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For many working low-income residents, health law's promise is still unaffordable

Stateline examines the difficulty for many working families to buy insurance while KHN spends time at a California hospital to survey how some without insurance try to afford care. Other news coverage on health law outreach and enrollment looks at narrow networks in some plans and an effort in Connecticut to attract consumers.

15 Jan 2014

Most primary care practices have only few resources to counsel patients about weight control

Only a quarter of U.S. primary care physicians surveyed are doing a thorough job of helping patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight, finds a study in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

15 Jan 2014

More independent work environments may lead to reductions in autism symptoms

More independent work environments may lead to reductions in autism symptoms and improve daily living in adults with the disorder, according to a new study released in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

15 Jan 2014

Rep. Miller, close Obamacare ally, to retire

Rep. George Miller will retire at the end of his term, he announced Monday. The California Democrat is a close ally of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the health law.

15 Jan 2014

SCOTUS won't hear appeal on Arizona abortion ban

The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from Arizona seeking to reinstate an abortion law there that disallowed most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It's the third time this term the Court has refused to hear an appeal of an abortion-related case.

15 Jan 2014

State-specific numbers highlight December enrollment surge

Various news outlets report on the enrollment totals through December -- and some demographic data -- for Alabama, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Georgia, California, Illinois and others.

15 Jan 2014

Study highlights the importance of screening women over 50 for cervical cancer

New research from Queen Mary University of London reveals women over the age of 50 who don't attend cervical screening are four times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer in later life.

15 Jan 2014

Insurance sign-ups skew older, spurring cost concerns

Halfway through the six-month enrollment period for private insurance under the health care law, just one in four adult enrollees are between ages 18 and 34, the crucial demographic group whose participation rates are key to keeping monthly premiums affordable.

15 Jan 2014

Medicaid expansion battles resume in state Capitols

Aided in some cases by a new cast of elected officials, groups pushing for Medicaid expansion hope to reopen the debate in state legislative sessions beginning in Maine, Virginia, Louisiana, Kansas and Georgia.

14 Jan 2014

More GOP governors give Medicaid expansion another look

Politico reports that while Republican governors in Texas and Louisiana remain firmly in the no camp, others in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana and Oklahoma are giving the program a second look. News outlets also offer updates from Florida, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Georgia.

13 Jan 2014

Researchers explore possible effects that diet have on gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms

In "Epigenetics: A New Link Between Nutrition and Cancer", a recent article from Nutrition and Cancer: An International Journal, a publication of Routledge, researchers explore the possible effects that diet can have on gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms.

13 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 13, 2014

Today's headlines include news about how the health law's enrollment process is working and about the federal government's decision not to renew the contract for the company that was overseeing the repairs for healthcare.gov.

13 Jan 2014

Obama administration proposes Medicare drug change

In a move that some fear could compromise care for Medicare recipients, the Obama administration is proposing to remove special protections that guarantee seniors access to a wide selection of three types of drugs.

13 Jan 2014

Coalition publishes new evidence on patient impact of drug shortages in US

According to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors, drug shortages remain a serious problem for patient safety. Nearly half of the responding directors reported adverse events at their facilities due to drug shortages, including patient deaths.

13 Jan 2014

Maryland moves forward with bold hospital spending plan

Some say the deal will eventually change the way hospitals in all the states are paid for delivering health care and could become a national model for controlling health care costs.

13 Jan 2014

Nonsurgical treatment improves symptoms in women with pelvic floor dysfunction

One in three women suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction, a range of symptoms which include bladder and bowel problems as well as pelvic pain, according to the American Urogynecologic Society. Now, University of Missouri researchers have demonstrated that a comprehensive, nonsurgical treatment significantly improves symptoms in women with PFD.

10 Jan 2014

Sending text messages to low-income pregnant women result in uptick in influenza vaccination

A study by researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health evaluated the impact of text messaging reminders for influenza vaccine in a low-income obstetric population. The findings showed that sending text messages to this population of women resulted in an uptick in influenza vaccination, especially for those who received the messages early in their third trimester.

10 Jan 2014

State highlights: Calif. Governor's budget to include $670M in new Medi-Cal spending; Mass. launches new electronic health records updates

When he unveils his new budget plan Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown will propose billions of dollars in new spending on schools, health care, social services and environmental programs as California reaps the benefits of an economic turnaround. … The proposed budget includes $670 million more for Medi-Cal, the state's public health care program, which is expanding as part of President Obama's federal overhaul. The program is expected to serve a quarter of California's residents next year.

10 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 10, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about Maryland's plan to reduce hospital spending.

10 Jan 2014

NPF, CORRONA to create first psoriasis registry to improve treatments and patient outcomes

To advance understanding of psoriasis—the most common autoimmune disease in the country, affecting up to 7.5 million Americans—and help scientists and clinicians improve treatments and patient outcomes, the National Psoriasis Foundation and the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America, Inc. will create the first psoriasis registry co-developed and co-administered by a nonprofit.

10 Jan 2014