HHS reveals new design of insurance plan labels that would make it easier for consumers to understand their benefits; suspected norovirus outbreak spreads to college campuses; plus, learn about a new approach to breaking the cycle of violence in Philadelphia. Those stories and more topping public health headlines today, Friday, February 10, 2012.
The Public’s Health – An innovative approach to violence prevention in Philly
Innovation and positive change — these were reoccurring themes of Mayor Nutter’s keynote address at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Mayoral Luncheon on Monday. With talk of green technology, pop-up gardens, the Reading Viaduct, and redevelopment initiatives targeting Market East and North Broad, Nutter depicted a city on the rise filled with citizens and government leaders who aren’t afraid to think outside the box.
Philadelphia Inquirer – Suspected norovirus sickens 40 on college campus
Rider University says 40 students became sick Wednesday night from a possible outbreak of norovirus on the Lawrenceville, Mercer County, campus. A notice by the school states that the students became ill with symptoms of, “a gastrointestinal illness.”
New Public Health – Healthy Babies: HHS Adds an Initiative to Help Reduce Preterm Births
Healthy Babies is the focus of the annual President’s Challenge of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and this week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) put funding behind the issue as well, announcing the Start Strong initiative. The first activity of the initiative will be to give out more than $40 million in grants, through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, to test ways to reduce the current high rate of premature births.
Kaiser Health News – Will We Get The Biggest Bang From Health Law’s Prevention Grants?
Backers of the health law’s provision of $15 billion for prevention efforts believe it has the potential to improve health and reduce costs. But some question the administration’s decision to sprinkle money for community programs among dozens of groups testing different approaches, rather than channeling it to proven programs.
The Hill – New rules require plain-English summaries of health insurance plans
The Health and Human Services Department finalized rules Thursday that will require health insurance plans to provide a plain-English summary of what they cover.
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More Colleges Requiring Health Insurance | Insurance 800 says:
Feb 10, 2012
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