> Women favor the individual mandate much more than than their male counterparts, according to a poll by the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication released Friday. These results demonstrate the continued polarization of public views regarding state and federal mandates, which is especially divided according to gender and political party. Announcement
> A federal health advisory panel on Monday recommended that physicians screen for obesity and offer counseling for patients with high body mass index (BMI), according to The Los Angeles Times. The U.S Preventative Services Task Force recommended intense counseling and intervention, including nutritional education and exercise regiments that will help lower health risks associated with obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease. Article
> Preventable emergency room visits for dental care cost Florida $88 million in 2010, according to a Florida Public Health Institute report released Monday. The report showed that the majority of patients waited until their condition required emergency attention because of high out-of-pocket costs for dental work, as Medicare and Florida Medicaid do not cover preventative care, Health News Florida reported. Article
>A New Jersey bill that would require for-profit hospitals to be financially transparent passed legislative approval Monday and now heads to the governor's desk, The Star-Ledger reported. The bill, which passed in the Senate in March, would mandate that hospitals disclose financial information such as sources of income, salaries for top execs and all business holdings. Article
And Finally… A $2,000 milkshake. Article