial hurdles
Some long-haulers suffering from long-term coronavirus symptoms are now facing financial challenges as well. Anna Werner spoke with several people who faced challenges getting disability and health care coverage.
Some Cologuard users hit with unexpected high bills after cancer test
"I am mad because I pay so much every month for this insurance," on Cologuard user told CBS News. "I just feel like I'm really getting raked over."
Man billed $1.7 million by government for life-saving burn treatment
"I never expected, never in my life to live through something like this," Alexis Hernandez told CBS News' Anna Werner.
Company pauses plan to send 9,000 back to office after pushback
Epic Systems, a medical records software company, "is going to have to adhere by the same rules as everyone else," a local official said.
COVID-19 tests should be free, but these people still got big bills
People returning to their jobs could wind up having to pay for COVID-19 tests, experts warn.
His coronavirus test wasn't processed, but he got billed $9,000
Congress passed a law making coronavirus tests free, but all costs may not be covered by all insurers.
Alabama couple struggling after hospital sues over medical debt
KC and Daryl Roberts were paying what they could each month toward the more than $30,000 hospital bill.
Woman fighting with insurance for follow-up breast cancer tests
Mammograms can save lives, but in some cases, insurance companies are refusing to cover follow-up tests ordered by doctors.
Women shocked by "hidden" cost of mammograms
Health insurance covers mammograms every one to two years, but many women often need secondary tests that aren't covered
Man drives five hours for surgery insurance won't cover
Around the country, middle-class Americans with high-deductible insurance plans are heading to dozens of cash-based surgery centers
Regulators want to change law after CBS News report
"After hearing about — and resolving — a recent issue, we know that if it could happen to one consumer, it could happen to others"
Even with insurance, woman hit with $40,000 in medical bills
When Molly McKenna went to a clinic in agonizing pain, doctors told her it was an emergency. Only later did she learn much of her treatment was out-of-network
How to find out health care costs in advance
How much will that cost? Why did that cost so much? Always ask. Take notes, take names, take numbers
Man hit with $650,000 in medical bills finally gets relief
Frank Esposito was hit with $650,000 in medical bills after his insurance company said his surgery didn't qualify as an emergency
Medical bills jump from $220 to $4,000 a month – for treatment her life depends on
"I was like, how is this even possible?" one patient said of the unpredictable charges
She needed two rounds of ultrasound exams. Why did one cost 10 times more?
Medical prices vary greatly, even within the same city. "It's either unethical or dishonest," said one patient hit with a surprise bill
Ways to save on health care costs
ClearHealthCosts offers some practical tips to help you beat back your health care costs
How to read a medical bill or explanation of benefits
An insurance company's "explanation of benefits" often confuses matters more
Back surgery saved him from paralysis. Then the bills arrived: over $650,000
Frank Esposito, a tool and die maker from Long Island, New York, drained $49,000 from his retirement account and still owes over $220,000
Appealing a claim denial, or how to turn "no" into "yes"
If your insurance company denied a treatment or a medication in advance, and you want help, here's where to start
10 steps for appealing a claim or bill
So you got a huge bill, and you're sure there's been a mistake. Here's a step-by-step course of action
CBS News investigates lack of transparency in health care prices
"Nothing about the United States' health care system really makes sense," one doctor said
Health
Baby formula supplies dwindle amid widening shortage
FDA working to boost formula supplies, with more than half of popular products out of stock in some U.S. states.
Omicron surge adds complications to U.S. economy
The spread of the Omicron variant is causing an additional complication to the U.S. economy, which is already struggling with high inflation and a supply chain crisis. And data shows nearly 9 million Americans were out of work in January because they were caring for someone with COVID-19 or being ill with the virus themselves. Joshua Hausman, associate professor of public policy and economics at the University Of Michigan and research associate at the National Bureau Of Economic Research, joins CBSN's Lana Zak with more.
FDA works to approve vaccines for kids under 5
The White House is now working to provide Americans with free N95 masks and at-home COVID-19 test kits. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the vaccines for kids under the age of 5. Emergency medicine physician Dr. Owais Durrani joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the latest efforts to combat the virus.
Kids' COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise
COVID-19 hospitalizations for children are climbing, with an average of more than 900 kids admitted a day. CBS News' Michael George reports, then Dr. Gigi Chawla, chief of pediatrics at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, joins CBSN to discuss the latest.
COVID-19 infections rising in kids
CBS News correspondent Carter Evans reports on a rise in pediatric COVID-19 cases in communities like Kansas City, Missouri. Then Dr. Bob Lahita, director of the Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases at St. Joseph Health and a professor of medicine at New York Medical College, joins CBSN to discuss the latest on COVID-19.
COVID vaccines don't affect fertility, study finds
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 does not reduce the chances of getting pregnant, new research shows. Meanwhile, as the Omicron variant continues to strain hospitals, military troops are deploying to help. CBS News' Bradley Blackburn has more on the pandemic response.
Omicron batters states with low vaccination rates
Thursday marks two years since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the U.S. CBS News' Bradley Blackburn has more on how the virus is impacting states with low vaccination rates, and the battle over masks in schools. Then, emergency medicine physician Dr. Anand Swaminathan joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the latest.
U.S. debuts site for free at-home COVID tests
Some hospitals are overwhelmed, facing an influx of COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, Pfizer says that its oral pill is showing efficacy against Omicron in lab tests. Dr. Jen Caudle joins CBSN to break down some of the latest coronavirus headlines.
Omicron continues to overwhelm U.S. hospitals
The Biden administration is planning to give out 400 million free N95 masks to Americans in the coming weeks as the coronavirus surge tightens its grip on hospitals in hard-hit areas of the country. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans reports from Missouri, where COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising among the unvaccinated. Then, Dr. Payal Patel, an infectious disease physician at the University of Michigan Medical School, joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the latest.
North Carolina hospitals overwhelmed
COVID-19 infections are continuing to surge in parts of the U.S. In North Carolina, recent data shows one in three people tested positive for the virus. And some local hospitals are struggling to keep up. CBS News national correspondent Manuel Bojorquez reports from Charlotte.
U.S.
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Trump brings up Pearl Harbor while meeting with Japan's prime minister
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief: "A lot has survived" of Iran's nuclear capabilities
In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there had already been damage done to Iran's nuclear sites.
3 reasons the Federal Reserve's interest rate pause is worrying investors
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell used the phrase "we don't know" at least 14 times during his press conference. Investors are nervous.
Teen dies at Florida ICE detention center, authorities say
Royer Perez-Jimenez was arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in January, according to ICE.
Ex-FBI agents who worked on Trump 2020 election probe sue over firings
Two former FBI agents who helped investigate President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results sued the federal government, alleging they were wrongfully terminated.
MoneyWatch
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3 reasons the Federal Reserve's interest rate pause is worrying investors
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell used the phrase "we don't know" at least 14 times during his press conference. Investors are nervous.
Surging U.S. gas prices could erase bigger tax refunds, analysis finds
Stanford economists estimate that the typical U.S. household will spend an additional $740 on gas this year because of the jump in global oil prices.
U.S. gas prices rise as oil hits $111 a barrel
A barrel of Brent crude topped $111, while the U.S. benchmark also rose as the Iran war intensifies.
Wall Street is betting on Ukraine's drone technology
Swarmer is likely to be the first of many: a Ukrainian defense startup with an American face that leans on U.S. capital to scale production for both the Ukrainian and American militaries.
Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, citing economic uncertainty
Fed officials are grappling with a host of economic challenges, from stubborn inflation to a slowing job market.
Politics
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Senators meet with border czar as lawmakers search for way out of DHS shutdown
Thursday's meeting with Tom Homan marked a key development as progress to date has appeared stagnant.
Trump brings up Pearl Harbor while meeting with Japan's prime minister
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief: "A lot has survived" of Iran's nuclear capabilities
In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there had already been damage done to Iran's nuclear sites.
Book excerpt: "Stand" by Cory Booker
At a time when our nation is splintered in many areas of public life, the New Jersey Senator writes how virtue is a strategy to rekindle the belief that Americans' destiny is bound together.
Ex-FBI agents who worked on Trump 2020 election probe sue over firings
Two former FBI agents who helped investigate President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results sued the federal government, alleging they were wrongfully terminated.
HealthWatch
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Judge blocks parts of RFK Jr.'s vaccine agenda, including revised schedule
A judge blocked a set of changes to the childhood vaccine schedule recommended by allies of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul federal vaccine policy.
Changes in organ donor status can fall through cracks in the system
Patchwork state policies and limited federal oversight have led to a fragmented system for tracking organ donor status.
A dad's colon cancer spread to lungs. He says what happened next was a miracle.
Spencer Laird was diagnosed with colon cancer at 26. At 30, he was told it had returned and spread to his lungs, with one tumor the size of a golf ball.
Dr. Oz pledges to tackle hospice fraud: "Do not steal from the American people"
The Trump administration's Medicare boss reacts to CBS News investigation into California's hospice fraud problems.
Millions of Americans skip meals, stretch medication to afford health care
Even people with six-figure incomes are making financial sacrifices to pay for medical care, a new study finds.
World
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Trump brings up Pearl Harbor while meeting with Japan's prime minister
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
Iran hangs 3, including teen wrestler, in first executions over Jan. protests
Two sources confirmed to CBS News that Saleh Mohammadi, a young member of Iran's national wrestling team, was among the three men executed in Iran.
Divers find marble treasure possibly taken from Parthenon at Aegean shipwreck
Excavations at the site of the 1802 Mentor shipwreck uncovered a marble fragment that may have ties to the Parthenon in Ancient Greece, officials say.
Transcript: IAEA's Rafael Grossi on "Face the Nation," March 22, 2026
The following is the full transcript of the interview with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi, a portion of which will air on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 22, 2026.
What can one of the world's happiest nations teach us about parenting?
U.S. author Jessica Joelle Alexander says Americans should consider adopting some of Denmark's "great parenting practices."
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Alessia Cara on new album
Grammy winner Alessia Cara is debuting a new album 10 years into her music career. Cara joined CBS News with details on her latest collaborations.
AI version of Val Kilmer to star in new movie
Val Kilmer was originally set to star in "As Deep as the Grave" before he died last year, never shooting a scene of the movie. But Kilmer will still star in the film thanks to generative AI, which is artificial intelligence that can generate new content by analyzing existing content. Jo Ling Kent has more.
"Survivor" contestant talks elimination
Spoiler alert! The latest contestant eliminated from "Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans" joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss his surprising elimination and if he has any regrets about how he played the game.
Book excerpt: "When Caesar Was King" by David Margolick
David Margolick's biography of Sid Caesar explores how the 1950s comic reinvented the art of comedy in the new medium of television.
Demi Lovato on eating disorders, cookbook
Grammy-nominated singer and actor Demi Lovato speaks with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King about her healing journey and how she found joy in cooking after her recovery from anorexia and bulimia. Lovato says food used to bring her "discomfort and fear" but she has since learned to find "freedom with food." Her new cookbook is called "One Plate at a Time."
Technology
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Technology
AI version of Val Kilmer to star in new movie
Val Kilmer was originally set to star in "As Deep as the Grave" before he died last year, never shooting a scene of the movie. But Kilmer will still star in the film thanks to generative AI, which is artificial intelligence that can generate new content by analyzing existing content. Jo Ling Kent has more.
Risks of excessive screen time for adults
More than 80% of adults say they go online at least several times per day and research indicates that even adults' fully-formed brains can suffer negative consequences from excessive screen time. Dr. Sue Varma breaks down risks, tips to reduce your screen time and why adults are spending more time on screens.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
Inside NVIDIA's new chip
NVIDIA's GTC conference brought big crowds to Silicon Valley this week, with hundreds of companies showcasing products powered by NVIDIA's chips. Tim Werth, tech editor at Mashable, joins CBS News to discuss.
AI expert designs cancer vaccine for his dog
A tech entrepreneur in Australia, Paul Conyngham, said he used artificial intelligence to design a cancer vaccine for his dog Rosie. He joins CBS News with Páll Thordarson, director of the UNSW RNA Institute, who worked with Conyngham on the technology.
Science
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Discovery of 1949 whale recording could unlock mysteries of ocean
The song is that of a humpback whale and was recorded by scientists in March 1949 in Bermuda, researchers said.
Sea levels higher than thought due to "methodological blind spot," study says
A new study in the journal Nature says most sea level rise research may have underestimated coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot.
NASA announces major overhaul of Artemis moon program "to take down risk"
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced significant changes to the agency's Artemis program, which aims to land on the moon in 2028.
What scientists will be looking for when government UFO files are released
Documents might help scientists shed light on unexplained phenomena and government secrets, experts said.
In a first, shark seen on camera in Antarctica waters, surprising researchers
A large shark was caught on camera for the first time in Antarctica's waters, surprising researchers. "There's a general rule of thumb that you don't get sharks in Antarctica," one said.
Crime
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Photo of Michigan synagogue attacker shows him with AR-style rifle
The man who attacked a synagogue in Michigan last week sent a photo of himself with the AR-style rifle he had during the attack to a family member in Lebanon, according to a U.S. official.
Joseph Duggar faces child sex abuse charges
Joseph Duggar, one of the stars of the reality show "19 Kids and Counting," has been arrested and is facing child sex abuse charges. He's accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl six years ago in Florida. Tom Hanson reports.
César Chávez sexual abuse allegations
More details are emerging about the allegations of abuse against the late Cesar Chavez. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe has more.
Fugitive wanted in killing of Ecuadorian candidate arrested in Mexico
Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales is one of the alleged ringleaders of the Ecuadorian criminal gang "Los Lobos" and one of the country's most-wanted fugitives.
Kouri Richins found guilty | "48 Hours" Podcast
Kouri Richins, Utah author and mother, was just found guilty for murder and attempted murder of her husband Eric Richins. The state accused her of killing him with a fentanyl-laced Moscow mule in 2022 after previously attempting to poison him via a sandwich on Valentine's Day. Monday evening the jury found her guilty on all counts including insurance fraud and forgery. In a special episode, "48 Hours" correspondent Natalie Morales speaks with Skye Lazaro, former defense attorney for Richins, about the significance of the outcome and the key moments in court that let up to the verdict. This episode was recorded on March 17.
Space
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Repaired moon rocket heads back to launch pad for April 1 blastoff
After an overnight Thursday trip back out to the launch pad, NASA's Artemis II rocket will be readied for a historic flight to the moon.
Video shows meteor streaking across the sky
A meteoroid was spotted streaking across the sky in 10 states. In some areas, there was also a loud boom, similar to an explosion. NASA says the meteor, which was traveling 45,000 mph in the sky, fragmented - causing the bright fireball and loud boom.
7-ton meteor identified as likely cause of boom heard across Ohio
Some residents immediately feared the sound was an explosion, according to CBS affiliate WOIO, but weather service officials say it appears to have been a meteor.
Bill Nye on going from Boeing to science guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy sits down with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett to talk about his life and career.
NASA targets April 1 for moon mission launch
NASA's huge Space Launch System rocket has been repaired and is ready for rollout back to the launch pad next week.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2026
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
The life & near death of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Who is Alix Tichelman?
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Family on Afghan man's ICE custody death
Mohammed Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, a former soldier in the Afghan military who was evacuated to the U.S. in 2021, died in ICE custody on March 14. Thirteen people have died in ICE detention three months into 2026, following a two-decade high death tally reported last year. CBS News spoke to Paktiawal's brother and 12-year-old son, both of whom are demanding answers about his sudden death.
Netanyahu gives national address on Iran war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his nation on Thursday, giving an update on the state of the war with Iran. Netanyahu praised President Trump several times, thanking him for "leading this effort to safeguard our future."
Gabbard asked about Joe Kent's resignation
GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about the resignation of Joe Kent as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center. Gabbard said she disagreed with what Kent said in his resignation letter.
Gabbard asked about foreign meddling in elections
Rep. Jim Himes questioned Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about her involvement with an FBI search of an election headquarters in Fulton County, Georgia, and whether she found any credible evidence of foreign interference in U.S. elections. Himes then asked FBI Director Kash Patel about investigations into noncitizens voting.
Oil and gas prices jump amid Iran war
Robert Schroeder, Washington bureau chief for MarketWatch, joins CBS News to discuss the current price of gas as energy facilities are attacked in the Middle East.