ALSO NOTED: New Orleans hospital system has only 456 beds; Sales of home diagnostic kits surging; and much more...

> A congressional inquiry found that the healthcare system in New Orleans remains crippled seven months after Hurricane Katrina. The GAO released a study that finds only 456 staffed beds in the city. Article

> Sales of home diagnostic kits are surging, leading to criticism from some doctors. Article

> The Cleveland Plain Dealer continues its series on Dr. Thomas Butler, the Texas Tech infectious disease expert facing professional ruin after charges that he smuggled plague into the country. Article

> Medtronic filed a lawsuit against Guidant, alleging that the company has infringed on one of its patents for coronary stents. Article

> Chutes & Ladders: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CIO Dean Mesterharm is stepping down. Mesterharm played a major role in developing IT programs for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Article

> The Atlantic City Vioxx trial/soap opera continued with a series of sharply worded attacks on Merck's expert witness by Houston attorney W. Mark Lanier. Article

> RAND released a study that argues that little of the recent research on chronic heart failure is making its way into clinical practice. Release

> Hospitals in Massachusetts stand to collect a windfall of hundreds of millions of dollars under proposed new state law designed to help provide care for the uninsured. Insurers will also benefit, as the legislation requires consumers to carry health insurance policies. Article

> Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposed new health plan is drawing criticism from some on the Right who think it could spiral out of control. Article

And Finally... A new report in the Annals of Family Medicine finds that Web sites work about as well for changing behaviors as older media such as pamphlets and brochures. Article