A new study shows more prosperous communities fare better on leading health measures. CDC’s first-ever paid media campaign shows horrors of smoking. Del Monte drops its lawsuit against Oregon Public Health over 2011 recall of salmonella-tainted canteloupes. Read more about these and other public health news headlines for Friday, March 16.
Los Angeles Times — Quality and cost of medical care vary widely among local areas
The Commonwealth Fund’s study of the U.S. health care market shows more prosperous areas tend to fare better on a wide range of health measures.
USA Today — Health care challengers offer hypothetical mandates
Can Congress require Americans to buy broccoli? How about gym memberships? Or Chevy Volts? Those or similar questions are likely to be posed to the Supreme Court later this month as it considers whether requiring Americans to buy health insurance is a law with a “limiting principle.”
Washington Post — 40,000 Kenya health workers, including nurses, return to work after agreement with government
An official says nearly 40,000 striking health workers have resumed work in public hospitals after the government met some of their demands and promised to look into others.
New Public Health — CDC: First-ever national ad campaign highlights horrors of smoking
Can fear of the ill effects of smoking push people to break their cigarette addiction? That’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is banking on with its first-ever national paid media campaign.
Washington Post — Federal government to begin halting funding for Texas Women’s Health Program in abortion fight
The federal government on Thursday began making good on its promise to cut off all funding for the Texas Medicaid Women’s Health Program amid an escalating fight over the state’s ban on funding for clinics affiliated with abortion providers.
Reuters — US health panel: Pap tests needed only every 3 years
Women only need to get a Pap test once every three years to check for cervical cancer, and don’t need to be screened until age 21— even if they’re sexually active earlier, according to new guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
USA Today — What effects the health care law has had and what’s to come
Two years after President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, some provisions have taken effect, while others still have two years to wait.
Wall Street Journal — Philippine tobacco expo fires up health advocates
Around 2, 000 health advocates, including cancer victims and health officials, gathered on Thursday to march against the global tobacco exhibition.
New York Times — Recession’s toll on health coverage
It’s a startling reminder that when people lose their jobs, they typically also lose their health insurance coverage.
The Public’s Health — Anti-smoking programs work — and more are coming
Yet another study confirms the obvious: public health works. Specifically, tobacco control-programs and policies are effective in reducing lung cancer-associated deaths.
Oregon Live — Del Monte Fresh Produce withdraws lawsuit threat against Oregon Public Health
A Florida importer has backtracked from its threat to sue Oregon’s senior food safety sleuth for identifying the company in a salmonella outbreak.
