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Walgreens-Express Scripts split has consumers checking their insurance cards

As the clock ticked down on the pending divorce of Walgreen Co. and one of its largest customers, rivals of the drugstore giant raced to woo millions of soon-to-be-displaced consumers whose medications wouldn't be covered by insurance at its stores come Jan. 1. CVS Caremark, Rite Aid and other small- to medium-size drugstores launched advertising campaigns and beefed up staff in anticipation of adding tens of millions of new prescriptions should Walgreen and Express Scripts Inc. fail to come to terms on a new contract starting in 2012.

10 Jan 2012

Calif. discloses hospital infection rates; Kansas City health center gets facelift

The California Department of Public Health has issued an annual report which for the first time allows residents to compare patient infection rates at hospitals across the state. The state released the infection data for 2009 and 2010 on Friday. Hospitals had sued the state to limit surgical infection reporting but the court ruled against the hospitals and required disclosures for 29 different surgical procedures.

10 Jan 2012

Health law implementation: What's ahead in 2012?

Fox Business reports on what it sees as the five major health law elements in the pipeline this year. Meanwhile, other coverage focuses on the final round of health plan waivers issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, more about accountable care organizations, explanations of why private exchanges might catch on and details of the health law's contraception policies.

10 Jan 2012

China considering loosening family planning policy, Al Jazeera's '101 East' reports

Al Jazeera's "101 East" reports on how, "as China faces social dilemmas such as a widening gender imbalance, it is considering loosening its so-called one-child policy."

10 Jan 2012

Obesity linked to higher rates of prostrate cancer screening across race/ethnicity and gender

Researchers in Family and Community Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University recently found that obesity was linked to higher rates of prostate cancer screening across all races/ethnic differences and lower rates of cervical cancer screening, most notably in white women.

10 Jan 2012

Congressional delegation visits Africa to assess impact of U.S.-sponsored projects

A Congressional delegation consisting of six senators and one representative arrived in Africa on Thursday for an eight-day trip that "includes oversight of Department of Defense, Department of State, and USAID activities in Africa," the Daily Republic reports.

10 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Santorum's record on health care; Forcing care on the mentally ill

In Iowa, the Republican presidential contenders tried to outdo one another in attacking reproductive rights as they sought the support of caucusgoers from the religious right. In New Hampshire, where voters are less socially conservative, the candidates have focused more on economic issues.

10 Jan 2012

RUMC moves 200 patients into new 14-story hospital building

After more than seven years of planning and three years of construction, Rush University Medical Center successfully moved approximately 200 patients into the Tower, Rush's new, 14-story, state-of-the-art hospital building, located at Ashland Avenue and the Eisenhower Expressway.

10 Jan 2012

Roundup: Iowa weighs mental health care changes; Ariz. clinic seeks to cut ER costs

Republican and Democratic legislators and Gov. Terry Branstad have said they want to reform Iowa's mental health system to reduce waiting lists and provide more equitable services. Currently, each of Iowa's counties performs or contracts for mental health services for indigent residents. Critics contend the 99-county system has led to pockets of inferior, inequitable service, particularly in rural areas.

10 Jan 2012

Nicotine patch may boost memory in individuals with MCI

Wearing a nicotine patch may help improve memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study published today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Jan 2012

Fallujah doctors say chemicals from U.S. weapons to blame for high levels of birth defects

"While the U.S. military has formally withdrawn from Iraq, doctors and residents of Fallujah are blaming weapons like depleted uranium and white phosphorous used during two devastating U.S. attacks on Fallujah in 2004 for what are being described as 'catastrophic' levels of birth defects and abnormalities," Al Jazeera reports.

10 Jan 2012

Political turmoil in Yemen causing breakdown of social services, increased threats to child welfare

"Yemen's populist uprising and the political crisis that followed have pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian emergency, according to the United Nations and aid agencies," the Washington Post reports, noting that "children have been hit especially hard."

9 Jan 2012

JHM, Healthways partner for innovative weight-loss program

Building on the success of recent Hopkins research showing obese participants were able to lose significant weight and keep it off for two years using telephone coaching and a specially designed website, Johns Hopkins Medicine is collaborating with Healthways to help bring the innovative weight-loss program to many more who could benefit from it.

9 Jan 2012

GOP presidential debates touch on various health care issues

News outlets offer analysis and fact-checking after the weekend's two GOP debates. Some coverage looks ahead to South Carolina, and even further into the future.

9 Jan 2012

State governments trying new ways to cope with Medicaid costs

Despite the improving budget news, states still have tough choices to make as they continue struggling to keep up with increased demand for services - particularly for Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for the poor.

9 Jan 2012

For physicians, the practice of medicine can pose business challenges

CNN reports that physicians sometimes have trouble owning a small business and the Miami Herald reports on how new technology might prove healthful.

9 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 9, 2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the government's health law defense and the weekend's GOP presidential primary debates.

9 Jan 2012

CCPR completes new specialty behavioral health provider network

Comprehensive Care Corporation, which provides behavioral health, substance abuse and at-risk psychotropic pharmacy management services for managed care companies throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, is pleased to announce that CompCare de Puerto Rico (CCPR) has completed its build out of a fully contracted and credentialed specialty behavioral health provider network to better serve its clients and insured Medicare and dual-eligible members across the Island of Puerto Rico.

9 Jan 2012

Middle-aged adults with diabetes have time to learn how to control hypertension

A new study suggests that middle-aged adults recently diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension have time to try to learn how to control their high blood pressure without medications, but not too much time.

9 Jan 2012

Romney testy about contraception hypothetical at GOP debate

News outlets covered tonight's debate at St. Anselm College, three days before the New Hampshire primary. In the first of 2 debates over 12 hours, the health law, Medicare or Medicaid were not discussed.

9 Jan 2012