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Bankruptcies Linked To Illness, Medical Bills In Nearly Two-Thirds Of Cases
Medical problems contributed to nearly two-thirds (62.1 percent) of all bankruptcies in 2007, according to a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Medicine that will be published online Thursday. The data were collected prior to the current economic downturn and hence likely understate the current burden of financial suffering. Between 2001 and 2007, the proportion of all bankruptcies attributable to medical problems rose by 49.6 percent. The authors" previous 2001 findings have been widely cited by policy leaders, including President Obama.
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FDA Issues Final Regulation On Dental Amalgam
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final regulation classifying dental amalgam and its component parts - elemental mercury and a powder alloy-used in dental fillings. While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.
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Race/Ethnicity, Family Income And Education Associated With Sugar Consumption
The intake of added sugars in the United States is excessive, estimated by the US Department of Agriculture in 1999-2002 as 17% of calories a day. Consuming foods with added sugars displaces nutrient-dense foods in the diet. Reducing or limiting intake of added sugars is an important objective in providing overall dietary guidance. In a study of nearly 30,000 Americans published in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers report that race/ethnicity, family income and educational status are independently associated with intake of added sugars. Groups with low income and education are particularly vulnerable to eating diets with high added sugars.
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California Budget Could Force Seniors To Nursing Homes, Drive Up Costs

NPR reports that California"s $26.3 billion budget deficit is marginalizing seniors who rely on California state-provided health care and service to help them manage their lives. "One endangered program is in-home support services for more than 400,000 elderly and disabled. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting those services for all but the most severe cases, which could force many who are now independent to move into nursing homes. ò€¦ Flora Mae King of San Bernadino turned 102 last Sunday. She lives alone in a senior apartment complex, relying on state-funded, in-home support for shopping and help around the house. Now, as California nears a decision on budget cuts to clear up a multi-billion dollar deficit, her in-home support will be cut and she will have to move into a nursing home" (Diamante, 7/19). The cuts could also bring higher costs to the system as the elimination of home and adult day care could push recipients into more expensive programs, The Los Angeles Times reports. "The governor"s plan to take away such care is meant to save money. But it could end up costing California more by forcing the 85-year-old (Irene Steinlage), who has Parkinson"s, osteoporosis and other ailments -- and thousands like her -- into nursing homes. ò€¦ Administration officials say tax hikes would further damage the economy, push revenue down and drive businesses and entrepreneurs out of the state, in addition to forcing California to reduce services even further." Schwarzenegger says California can no longer afford to provide services that are far more generous than other states offer, The Los Angeles Times reports (Rothfeld and Halper, 7/19). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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