Health Buzz: What Obama's Health Plan Means for You and Other Health News

Bringing Healthcare Reform Home

President Obama has lofty goals for the American healthcare system, but regular folks want to know how the wonkish policy debate that is sure to rage in Congress will actually affect their bottom line and the quality of care their families receive. Last week, Obama announced a $634 billion cash injection to jump-start the cure for the ailing healthcare system. And though specifics have yet to be announced, the two main goals are to ensure coverage for the 47 million Americans currently going without and to lower the price tag for those who are insured yet struggle under the weight of high-cost care. The Los Angeles Times lays out a helpful primer on healthcare reform today. But the devil is in the details; U.S. News's Michelle Andrews writes about how medical costs vary widely, depending on where you live. Smart patients, she adds, can avoid getting soaked by high medical bills. She offers tips on talking with doctors and other care providers and avoiding unnecessary procedures that some say are driving up overall health spending in the country. Andrews also writes about how wealthier seniors might take a hit under Obama healthcare reform.

New Ways to Avoid Painful Gout Attacks

With the entrance of Uloric (febuxostat) into the U.S. drug market, gout sufferers now have another option. Uloric is the first drug in 40 years to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat gout, which according to a recent estimate affects about 3 million Americans. U.S. News's January W. Payne reports on ways to battle gout, the arthritic condition that results from uric acid buildup and often causes debilitating joint pain. The good news, she writes, is that gout is a manageable form of arthritis. But much of the battle is knowing the triggers that result in a painful gout attack, including foods like red meats, shellfish, and certain vegetables and beans. Test your expertise with this gout quiz.

Ongoing Debate Over Vitamins' Value: Teens New Target

There's a new dietary supplement in town, and it's just for teens. Certainly, the idea of taking a vitamin pill every day to improve on the intake of nutrients missed in our diet isn't new—but marketing them to teens is. U.S. News's Katherine Hobson evaluates the research and talks to experts in an effort to get to the bottom of the question: Does your teen need a special multivitamin? Teens are at particular risk of dietary shortfalls, since they often skip breakfast, consume much of their food outside the home, and are more likely to have sodas, snack foods, and fast foods rather than low-fat milk, fruits, and vegetables.

—Sarah Baldauf

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