ALSO NOTED: Kaiser whistleblower talks; CDHPs fuel Florida Blue plan growth; and much more...

> So what was Kaiser whistleblower Justen Deal really thinking? Read this live interview with Justen and decide for yourself. Blog

> Uptake of consumer-driven plans grows dramatically for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. The health plan, which just reached the 4 million subscriber level, attributes much of its new growth to its BlueOptions CDHP. Article

> Florida attorney general and governor-elect Charlie Crist (R) has asked the state Supreme Court to review a ballot proposal supporting human embryonic stem-cell research, asking the court to consider whether the proposal it is clear, appropriate and sticks to a single topic. The proposal would require the state to spend $20 million per year on stem-cell research for the next 10 years. Article

> Watch out for those cows! New research suggests that 10 million people a year acquire viruses from animals. Article

> The number of consumers using the Internet to research health issues is growing dramatically. In 2006, 116 million adults said that they used the Web to find health information, up 75 million from five years ago. Release

> Research by America's Health Insurance Plans, a health insurance industry trade group, suggests that Americans expect the new Congress to provide better access to healthcare. Not surprisingly, AHIP says that their plan would get the job done. Release

> Dayton, OH hospitals are spending millions on technology designed to improve breast cancer detection. Article

> Retiree wellness programs can cut Medicare costs by as much as $648 a year per patient, research suggests. Release

And Finally... There are rumors that a $75 billion (yes, billion) takeover bid for Sprint Nextel is in the works, far surpassing the record-setting $33 billion HCA deal. Article

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