U.S. health reform faces big test with implementation
Reuters
Democrats are pushing to shore up support for the U.S. healthcare overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama, but the final public verdict will largely depend on how smoothly it is put into effect.
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Report: Thyroid cancer radiation a public threat
USA TODAY
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission rule allowing hospitals to discharge radioactive thyroid cancer patients to their homes and hotels poses a public health threat, a congressional report recently said.More

Interpreting health: Cultural barriers at New York City hospitals
WNYC
In order to serve its increasingly multi-lingual population, New York State requires interpretation services in all hospitals. But when caring for immigrants, the language barrier is just one of a myriad of issues health providers grapple with.
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New worries about H1N1 influenza
Los Angeles Times
Continuing activity of pandemic H1N1 influenza in the Southeast, particularly in Georgia, is raising fears of a third wave of swine flu cases, federal officials said Monday. They urged people to continue getting vaccinated as a preventive measure in case a new outbreak occurred.More

Strapped states cut back on HIV/AIDS funds
NPR
As states struggle with budget shortfalls, many are looking to trim costs by chopping health spending. And funding for HIV/AIDS programs has been a prime target.More

Open enrollment
Newsweek
With health care reform now the law of the land, the Obama administration faces a logistical challenge no simpler than wrangling votes in Congress: enrolling more than 30 million Americans in health insurance. If the Congressional Budget Office prediction holds true, 19 million additional Americans will carry health insurance when the individual mandate becomes law on Jan. 1, 2014.More

Companies push to repeal provision of health law
The New York Times
An association representing 300 large corporations urged President Obama and Congress on Monday to repeal a provision of the health care overhaul that prompted AT&T, Caterpillar and other companies to announce substantial charges for the current quarter. More

FDA's tobacco panel targets menthol cigarettes
NPR
Are menthol cigarettes—which account for one-quarter of cigarette sales—more addictive than other smokes? That's a top question facing the FDA's new advisory committee on tobacco regulation, which is meeting for the first time Tuesday. It's tasked with determining whether menthols should be treated differently from regular tobacco.
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Funds double for health clinics
The Wall Street Journal
Federally funded health clinics are set to play an even larger role in the revamped health care landscape, which expands Medicaid and other insurance coverage and sharply increases funding for the clinics. The clinics, whose number nearly doubled with the backing of President George W. Bush, are an anchor of primary care for many immigrants and residents of inner cities and rural areas.
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Report: States struggle to tally foodborne illnesses
USA TODAY
State and local reporting of foodborne illnesses is the first line of defense against national outbreaks. Yet a study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest finds that almost half of states do a poor job of tracking outbreaks—and suggests passing legislation to reform the Food and Drug Administration will help.More

Philadelphia gets big money to trim waistlines, smoking
Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia snagged $25 million in federal stimulus grants recently announced nationwide and immediately launched an ambitious public-health campaign to cut obesity and smoking.
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