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Viewpoints: WSJ suggests Norquist 'give some ground' on fiscal cliff talks; Voters aren't buying GOP obstruction on health law

The fact is that Republicans and (Grover) Norquist both face a new political reality on taxes. President Obama's re-election means that taxes for upper-income earners are going up one way or another. The Bush rates expire on December 31 unless Mr. Obama signs an extension, and he shows no inclination to do so. ... This is where Mr. Norquist can give some ground.

28 Nov 2012

Patients with online records access will see doctor more

Contrary to previous study findings, patients who have online access to their medical records and to medical services including appointment scheduling use more clinical services than their counterparts without access, show US research results.

27 Nov 2012

First Edition: November 27, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about how increasing the Medicare eligibility age and making other entitlement program changes are a part of the ongoing "fiscal cliff" discourse.

27 Nov 2012

Philips Healthcare, UH to showcase latest medical technology at Cleveland Medical Mart

University Hospitals (UH) and Philips Healthcare are among a group of global leaders in healthcare to showcase the latest medical technology at the new Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center.

From Philips Healthcare 27 Nov 2012

Federal travel budget policy affecting global health

Writing in the Diplomatic Courier Blog, Jaclyn Schiff, communications director for the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, examines how "an Obama administration effort to curb reckless spending on events" is "making it harder for American researchers to collaborate effectively with their counterparts in other countries."

27 Nov 2012

Liver disease therapies: an interview with Eric Halioua, CEO of Promethera Biosciences

Liver disease is a very broad family of diseases. There are two main categories of liver disease:

27 Nov 2012

Blog examines Myanmar's achievements in fighting NTDs

"President Obama recently made a historic visit to Myanmar, becoming the first U.S. President to visit the country," the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases' "End the Neglect" blog reports.

27 Nov 2012

Health law implementation proceeds -- with fits and starts

Even as the election has altered the landscape for lawmakers who hoped to repeal the 2010 health law, some opponents are pressing on with legal challenges. Specific elements of the law, such as its health exchanges, also present logistical and financial issues for the Obama administration.

27 Nov 2012

China's Health Ministry orders hospitals to treat HIV patients

"China's Health Ministry has banned hospitals from turning away patients infected with HIV/AIDS," the Associated Press/Fox News reports.

27 Nov 2012

Recognizing pharmaceutical philanthropy's role in fighting NTDs

"In October 1987, Roy Vagelos, then the chief executive of pharmaceutical company Merck, launched the largest pharmaco-philanthropic venture ever," William Foege, an epidemiologist and former director of the CDC, writes in a Washington Post opinion piece highlighting the company's efforts to combat onchocerciasis in the developing world through the free distribution of its drug Mectizan.

27 Nov 2012

NEXUS criteria could reduce unnecessary CT scans and spare patients from radiation exposure

A Henry Ford Hospital study has found that better use of commonly accepted diagnostic guidelines for detecting cervical spine injuries could reduce unnecessary CT scans and spare patients from radiation exposure.

27 Nov 2012

Women need access to family planning methods that work for them

"I spent most of my time this year advocating for better access to family planning around the world," Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a Foreign Policy 2012 Global Thinker, writes in this Foreign Policy opinion piece.

27 Nov 2012

Diabetes can remit after gastric bypass surgery

After gastric bypass surgery, diabetes goes away for some people-often even before they lose much weight. So does that mean gastric surgery "cures" diabetes? Not necessarily, according to the largest community-based study of long-term diabetes outcomes after bariatric surgery.

27 Nov 2012

Gates blog examines E.U. development aid budget amid talk of cuts

In this post in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog, Joe Cerrell, director of the foundation's Europe office, examines "the international conversation about aid to developing countries," noting, "This week the 27 European heads of government will decide whether or not to protect the €51 billion [$66.1 billion] development aid budget from cuts over the next seven years, as part of the overall European Union (E.U.) budget for the next seven years."

27 Nov 2012

Supreme Court could consider family health coverage for lesbian couple

Like a lot of newlyweds, Karen Golinski was eager to enjoy the financial fruits of marriage. Within weeks of her wedding, she applied to add her spouse to her employer-sponsored health care plan, a move that would save the couple thousands of dollars a year.

27 Nov 2012

Buying mail-order medications may encourage patients to stick their treatments

Patients newly prescribed a cholesterol-lowering medication were more likely to pick it up from the pharmacy if they received automated phone and mail reminders, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine today.

27 Nov 2012

Immediate action must be taken to prevent violence against women, FGM

Noting November 25 was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Ann-Marie Wilson, founder and director of 28 Too Many, writes in the Huffington Post U.K.'s "Politics" blog, "The statistics for violence against women and girls are truly shocking. ... Not only do millions suffer each year but many are victims of repeated and sustained violence."

27 Nov 2012

Clinics on Cambodian-Thai border aim to prevent spread of drug-resistant malaria

BBC News examines "a worrying drop in the effectiveness of the artemisinin-based drugs" against malaria along the Cambodian-Thai border, and how clinics are attempting to combat the trend by offering monetary incentives to patients to complete treatment regimens.

27 Nov 2012

Wall Street Journal reports on challenges of fighting multi-drug resistant TB in India

"More than one-quarter of people diagnosed with tuberculosis [TB] at a clinic in India's largest city of 18 million have a strain that doesn't respond to the main treatment against the disease, according to preliminary data from a new diagnostic being tested," the Wall Street Journal reports.

27 Nov 2012

With administration's support, Supreme Court orders review of 'Obamacare' challenge

The Supreme Court Monday told a lower court to consider several issues left unresolved by the justices' June ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act, in a move backed by the Obama administration.

27 Nov 2012