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Viewpoints on challenge to contraceptive coverage mandate

This week, the owners of two secular, for-profit corporations will ask the Supreme Court to take a radical turn and allow them to impose their religious views on their employees - by refusing to permit them contraceptive coverage as required under the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court has consistently resisted claims for religious exemptions from laws that are neutral and apply broadly when the exemptions would significantly harm other people, as this one would. To approve it would flout the First Amendment, which forbids government from favoring one religion over another - or over nonbelievers (3/22).

25 Mar 2014

High Court to hear religious freedom challenge to contraceptive mandate

The health law returns to the Supreme Court next week when justices consider a challenge by two companies seeking relief from the contraceptive coverage requirement.

21 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Cancer's deadly toll in minority communities; GOP candidates need to go on offense against health law

Since the early 1970s, studies have shown that black Americans have a higher death rate from cancer than any other racial or ethnic group.

17 Mar 2014

UC baby health innovation wins Gates award

An innovative, colourful and accessible design to improve child health records worldwide has earned a University of Canberra graphic design lecturer a prestigious international award.

17 Mar 2014

Treadmill workstations make employees more active and productive

Employees who use treadmill workstations not only receive physical benefits but also are more productive at work, according to a recently published study by researchers from The University of Texas at Arlington, the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota.

14 Mar 2014

Final days of health law's open enrollment marked by stepped up outreach efforts

News outlets detail the various strategies that are being employed to encourage more people to sign-up for coverage. Insurers are paying for ads and supporting the work of grassroots organizations. Meanwhile, students are volunteering and navigators are staying busy.

14 Mar 2014

AAOHN, ACOEM collaborate to study workplace health and safety issues linked with use of marijuana

The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) have announced they will collaborate to study workplace health and safety issues associated with worker impairment from the use of marijuana and other drugs.

11 Mar 2014

Highlights: Calif. retiree health costs rise; more abortion clinic closings in Texas; Wash. insurance bills roadblock

A selection of health policy stories from California, Texas, Washington state, Illinois, Virginia and Georgia.

10 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 7, 2014

Today's headlines include stories about new studies that attempt to measure the health law's headway in signing up uninsured Americans for health coverage.

7 Mar 2014

APA to recognize employers with Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award

The American Psychological Association will recognize seven employers for their efforts to promote employee well-being and organizational performance at its ninth annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 8.

5 Mar 2014

Shoppers confront more glitches, frustrations from state health exchanges

Whether it is long waits for marketplace helplines or news that some people in California will have to redo their applications, problems persist. News outlets offer more examples and updates with reports from Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Georgia and Colorado.

4 Mar 2014

CBO: Republican 'fix' to health law would hurt coverage, cost $74 billion

The Congressional Budget Office report comes out as House Speaker John Boehner discusses whether there's a future for a GOP bill.

3 Mar 2014

Indonesia's commitment, investment in eliminating NTDs could lift millions of people out of poverty

The control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is one of the most cost-effective ways Indonesia can sustain economic growth and reduce inequality, said scientists today in an analysis published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

3 Mar 2014

GOP to challenge health law's definition of full-time worker

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says Republicans will seek to change the law's definition of full-time workers to those logging more than 40 hours a week. Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley criticizes the administration's response to questions about whether insurers must accept third-party payments to cover an enrollee's premiums.

21 Feb 2014

Travelers offer businesses tips on how to create safe workplace

The four most common workplace injuries among Texas employers in 2013 included strains, sprains, fractures and contusions, according to a recent analysis of Travelers' 2013 workers compensation claim data. Based on this data, Travelers is offering businesses tips on how to create a safe workplace.

20 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

Poll: Uninsured rate lowest in five years

In other Obamacare implementation news, some regions are finding few plan options. And HHS is trying to resolve some healthcare.gov issues with a personal touch.

13 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: Obama's 'cavalier approach' to health law; CBO report's job forecast isn't bad news

The Obama administration on Monday announced that it was delaying, once again, enforcement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) "employer mandate." Yes, Republicans have done everything they can to impede implementation of this law.

13 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 11, 2014

Today's headlines include detailed coverage of the Obama administration's announcement that it will delay a health law requirement that mid-sized employers provide health insurance to workers while also allowing larger employers more flexibility.

11 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: The debate at AOL about a baby's medical costs; Gov. Jindal says economy's verdict on health law is not good

Late last week, Tim Armstrong, the chief executive officer of AOL, landed himself in a media firestorm when he held a town hall with employees to explain why he was paring their retirement benefits. After initially blaming Obamacare for driving up the company's health care costs, he pointed the finger at an unlikely target: babies. Specifically, my baby. ... ... She weighed 1 pound, 9 ounces. ... I take issue with how he reduced my daughter to a "distressed baby" who cost the company too much money. How he blamed the saving of her life for his decision to scale back employee benefits. How he exposed the most searing experience of our lives, one that my husband and I still struggle to discuss with anyone but each other, for no other purpose than an absurd justification for corporate cost-cutting (Deanna Fei, 2/9)

11 Feb 2014

Worker News and Research

Viewpoints on challenge to contraceptive coverage mandate

High Court to hear religious freedom challenge to contraceptive mandate

Viewpoints: Cancer's deadly toll in minority communities; GOP candidates need to go on offense against health law

UC baby health innovation wins Gates award

Treadmill workstations make employees more active and productive

Final days of health law's open enrollment marked by stepped up outreach efforts

AAOHN, ACOEM collaborate to study workplace health and safety issues linked with use of marijuana

Highlights: Calif. retiree health costs rise; more abortion clinic closings in Texas; Wash. insurance bills roadblock

First Edition: March 7, 2014

APA to recognize employers with Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award

Shoppers confront more glitches, frustrations from state health exchanges

CBO: Republican 'fix' to health law would hurt coverage, cost $74 billion

Indonesia's commitment, investment in eliminating NTDs could lift millions of people out of poverty

GOP to challenge health law's definition of full-time worker

Travelers offer businesses tips on how to create safe workplace

Research roundup: Examining readmissions; easing doctor burnout

Poll: Uninsured rate lowest in five years

Viewpoints: Obama's 'cavalier approach' to health law; CBO report's job forecast isn't bad news

First Edition: February 11, 2014

Viewpoints: The debate at AOL about a baby's medical costs; Gov. Jindal says economy's verdict on health law is not good

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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