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First Edition: February 18, 2014

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jay Hancock, working in collaboration with USA Today, reports: "Congratulations. You bought insurance through one of the online Affordable Care Act exchanges, possibly after days or weeks of trying to get the site to work. Don't relax. Joining the plan is only the first challenge. Now you have to understand it. Policies sold through the online portals -- to more than 3 million people so far -- cover essential benefits and put a cap on your out-of-pocket medical costs. But you need to follow the rules" (Hancock, 2/17).

18 Feb 2014

MacLeod's Introduction to Medicine: A collection of short medical stories

MacLeod's Introduction to Medicine: A Doctor's Memoir by Jonathan Waxman is a collection of short stories that gives the reader an insight into the humorous side of a doctor's life before the dawn of management.

18 Feb 2014

Study reveals overall success rate of AF ablation in Europe

One-quarter of high risk patients do not receive anticoagulants after ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), according to the latest survey of European practice.

18 Feb 2014

Sports medicine experts raise concern about female athlete triad syndrome

When an adolescent female patient comes to Nationwide Children's Hospital's Sports Medicine clinic, not only are these young women treated for their sports-related injury, but their sports medicine physician will also ask if they've missed any periods, because of a growing concern among female athletes.

18 Feb 2014

Altrient C improves skin firmness and elasticity by 32.7%

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17 Feb 2014

Doctors miss opportunities to diagnose COPD at an earlier stage in primary and secondary care

A retrospective study of almost 39,000 patients shows that opportunities to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at an earlier stage are frequently being missed in both primary and secondary care in the UK. The findings, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, reveal missed opportunities to diagnose COPD occurred in up to 85% of people.

17 Feb 2014

House GOP attacks Obama on Medicare Advantage cuts

The letter from the Republican leadership team is a sign the GOP will seize on the cuts and blame the administration, betting the issue will help the party in the midterm elections.

16 Feb 2014

Research roundup: Examining readmissions; easing doctor burnout

Despite massive early IT problems, exchange enrollment is accelerating rapidly. While enrollment may not reach 7 million by the end of March, we expect at least 5 million to have enrolled by the close of the initial open-enrollment period. If enrollment falls far short, HHS could extend open enrollment for a fixed period to reach its 7 million target. ... We project that 5 million new beneficiaries will be covered by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program by the end of 2014. Medicaid managed-care enrollment of non-dual beneficiaries will increase by 20 percent from 2013 to 2014 and by 38 percent from 2013 to 2016. We expect that 75 percent of non-dual Medicaid beneficiaries will be covered by Managed Care Organizations starting in 2015, up from 63 percent in 2012 (Feb. 2014).

14 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 14, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on the least expensive health insurance markets and efforts to set up skimpier plans under the health law.

14 Feb 2014

Longer looks: Women's advantages in health law; health effects of the 'American Dream'

Every week reporter Ankita Rao selects interesting reading from around the Web.

14 Feb 2014

Indicted Colorado exchange director had been fully vetted, officials say

Colorado's Connect for Health director was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday after being indicted for stealing from her last employer. Meanwhile, the new head of Massachusetts' exchange pledges to fix it quickly, and Kansas navigators say they're overcoming healthcare.gov's rocky start.

14 Feb 2014

State highlights: More states gearing up to combine Medicare, Medicaid; vaccination exemptions still considered by many states; likely Texas democratic Gov. Candidate backs 20-week abortion ban

A selection of health policy stories from California, Texas, Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Connecticut.

13 Feb 2014

New technology to enhance angioplasty with added precision, accuracy and less radiation exposure

Robots in the cath lab are helping clear blocked arteries in patients — reducing chest pain, shortness of breath, and risks for heart attacks. The Orlando Health Heart Institute is the first in the state of Florida, to offer a robotic-assisted system for coronary angioplasty.

13 Feb 2014

International study examines link between infections and ischemic stroke in children

Common infections are associated with a significantly higher chance of stroke in children, but routine vaccinations may help decrease risk, according to preliminary research (abstract 39) presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.

12 Feb 2014

Rural California plans new trauma centers

The centers are designed to avoid expensive and often time-consuming patient transfers. Meanwhile, telemedicine bolsters intensive care services in rural Maryland, and a hospital system in Camden, N.J. overhauls the way it cares for the poorest and sickest patients

12 Feb 2014