MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Washington state governor Christine Gregoire joined 11 state attorney generals in voicing defense for the individual insurance mandate in President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
The group filed documents in support of the mandate with the U.S. Supreme Court, where challenges to the health law are expected to undergo initial arguments in March.
Each filed a separate amicus brief, Law360.com reported, including Gregoire and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.
The health care law requires most all Americans to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty, which the Justice Department defines as an unconstitutional tax. GOP lawmakers are urging the Supreme Court to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act if the individual mandate is deemed unconstitutional.
Knee replacements surgeries spike for over-50
Total knee arthoplasty may grow by 673% to 3.48 million procedures in the U.S. alone by 2030, according to research cited by researchers in Finland, where findings indicate a 130-fold increase in knee replacements surgeries between those aged 30 to 59 years old over a 27 year period.
IBM makes mini-diagnostic probes
Researchers at IBM developed an ultra-miniaturized silicon probe for tissue section analysis, allowing analysis to be conducted on spots instead of an entire tissue section, Medgadget reported.
Health reform means more diabetics on Medicaid
Health care reform measures may bring a new influx of diabetic patients in to Medicaid as perhaps 16 million more uninsured patients become eligible for the program under the Affordable Care Act, according to MedPageToday.com.
European Diagnostic Manufacturers Assoc. teams up with Eucomed to launch Euro federation
The European Diagnostic Manufacturers Assoc. and the European medical device industry group Eucomed plan to join forces to launch a industry federation for Europe, according to a press release.