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College graduation is a time to reassess health insurance

College seniors need to add one item to their "to-do" list as graduation approaches: check out their insurance options, the Los Angeles Times reports. Also, KHN examines California Latinos' interest in getting health care in Mexico--even if they have purchased U.S. insurance.

6 May 2014

Consumption of sports and energy drinks among adolescents associated with unhealthy behaviors

Weekly consumption of sports drinks and energy drinks among adolescents is significantly associated with higher consumption of other sugar-sweetened beverages, cigarette smoking, and screen media use, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota and Duke University.

6 May 2014

Laid-off workers must be notified of health exchange options

The Obama administration issued a rule Friday requiring employers to inform laid-off workers that, in addition to paying the full cost of their former work-based coverage under COBRA, former employees also have the option of buying insurance through the health law's online marketplaces.

6 May 2014

Young blood can rejuvenate brains of old mice

Something - or some things - in the blood of young mice has the ability to restore mental capabilities in old mice, a new study by Stanford University School of Medicine investigators has found.

6 May 2014

Obama uses health law as laugh line

President Barack Obama poked fun at the troubled launch of the health law's online insurance marketplaces during his speech at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

6 May 2014

NCCN publishes new patient resource for stage 0 breast cancer

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), with the support of the NCCN Foundation®, announces the availability of the NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Breast Cancer Stages 0 - IV—the latest addition to the library of NCCN Guidelines for Patients available online free-of-charge at NCCN.org/patients.

6 May 2014

Health law will factor into North Carolina primary

GOP leaders are lining up in support of North Carolina's House Speaker Thom Tillis in hopes that he can unseat Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., who has faced heavy criticism for her support of the health law.

6 May 2014

Researchers find links between hospital readmission rates and social factors

Factors like the level of poverty in a neighborhood, living alone, and age affect a patient's chances of being readmitted to a hospital after discharge, even after possible variations in quality of care in the hospital have been taken into account.

6 May 2014

FBI turns attention to Oregon's health exchange troubles

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is one of many federal agencies taking a long look at the difficulties that plagued Oregon's online insurance marketplace and led state officials to decide to scrap it.

6 May 2014

Study says ambulatory centers perform surgery more efficiently than hospitals

Ambulatory centers perform surgery more efficiently than hospitals and could offer a viable way for the nation keep pace with a growing demand for outpatient procedures.

6 May 2014

Health spending increases hit fastest pace since 1980

USA Today reports on this development, noting some of the factors that will continue to drive up costs. Also, Kaiser Health News explores issues related to who should get costly hepatitis C drugs and The Wall Street Journal reports on the delay in implementing the ICD-10.

6 May 2014

Children most susceptible to cavities least likely to receive early dental care

Less than one per cent of healthy urban children surveyed in Toronto had received dental care by the recommended age of 12 months and less than two per cent had seen a dentist by the age of 24 months.

6 May 2014

Mothers who have unintended pregnancies return to work sooner after childbirth

Mothers in the United States who have unintended pregnancies return to work sooner after childbirth than mothers whose pregnancy was intended, according to a study led by Dr. Rada K. Dagher, assistant professor of health services administration in the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

6 May 2014

AGA announces recipients of its annual recognition awards 2014

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has announced the recipients of its annual recognition awards, given in honor of outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology.

6 May 2014

State highlights: Texas company keeps Medicaid contract despite fraud; seattle minimum wage; Conn. housing for those with mental illness

A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Washington state, Connecticut and New York. For nearly five years, a state contractor allowed workers with limited expertise to approve dental claims for Texas' Medicaid program, the joint state-federal insurer.

5 May 2014

First Edition: May 5, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about how President Barack Obama poked fun at the health law during his White House Correspondents' Dinner speech.

5 May 2014

Racial discrimination linked with increased risk of mental health problems in African-American youth

The vast majority of African-American and Afro-Caribbean youth face racial discrimination, and these experiences are associated with an increased risk of mental health problems, according to a study to be presented Saturday, May 3, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

5 May 2014