2012 April

State Health across the US

• Patients Lead The Way As Medicine Grapples With Apps
  Health apps are turning smartphones and tablets into exercise aides, blood pressure monitors and devices that transmit an EKG. But the explosion of apps is way ahead of tests to determine which ones work. […]
• Grassroots Tactics Being Used In Health Law's Roll-Out
  An outside group backing the health law plans to air a series of ads this summer supporting the measure. The first ad, part of a million-dollar buy, touts parts of the law that are already in place. […]
• Medicaid Expansion: Second Thoughts And Changes Of Heart?
  PBS NewsHour reports on some states with GOP governors who opposed the health law but want to pursue the Medicaid expansion. In one such state, Arizona, the Republican governor signed expansion legislation after a bruising fight with conservatives in the legislature. But, in Maine, the governor vetoed such a measure for the second time while news outlets off […]
• Political Cartoon: 'Patently Absurd?'
  Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations. […]
• House GOP Plans Vote Today On Abortion Bill
  The measure, which would ban abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy, has drawn a White House veto threat. In other Capitol Hill news, health care issues continue to be part of the immigration reform debate and some lawmakers have asked for a review of federal grants and programs designed to assist the severely mentally ill. […]
• High Court: Feds Can Sue Pharmaceutical Companies Over Deals To Delay Generic Drug Sales
  The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Federal Trade Commission can challenge name brand drug makers for potential antitrust violations. […]
• Former CMS Head Berwick Enters Mass. Gov Race
  Donald Berwick, a former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced Monday that he will run for governor of Massachusetts. Berwick served for a year and a half as head of CMS and had since then expressed interest in remaining in the public arena. […]
• Viewpoints: Controlling Costs; Health Law's Guarantee Of Coverage; ACO Liability
  A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country. […]
• State Highlights: Texas Pharmacists Want Medicaid Price Transparency
  A selection of health policy stories from Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and California. […]
• Tax, Accounting Firms See Opportunity In Health Law
  With a new slew of complicated laws and regulations on the books, someone has to interpret them for average Americans and the business community. […]