Health News

Nearly 23 years after the Americans With Disabilities Act went into effect, patients with disabilities continue to receive inadequate medical care — and many cannot even get a doctor’s appointment.    

Denise Sherer Jacobson, 63, was born with cerebral palsy, but she lives a full, active life.    

A new report from ConsumerLab.com shows that some bottled varieties of green tea appear to be little more than sugar water, while some green tea leaves are contaminated with lead.    

Although most attention is focused on the safety of infants and toddlers, their sudden jabs, bites, head-butts and kicks can inflict injuries on parents and other caregivers.    

Children of mothers with cancer must learn this painful lesson early: the vulnerability of the figure on whom they have grounded their existence. With varying degrees of fearful awareness, such children intuit that the mother who comforts by murmuring “I am here” will not always be there.    

Politico reports that this health law implementation issue remains an open question for about a dozen states. Some are on the brink of giving up for the first year but looking ahead to the next set of state legislature sessions. Meanwhile, news outlets report on related developments in Michigan, Iowa, Ohio and Texas.

In addition, media outlets report that the nation's largest for-profit insurers will not participate in California's online marketplace. Eleven insurers have applied to operate plans in Colorado.

Age has its privileges, and a new study suggests that one of them may be immunity to some flu pandemics.    

Frequent heartburn increases the risk for throat cancer, a new study has found, and over-the-counter antacids may provide protection.    

Take a look at KHN's lighter side, featuring today's cartoon and health policy haiku.

On Capitol Hill, several legislative efforts are moving forward on health issues. Among them is an effort by the Massachusetts delegation to keep bonus Medicare payments for the state's hospitals, while House Republicans are looking for another way to deal with a bill to fund high-risk insurance pools. In addition, a Senate measure is advancing that would increase scrutiny On compounding pharmacies.

Also in the news, the Pentagon is in search of a new system for veterans' health care while San Francisco is "leading the way" in new health data applications.

A selection of health policy stories from California, Connecticut, American Samoa, Georgia, Oregon and West Virginia.

A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.

The Hill reports that unnamed insurance industry sources say they feel that Enroll America, the non-profit group raising funds to support outreach to the uninsured, is "just an arm of the administration." In a separate story, The Hill notes new research concluding the trend toward part-time work and reduced health benefits began before the overhaul.

The Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago is the first federal appellate court to hear arguments in cases challenging the mandate that took effect last August. With dozens of similar lawsuits pending, many say the issue seems likely to land before the Supreme Court. The case brought by Hobby Lobby Inc. is considered the most prominent of these efforts.

This week's articles come from The New York Times, Salon, Slate, USA Today, and the Tampa Bay Times.

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including various status updates about state activity regarding the health law's online insurance marketplaces.

Department of Defense officials have said the agency's decision to consider purchasing a commercial electronic health record system will not help reduce the disability claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Meanwhile, members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs are calling on Obama to push DOD to select an EHR system. AP/U-T San Diego, Government Health IT.

Data on eight key hospital-acquired conditions will continue to be included on the Hospital Compare website, CMS officials clarified. A recent story from Bloomberg erroneously said the website after July would no longer contain the information, officials said. HealthLeaders Media.