Public/Global Health

A federal appeals court on Thursday declined to revisit a decision that allowed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia voted 6-2 to reject a request for the full court to reconsider a June ruling that upheld EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act.

The court’s action could set up a Supreme Court challenge by industry, energy firms and the state of Alaska, which were pushing for the rehearing.

The House voted Wednesday to extend a program aimed at developing vaccines and other responses to bio-threats, along with other health-related bills, including one that could lead to Medicare coverage for home IVIG treatments.

In a 383-16 vote, members approved the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act, H.R. 6672, which reauthorizes programs that help prepare for bio-threats. These programs are now carried out under the Public Health Service Act and other laws dealing with public health.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will study the effects of its controversial X-ray body scanners on airline passengers, the agency said Tuesday.

TSA has long been under fire from lawmakers and libertarian groups who argue that its X-ray machines invade the privacy of airline passengers. Some critics have also argued that the body scanners expose passengers to harmful levels of radiation, though the agency has steadfastly defended the safety of the X-ray machines.

A spokeswoman for TSA said in a statement the study was the fulfillment of a promise from the agency chief, John Pistole.

Experts: No link between Asperger's, violence.

Mom of mentally ill son: 'I am Adam Lanza's mother.'

At Newtown vigil, Obama calls for action to protect children from gun violence.

Advocates for children with cancer are calling on lawmakers to avoid the fiscal cliff, which involves automatic spending cuts to research on curing the disease.

Billions of dollars in cuts would "set off a disastrous domino effect" for the Children's Oncology Group (COG), a federally funded research engine devoted to pediatric and adolescent cancer, said cancer charity the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

"If COG operations were to halt, it would take years to restore the COG to the current pace of operations," the group wrote in a memo to reporters. 

Obama says it wouldn't make sense to go after recreational marijuana users in states that have legalized drug.

The American Cancer Society wants federal officials to "impose greater control" over the manufacture and distribution of tanning beds.

Dozens sue NECC over meningitis, but compensation is uncertain.

Q&A on controlling Medicare costs.

Mass. template on paying for healthcare could become model.

The nonbinding measure calls on U.N. member states to ensure citizens' access to health insurance

The Democrats are worried about the level of formaldehyde in popular hair-straightening treatments such as "Brazilian Blowout."