It's "Get Smart About Antibiotics" Week.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most pressing public health threats. To bring attention to this increasing problem, the CDC and other government partners is observing the third annual Get Smart About Antibiotics Week November 15-21, 2010. Visit the Get Smart website for educational materials, posters, brochures and other resources. 

HealthDay/Businessweek. CVS Caremark research finds correlation between amount of patient co-pay and prescription abandonment. (Gordon, 11/15) Full story 

Medical News Today. According to recent research the color, shape, taste and even name of a tablet or pill can have an effect on how patients feel about their medication. Choose an appropriate combination and the placebo effect gives the pill a boost, improves outcomes and might even reduce side effects. (Srivastava, 11/17) Full story

Diabetesatwork.org.  Provides lesson plans and educational materials for wellness coordinators to help people with or at risk for diabetes. Resources

Wall Street Journal. An experimental heart drug being developed by Merck improved cholesterol to unprecedented levels in a 1,600-patient study, raising the possibility that a powerful new weapon in the battle against cardiovascular disease is on the horizon. (Winslow, 11/18) Full story

New York Times. Personalized medicine - described as providing the right drug to the right patient at the right time - is considered an ideal. But it is also a threat to some pharmaceutical companies wedded to the idea that blockbuster drugs could be taken by all patients with a given disease. (Pollack, 11/16) Full story

Wall Street Journal. A state court in Illinois has granted a partial summary judgment to two plaintiffs suing Baxter International and its Wisconsin-based ingredient supplier over contaminated blood thinner, saying that some of the company's heparin was "unreasonably dangerous."  (Mundy, 11/18) Full story

Federal Regulators.  HHS has issued an amendment to the grandfather rules that allows employers to change insurance carriers and keep their grandfathered status. See the fact sheet. 

Meanwhile, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released final regulations implementing the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that clarify standards for employers that provide incentives for Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) with family history questions, and include model language for collecting health information. See the background information.