First Edition: April 24, 2015

Kaiser Health News: Americans Are Drinking More Heavily, Especially Women
Whether quaffing artisanal cocktails at hipster bars or knocking back no-name beers on the couch, more Americans are drinking heavily – and engaging in episodes of binge-drinking, concludes a major study of alcohol use. Heavy drinking among Americans rose 17.2 percent between 2005 and 2012, largely due to rising rates among women, according to the study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health. (Feder Ostrov, 4/23)

CNBC: California, Washington Shine During Special Obamacare Sign-Ups
Now that's a West Coast offense! Two states that run their own Obamacare markets—California and Washington—are blowing away the much-larger, federally run HealthCare.gov when it comes to signing up customers during a tax season grace period. That special enrollment offer is open to people who only just learned they owe a fine for not having health insurance last year. Through last Friday, a total of more than 38,700 people selected health plans during special enrollment in California and Washington, officials said. (Morgan, 4/23)

PolitiFact Florida: Fact-Checking Claims About Medicaid In Florida
A feud over Medicaid expansion that stretches from Tallahassee to the White House means the Florida Legislature may not pass a budget by the time the session ends on May 1. PolitiFact Florida has been fact-checking the fight over whether more poor Floridians will be able to qualify for heavily subsidized health insurance. The federal government is offering billions if Florida expands Medicaid, paying 100 percent of the expansion at first and gradually downshifting to 90 percent in later years. The program currently eats up a sizable portion of the state budget. (Gillin and Sherman, 4/23)

The Washington Post: After A Year Of Frustration, New Bill Would Make It Easier To Fire VA Employees
One year after the largest scandal in the Department of Veterans Affairs history, a congressman says he will introduce the VA Accountability Act, which would give the new VA secretary sweeping authority to fire corrupt or incompetent employees. Rep. Jeff Miller’s (R-Fla.) bill comes in response to increasing frustration from lawmakers and veterans service organizations over the slow pace of reform in holding VA employees accountable for a litany of problems, from patient wait times to delays in benefits. (Wax-Thibodeaux, 4/23)

The Wall Street Journal: Quest Diagnostics Revenue Grows 5.3% As Business Environment Improves
Quest Diagnostics Inc. said Thursday that revenue grew 5.3% in its first quarter as the laboratory-testing company benefits from growth in its diagnostics business and an improving environment. Core profit narrowly topped Wall Street expectations, while revenue was in line. (Dulaney, 4/23)

The Washington Post: Dr. Oz Fires Back At His Critics: ‘We Will Not Be Silenced’
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the embattled medical-advice peddler and cardiothoracic surgeon, devoted numerous segments of his popular, eponymous show on Thursday to blast his critics as "mysterious doctors" with "conflict-of-interest" and "integrity" issues. His response included a carefully produced broadside against the 10 doctors who last week called for his ouster from Columbia University's medical school. (Izadi, 4/23)

Los Angeles Times: Should Doctors Be Allowed To Ask Patients About Their Gun Habits?
Physicians acknowledge that they ask their patients questions that, in any other context, would be considered nosy and meddlesome. They expect to get some pushback. But when physicians in Florida ask whether a patient -- or a young patient's parent -- has a gun in the home, they are now bracing for a call, and possibly a letter of discipline, from their state's medical board. Physicians in Indiana and Texas are on notice that for them, too, such questions may soon be limited by law. (Healy, 4/23)

HealthDay: Antibiotics Shortages Could Put Patients At Risk From Superbugs
Shortages of antibiotics, including those used to treat drug-resistant infections, may be putting patients at risk for sickness and death, according to a new report. Between 2001 and 2013, there were shortages of 148 antibiotics. And the shortages started getting worse in 2007, researchers found. (Reinberg, 4/23)

Los Angeles Times: Democratic Lawmakers Reject Switching Their Health Coverage To Obamacare
Democratic state lawmakers on Thursday shot down a proposal that would have required all California state legislators to get their health insurance from Covered California, the benefits exchange set up to implement Obamacare in the state. The Assembly Rules Committee split along party lines, with seven Democrats opposing AB 1109 and three Republicans in support of the bill by Assemblyman Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita). The measure would have forced lawmakers to give up the taxpayer-subsidized health plans provided by the Legislature and individually sign up for Covered California. (McGreevy, 4/23)

USA Today/The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News: N.Y. Law Protects Against Surprise Medical Bills
Dana Roberts was raising two children in Yonkers and suddenly found herself wasting hours on the phone fighting insurers and medical offices over a $1,500 bill. She had to track down her medical records, talk to a lawyer and research similar cases. At one point, Roberts said she started recording conversations about settling the unexpected charge. Her distrust seemed appropriate. Roberts, 33, said she was unconscious when the $1,500 was tacked onto her surgery cost. ... Thousands of similar complaints by New Yorkers — many involving bills from specialists used unbeknownst to patients — prompted a state law seeking to protect against surprise medical charges. State regulators reported receiving at least 10,000 complaints about the problem. (Robinson, 4/22)

The Washington Post: Inside Alabama’s Deadly Spice Craze
For the small southern city of Anniston, 2011 seemed like a summer of madness. First came the cicadas, woken from their 13-year-slumber by some ineffable urge. Then came the reports of a new drug in town. It was called Spice, and all the kids were trying it. Then came the suicides. (Miller, 4/24)