MSNBC: Unions protest Wal-mart health care

Unions protest Wal-mart health care
Labor groups representing 6 million workers to rally across 35 cities

Associated Press
Updated: 2:40 p.m. ET April 26, 2006

Unions representing 6 million workers planned to rally Wednesday in 35 cities from New York to Los Angeles to protest what they called inadequate health care coverage by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation’s largest employer.

MSNBC: Many middle-income Americans lack insurance

Many middle-income Americans lack insurance
Study: 40 percent without coverage in 2005, up from 28 percent in 2001

MSNBC News Services
Updated: 11:00 a.m. ET April 26, 2006

WASHINGTON - The percentage of working-age Americans with moderate to middle incomes who lacked health insurance for at least part of the year rose to 41 percent in 2005, a dramatic increase from the 28 percent in 2001 without coverage, a study released on Wednesday found.

LA Times: personal stories of insurance woes

Coverage, in pieces
Medical insurance can be surprisingly elusive -- and temporary. For many, the safety net now requires compromise and sacrifice.

By Susan Brink, Times Staff Writer
April 3, 2006

The stories in this package illustrate the obstacles encountered, as well as the generous doses of creativity required, as people cobble together health coverage in America's often hit or miss system.

PharmFree: AMSA in the news

Here are some articles (older, but good reads) discussing AMSA's PharmFree campaign:

(links found through AMSA's newsroom)

Medical Students Say No to Drug Firm Gifts
Chicago Sun-Times - 03/30/06

New doctors are allergic to freebies
Chicago Tribune - 03/12/06

An expensive free lunch
Los Angeles Times - 01/23/06 (free site registration required)

Medical students find certain lures they won't swallow
USA Today - 01/02/06

NY Times: Massachusetts sets health plan for nearly all

Not ideal, but looks like MA is one step closer to universal health care...

[P.S. I like how the title of the article says "for nearly all"]

Massachusetts sets health plan for nearly all
By Pam Belluck
Published: April 5, 2006

BOSTON, April 4 — Massachusetts is poised to become the first state to provide nearly universal health care coverage with a bill passed overwhelmingly by the legislature Tuesday that Gov. Mitt Romney says he will sign.