Mar 19th, 2010 · Western nations have long criticized Afghanistan's failure to curtail opium production, a main source of income for the Taliban. But counterterrorism officials say the problem is far more complex than just drug money, including diverted charity payments and "protection money" from convoys seeking to resupply U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Mar 18th, 2010 · In a future where artificial organs can be bought on credit, an unsentimental guy can make a quick buck when borrowers fall behind on payments. But when one such repo man (Jude Law) finds himself on the other end of the equation, he discovers an urgent new meaning in the phrase "health care overhaul."
Mar 15th, 2010 · A move by the agency that oversees Medicare to cut payments Jan. 1 for certain cardiac procedures has resulted in cardiologists suing the federal government. Their push back is an example of how difficult it is to make even small changes in the health care system.
Mar 14th, 2010 · If you don't make your car payments, someone can be hired to repossess it. They might tow it from your driveway or a parking lot. But sometimes repo men go further, breaking into people's garages or homes. Fights can break out. People get hurt, and some have even been killed, prompting some groups to call for greater regulation.
Mar 12th, 2010 · The nonprofit Samaritan Ministries transfers money among its members to pay each household's health care costs. Benefits to members include lower monthly payments and faith-based policies, but there's no guarantee their bills will be covered.
Feb 26th, 2010 · The program's payments to doctors will fall by 21 percent starting on Monday, though Congress may soon act to undo the pay cut. It's the latest reminder of a chronic problem for the federal government: figuring out how to pay doctors who treat Medicare patients.
Feb 21st, 2010 · On Monday, the so-called Credit Card Bill of Rights goes into effect. No longer will banks be able to impose surprise interest rate hikes or mislead consumers about payment dates. But consumer advocates say banks and card issuers are already devising new ways to introduce fees and interest rate changes.
Feb 18th, 2010 · Many states have been skimping on the payments they are supposed to make to state employee pension funds. That's according to a report released by The Pew Center on the States on Thursday. Pew says many states are accruing large liabilities that will require big tax increases in the future.