OVERNIGHT HEALTH: NARAL gets a new president

One of the most prominent abortion-rights groups in the United States, NARAL Pro-Choice America, hired a new president Monday. NARAL announced that Ilyse Hogue will be taking over the reins of the organization once Nancy Keenan steps down after the upcoming 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Hogue's background is in politics, not specifically the abortion-tights movement — she's worked at MoveOn.Org and Media Matters for America, and came to NARAL after helping to start an organization that supports campaign finance reform.

Healthwatch has the story. 

And, in case you missed it, here's our interview with Keenan from last month.

Support: Planned Parenthood praised Hogue's selection.

"She brings fresh perspective and energy to the fight for access to safe and legal abortion as we mark the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and face continued battles in many states across the country.  We look forward to our continued close partnership with NARAL Pro-Choice America under her leadership, especially as we work to cultivate the next generation of leaders," Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards said in a statement.

So did EMILY's List.

"Ilyse’s progressive voice and values align with everything we stand for, and I can’t wait to work with her as we fight for women and families across the country. This is a great choice," EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock said.

Suprise: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) said Monday that she supports expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, an unexpected move from a fierce critic of President Obama. The two have long tussled over immigration policy, and Brewer has chosen not to implement a state-based exchange under the Affordable Care Act. But she reportedly said Monday — to applause from Democratic legislators — that Obama's reelection means that law is here to stay and that it would be foolish not to take the massive federal grants at stake.

Brewer made the announcement in her State of the State speech. Read more about it at Healthwatch.

Attacking Alzheimer's: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced four new studies Monday aimed at finding treatments for Alzheimer's that would help before symptoms emerge. The research will test an anti-amyloid drug and a blood-pressure drug for its effect on Alzheimer's-related agitation. Studies will also look at the effects of exercise on cognitive decline and test a way to speed Alzheimer's drug trials by monitoring cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma.

The studies will be carried out by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), a research consortium praised as a "key initiative" in the U.S. fight against Alzheimer's.

"The ADCS is a key initiative in the federal program to discover, develop and test new Alzheimer's treatments and diagnostic tools. Over the years, it has proved invaluable in advancing our understanding about the disease and how to conduct research in this challenging area," said Richard Hodes, director of the NIH's National Institute on Aging, in a statement.

Healthwatch has more.

State by state

Ga. governor pitches Medicaid money fix

State auditors say Conn. erroneously billed feds

Minorities face surge in Alzheimer's cases in California

Lobbying registrations

Robert Gippin / The Academy of Doctors of Audiology

Hannegan Landau Poersch Advocacy / VeriTeQ Corporation

The Mizeur Group / Futures Without Violence

Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates / Onyx Pharmaceuticals

National Quality Forum / self-registration

DLA Piper / iCiX International

Ernst & Young / Bipartisan Policy Center Advocacy Network

The Conafay Group / Haemonetics Corporation

Winning Strategies Washington / Digital Diagnostics

Almost Family / self-registration

American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine / self-registration


Reading list

H&R Block: It's not too early to plan for health taxes

Coca-Cola to air commercials addressing obesity

Drug overdoses top AIDS as main cause of homeless deaths

AMA calls for outside evaluation of EHR incentives [free reg. req'd]


What you might have missed on Healthwatch

Week ahead: Gun violence and mental health

Zeke Emanuel: Insurers hiking premiums to offset Obama's healthcare law

HHS's Angoff joins law firm

Study ties fast food to asthma, eczema in children

Former President George H.W. Bush released from hospital after sickness

Military suicides hit record high

HHS publishes new rules on Medicaid expansion, exchanges

Patient group wants seamless transitions into Medicare


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