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Opinion Pieces Discuss Whether Current Efforts To Fix Health Costs Will Produce Sufficient Savings
David Brooks, New York Times: Health care costs have become "the crucial issue of [President Obama"s] whole presidency," Times columnist Brooks writes. According to Brooks, Obama"s original plan was to fund his priorities, including education and energy, with debt that would be paid off with future savings resulting from health care reform. Brooks writes that Obama"s aides have been discussing "game-changers" -- such as health information technology, wellness programs, preventive medicine, comparative effective measures and altering reimbursement policies -- that would result in cost reductions. However, Brooks writes that most experts do not think such efforts would "produce much in the way of cost savings over the next 10 years" and that "nobody is sure" the efforts would "ever produce significant savings." Brooks writes that because "there are deep structural forces, both in Medicare and the private insurance market" that make it "nearly impossible to put together a majority coalition for a bill" challenging those structures, reform efforts this year likely will produce a "medium-size bill that expands coverage to some groups but does relatively little to control costs." Brooks concludes, "Without serious health cost cuts," Obama"s agenda "will hasten fiscal suicide" (Brooks, New York Times, 5/15).
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During Pregnancy Obese Women Should Not Gain Weight, Study Suggests
For years, doctors and other health-care providers have managed pregnant patients according to guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In 1986, ACOG stated, "Regardless of how much women weigh before they become pregnant, gaining between 26-35 pounds during pregnancy can improve the outcome of pregnancy and reduce their chances of having the pregnancy end in fetal death." Until its revised guidelines were released yesterday, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) had recommended that overweight women should gain about 15 pounds during pregnancy.
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Senators Debate Public Plan, Co-ops For Health Overhaul
Senators crafting health reform legislation are debating a number of issues ahead of the revelation of proposal including the inclusion of a cooperative as an alternative to a government-run public plan, Politico reports.
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Could Your Mouth, Not The Food You Put Into It Be The Secret To The Size Of Your Waistline?

Oral healthcare could hold the key to beating obesity according to new dental research*. The UK"s leading oral health charity has reminded the public of the importance of good dental hygiene after studies published in the June"s Journal of Dental Research revealed further potential systemic links between oral health and overall health. The British Dental Health Foundation has long campaigned on the importance of oral healthcare. Now scientists have suggested bacteria in our mouths could play a direct part in causing obesity. Studies of over 500 women, 300 of whom were clinically obese, found that of 40 kinds bacteria tested one species - selenomonas noxia - was present at levels of more than 1% of total bacteria in 98% of the overweight group. This bacteria has previously been linked with the development of gum disease. Further research will now investigate the importance of these infectionary agents as indicators of and potential causes of obesity. Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter said: "Though this information represents very early stages of research it is another fascinating example of the potential overall health links related to our oral health. "It is uncertain whether people may become obese due to changes in the bacteria in their mouths or whether these changes occur as a result of obesity. What impact changing the bacterial make up may have on helping to reduce obesity is certainly worth additional research. "There are hundreds of bacteria in our mouths at any one time, contributing to the most common dental hygiene issue - gum disease. "Alongside posing risks of causing tooth loss if left unchecked, gum disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and premature births. "Our advice to the public is to take simple steps to best look after your oral health by brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on sugary snacks and drinks which harm you oral health and visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend." The Foundation"s annual National Smile Month campaign is the world"s largest oral healthcare event and this year focused on these oral systemic links. Education on dental hygiene and preventive care was recently highlighted as a key part of the future of NHS dentistry in the independent Steele Review looking at the UK"s oral healthcare plans. *Citation: "Is Obesity an oral bacterial disease?" Goodson, J., Groppo, D. et al Journal of Dental Research, June 2009. The British Dental Health Foundation


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