WASHINGTON (AP)—Two House Democrats who favor a government insurance plan, a central element of health care legislation passed in their chamber, acknowledged Sunday it might have to be sacrificed as negotiators work out a final agreement with the Senate.
Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House and one who had appealed to President Barack Obama not to yield on the public plan, set out conditions for yielding himself.

REP. JAMES CLYBURN

If Congress wishes to control costs in health care, they must put the obesity epidemic at the top of the agenda.

Why? Because as much of a problem as obesity is today—believe it or not, it is going to get worse—and we will all be paying more for it.

A new study by the UnitedHealth Foundation, American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention in conjunction with their annual America’s Health Rankings report shows us what the world will look like a decade from now if current trends continue. The study, which was based on my research, finds that:

UPMC presented its Eighth Annual Pittsburgh Kidney Walk last month. More than 1,500 kidney transplant recipients and donors, transplant advocates, hospital representatives and members of the community attended the National Kidney Foundation’s event.

The walk featured live music and special appearances by Pittsburgh mascots at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, One in nine U.S. adults has kidney disease, and most don’t even know it. Kidney disease may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders and increases the risk of heart disease.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation website, www.nationalbreastcancer.org, it is estimated that more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and more than 40,000 will die. Out of those 40,000 women, most are likely to be African-American women.

The National Women’s Health Information Center of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health website, www.womenshealth.gov, says African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer because tumors are found later and in more advanced stages, so there are fewer treatment options.

HELPING THE FIGHT— Participants from the 2009 Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure. The race raises funds to fight breast cancer.

With information like this, it is easy to see why some find the suggested breast cancer guideline recommendations released by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a little alarming.