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New Mechanism Controlling Neuronal Migration Discovered By St. Jude Scientists
The molecular machinery that helps brain cells migrate to their correct place in the developing brain has been identified by scientists at St. Jude Children"s Research Hospital. The finding offers new insight into the forces that drive brain organization in developing fetuses and children during their first years. Disruption of this brain-patterning machinery can cause epilepsy and mental retardation and understanding its function could give new insight into such disorders.

Today's Selection Of Opinions And Editorials
Delay Vacation, Not Health-Care Reform The Des Moines Register
News of the day
Senate Finance Committee To Discuss Public Plan Options; House Energy And Commerce Committee Discusses State, Regional Plans
The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday will meet to discuss the inclusion of a public insurance plan in its health care reform legislation, the Des Moines Register reports (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 5/14). Supporters of the public plan say it would allow middle-income workers a choice between their employer coverage and coverage offered by the government. The insurance industry and Republican lawmakers oppose such a plan.The Finance Committee will consider a plan similar to Medicare but that would feature slightly higher reimbursement rates for providers. The plan would either be operated by the government or government-contracted private firms. Another option would allow each state to develop and oversee its own public coverage plan. The committee also will consider a proposal from Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) that would allow a new public plan to compete with private insurers by requiring that the public plan be financed by premiums rather than tax dollars, that it follow the same solvency rules that apply to private firms and that it keep a reserve fund to cover liabilities. Schumer"s plan also would allow doctors and hospitals the choice of participating. The public plan also would be required to follow the same consumer protection rules as private firms (Alonso-Zaldivar/Werner, AP/Contra Costa Times, 5/14). The panel also is expected to discuss employer or individual mandates (Edney, CongressDaily, 5/14).Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who has said he believes a public plan would eventually eliminate private insurance and force U.S. residents out of their employer-sponsored plans, said the committee meeting will reveal the likelihood of Republicans uniting against a public option. "We will have an idea how controversial it is and how strong people feel about it on both sides," Grassley said. He added, "I think before I would write it off completely, I would want to look at what those possible compromises are" (Des Moines Register, 5/14). House Energy and Commerce Committee
Endocrinology

Nurses Call On Rep. Miller To Support Amendment Allowing States To Enact Single-Payer Health Reform

With debate underway in the House Education and Labor Committee today on the sweeping healthcare reform bill in that body, the nation"s largest organization of registered nurses today called on Committee Chair George Miller to support a critical amendment that would enable individual states to go a step farther and adopt single-payer, Medicare-for-All style reforms. The amendment by Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio would remove potential legal impediments for states to pass single-payer bills by waiving federal exemptions that apply to employer-sponsored health plans. The committee is expected to vote on the amendment later tonight or early tomorrow. "Nurses across America - and the thousands of nurses in Rep. Miller"s district - want genuine, comprehensive reform that addresses the patient care crisis we see every day. That is best achieved through a single-payer reform that is the most effective way to control costs, assure universality, and improve the quality of care," said Kay McVay, RN, president emeritus of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee. "With Congress apparently poised to adopt legislation that many of us believe will not solve the crisis, and leave far too much power in the hands of the insurance industry, this amendment is critical to allowing states to show a different path that can become a national model," said McVay. McVay, who is a resident of Rep. Miller"s East Bay Area district, said she has spoken to thousands of other of Miller"s constituents who strongly support single-payer reform. "We expect George Miller to show the leadership needed to give everyone a real choice of what kind of reform our nation, and our states need." CNA/NNOC, which represents 86,000 RNs has been lobbying Miller and other members of Congress to support the Kucinich amendment. Recent studies have documented that compared to people with private insurance, Medicare enrollees have greater access to care, fewer problems with medical bills, and greater satisfaction with their health plans and the quality of care they receive. "Shouldn"t that be the standard for the reform in our nation?" McVay asked, "and if you are not going to adopt Medicare for all in the national bill, why not allow individual states the opportunity to enact it." California Nurses Association


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