Tuesday's News

Good morning. Let's see what the day has in store for us.

Pro-reform organizations have put together a lobbying team of sorts to help message in ways that defend the new law. Democrats in Congress are charting a course, too; some are thinking about alternatives to the individual mandate. And Republicans are treading softly as they prepare the budget for the rest of the year, starting out, at least, without eliminating funding for health reform implementation.

And the Administration is sending a strong message to states that oppose reform and are refusing to implement, some while still taking implementation money. If the states don't implement, the federal government will, says the Obama Administration. The law leaves a lot for the states to do, but President Obama will not allow Americans to suffer simply because they live in a state that opposes reform. States continue to ask for more flexibility in implementation. But states ignore health reform at their peril.

Meanwhile, HHS considers changes to the CLASS Act, the long-term care plan that's included in health reform. There are concerns for its fiscal soundness, and Secretary Sebelius is listening.

And here's an interesting proposition -- early detection and treatment actually increase the rate of illness by over-diagnosing and treating people who would be just fine without intervention. Hmmm.

The FDA has approved iPAD radiology app -- fascinating and seemingly efficient.

This is a very difficult story -- an undocumented worker who became quadriplegic was sent back to Mexico against his will. Deportation at its harshest.

When should a doctor tell a patient he or she is dying? Here's a plea for greater candor earlier on.

Women derive twice the benefit as men from a heart pacemaker and defibrillator. And here are the signs of a heart attack. Having a heart attack changes one's life dramatically.

Safe injection sites lower the rate of HIV in Vancouver.

Read a fascinating interview with the matriarch of modern cancer genetics and the person most responsible for today's leukemia treatments.

Health care for executives? Some companies are taking special care of their key employees.

And here's some financial advice for young doctors who make good money but have massive student loans to pay back.

And here's a really interesting story -- a sick little boy who sends a robot to school for him, which allows him to participate as if he were there.

And last but most certainly not least, thank goodness, Hershey's study says chocolate is good for you. That's great news for us choco-holics!

Have a great day. Jennifer