New York Times--The Bush administration is imposing restrictions on the ability of states to expand eligibility for Medicaid, in an effort to prevent them from offering coverage to families of modest incomes who, the administration argues, may have access to private health insurance. The restrictions mirror those the administration placed on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program in August after states tried to broaden eligibility for it as well.

For several years there has been a trend to fill more and more Family Medicine residency training positions with international medical graduates (IMG's.) While efforts are underway in Family Medicine and other primary care specialities to address the lack of interest of our own medical graduates in primary care, we must all look at this issue, this practice, and its ethical implications. The Annals of Family Medicine offers such consideration in an article and an editorial.

This approach suggests collaboration among health systems, lead by Catholic organizations, can make a difference in an underserved community that faces significant health barriers.
“After an initial $10 payment, doctors from St. Joseph will provide free adult primary care, those from St. Agnes will offer OB-GYN services, and Hopkins physicians will offer pediatric primary care.

An article published this week in the Northern Californian OC Weekly takes a critical look at what it claims to be a hypocritical stance of a religious order on allowing employees the right to unionize.

It’s not the first time Catholic hospital groups and union organizers have battled over unionizing efforts. But what makes this tale unusual is the Sisters of St. Joseph’s public pro-workers’-rights track record.