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Health law includes $250 million for abstinence education

The new health care law contains "a renewal of $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-focused education," CNN reports. "Programs that receive this funding must 'teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems,' according to the Department of Health and Human Services. To qualify, they must also teach that sex before marriage is "likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects'..."

1 Apr 2010

New DNA test to detect Lyme disease spirochete infection

Many of the more than 30,000 people a year in the United States with suspected cases of Lyme disease spirochete (bacterial) infection can now take a DNA test developed by a Connecticut scientist/physician and his team that can quickly determine if they test positive for Lyme spirochetes in their blood.

30 Mar 2010

How the health legislation will affect consumers

The Los Angeles Times explores some key questions: Will insurers continue to raise premiums; when will the Medicare "doughnut hole" close; and, "how do I sign up for my new insurance?" In answer to the last one, the Times writes, "Although there are some provisions that take effect this year, such as bans on lifetime limits and the denial of coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, the part of the bill that provides new insurance options does not take effect until 2014" (Geiger, 3/28).

30 Mar 2010

NZ Doctor struck off for misconduct

While all names have been suppressed to protect the identities of those involved, the case has caught the imagination of the media. “Dr N” who admitted to professional misconduct before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal was reported to have appealed to the High Court against being struck off by The Weekend Herald on Saturday. The appeal was unsuccessful.

29 Mar 2010

Federal funding of elective abortion: Obama signs executive order, FRC Action PAC comments

Today, President Obama signed an executive order regarding federal funding of elective abortion following passage of health care reform legislation.

27 Mar 2010

Senate passes health reform reconciliation bill, sends it back to House

The Senate Thursday afternoon passed a health care reform reconciliation bill and sent the bill back to the House for final consideration. The bill passed 56-43.

26 Mar 2010

Both parties gear up for long-lasting message battle over health overhaul

Democrats and Republicans are preparing for a long political battle that will turn on the ramifications of health reform.

24 Mar 2010

Catholics for Choice comments on healthcare reform promises

At the outset of the debate over healthcare reform, leaders in the Democratic Party made a number of promises to the American people.

22 Mar 2010

Hip-hop and neuroscience

The tweets flew fast and furious at the famous South By Southwest Music, Film, & Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas when "Listen To Your Brain" began playing on the big screen.

19 Mar 2010

Christian groups combat high health premiums by paying each other's bills

Some evangelical Christian groups in America are driving down health care costs in their own way, by helping each other pay medical bills instead of paying premiums.

12 Mar 2010

NHS to improve response to violence against women and children

The role of the NHS in responding to violence against women and children is the subject of a new report by an independent taskforce of experts including Gene Feder, Professor of Primary Health Care at the University of Bristol.

11 Mar 2010

A global initiative to protect the rights of adolescent girls

As leaders gather for the fifteen-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action, we, the members of the United Nations Adolescent Girls Task Force, jointly pledge to intensify our efforts to fulfil the human rights of adolescent girls.

11 Mar 2010

WHO and UN partners join hands to eliminate discrimination against women

Thirty years after the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), many girls and women still do not have equal opportunities to realize rights recognized by law.

11 Mar 2010

Former executive criticizes Catholic Charities' gay marriage backlash

A former senior executive at Catholic Charities has spoken out against the group's decision to eliminate all health coverage for new spouses in Washington D.C. in order to avoid offering the same benefits to same-sex couples. Catholic Charities decided to change its benefits policy in response to the District's legalization of same-sex marriage, "a move designed to avoid legitimizing same-sex marriage," according to The Washington Post.

6 Mar 2010

MetLife data indicates middle boomers should be treated as separate demographic groups

For decades, American Baby Boomers have been characterized as a bloc of people who think and act as one monolithic generation. However, recent data from the MetLife Mature Market Institute®, show that Young, Middle and Older Boomers grew up during disparate “eras” and are now at different stages in their lives. They should, perhaps, be treated as separate demographic groups.

4 Mar 2010

Kansas lawmakers debate legality of health insurance mandate amendment

Kansas Health Institute: "Republicans and Democrats were sharply divided Tuesday over a proposed constitutional amendment that sponsors said would let federal officials know Kansans don't want to be told by the government that they must buy health insurance. On a 12-9, party-line vote, the House Health and Human Services Committee voted to recommend House Concurrent Resolution 5032 favorable for passage.

4 Mar 2010

Study: Offspring of two parents with schizophrenia more likely to develop same illness

Offspring of two parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder appear more likely to develop the same illness or another psychiatric condition than those with only one parent with psychiatric illness, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Mar 2010

Institutional discrimination increases risk of psychiatric disorders among LGB population

A Mailman School of Public Health study examining the effects of institutional discrimination on the psychiatric health of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals found an increase in psychiatric disorders among the LGB population living in states that instituted bans on same-sex marriage.

3 Mar 2010

Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., limits spouses' health insurance

The Washington Post: Employees at Catholic Charities were told Monday that the social services organization is changing its health coverage to avoid offering benefits to same-sex partners of its workers. ... Starting Tuesday, Catholic Charities will not offer benefits to spouses of new employees or to spouses of current employees who are not already enrolled in the plan. A letter describing the change in health benefits was e-mailed to employees Monday, two days before same-sex marriage will become legal in the District."

2 Mar 2010

Not getting enough sleep can cause fat to accumulate around organs, say researchers

Not getting enough sleep does more damage than just leaving you with puffy eyes. It can cause fat to accumulate around your organs - more dangerous, researchers say, than those pesky love handles and jiggly thighs.

2 Mar 2010