Thursday, January 13, 2011

Calm After the Storm Edition

We got the most snowfall in a 24 hour period EVER recorded at Bradley Airport. Quite something. But the world keeps turning and things keep happening.

Most of the news this morning relates to the tragedy in Tuscon, and especially the President's eloquent speech last night. There's only a smattering of health news today.

JP Morgan is holding a health care conference to talk to businesses about the opportunities inherent in health reform. Investors are optimistic about how reform will impact health insurers.

Health reform will bring a major expansion of mental health care. People who become insured will be able to afford mental health care for the first time. Perhaps this will help to curtail mental illness before it leads to violence.

A new study shows that the lower drug copays are, the more people are able to avoid hospitalizations and complications. When people can afford their meds, they take their meds, and that keeps them healthier and keeps their medical costs down overall.

Will medical innovation reduce health care costs? Some say yes, and they lay out a cogent argument.

The USDA is calling for dramatic changes in school lunches, with the first increase in nutrition standards in 15 years. Good.

Meanwhile, the cost of caring for cancer balloons. It could hit $207 billion by 2020.

And that's it for now. I'm off to brave the frozen tundra in search of my morning swim. Jennifer

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