ProPublica Archives

Social Justice

‘Let the Crime Spree Begin’: How Fraud Flourishes in Medicare’s Drug Plan

The federal government does little to stop schemers from stealing from Medicare Part D, the program that provides prescription drugs to more than 36 million seniors and disabled people.

Tracy Weber and Charles Ornstein

Social Justice

The Fix Isn’t In: Why a Safety Device That Can Stop Overdoses by Kids Isn’t Widely Used

Safety valves that cost pennies per bottle could save thousands of kids from being rushed to emergency rooms each year. A doctor has campaigned to have the devices added to all liquid medicines, but so far he’s had limited success.

T. Christian Miller & Jeff Gerth

Social Justice

Caught Up in a Medicare Drug Fraud

The long list of medications on Joyce Heap’s insurance forms didn’t look right. It turns out they weren’t—and Medicare didn’t seem to care.

Tracy Weber and Charles Ornstein

Economics

Temporary Work, Lasting Harm

Temp workers are thrown into dangerous work with little training and suffer injuries far more often than permanent employees.

Michael Grabell, Olga Pierce & Jeff Larson

Social Justice

How Medicare’s Failure to Track Doctors Wastes Billions on Name-Brand Drugs

The failure to track doctors who shun cheaper generics racks up huge costs for taxpayers in Medicare Part D, which fills one of every four U.S. prescriptions.

Charles Ornstein, Tracy Weber & Jennifer LaFleur

Social Justice

Retail Theater: How College Pricing Is a Lot Like Holiday Store Sales

Those slashed retail prices that fueled your holiday shopping binges might be illusions. We explain why college pricing is similar—but even less transparent.

Marian Wang

Education

You Know Who Else Uses Unpaid Interns? Colleges and Universities

Over the past year, unpaid internships in journalism, film, and government have drawn more scrutiny. But some schools—notably, their athletic departments—have sought out unpaid interns, too.

Casey McDermott