HCR Update from Mark Sanna: New York City plans to enact a far-reaching ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts, in the most ambitious effort yet by the Bloomberg administration to combat rising obesity. The sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces — about the size of a medium coffee, and smaller than a common soda bottle — would be prohibited under the first-in-the-nation plan, which could take effect as soon as next March.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The proposed revisions to the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, would add 'gambling disorder' to alcohol and drug problems as a 'substance use and addictive disorder' that insurers and others would use to make decisions about treatment and coverage.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: America's newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen. A staggering 45% of the 1.6 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now seeking compensation for injuries they say are service-related.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: A new study released this week said about 630,000 uninsured veterans would likely qualify for Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for the poor, which would be expanded under the new health care law. In addition, 520,000 uninsured vets could qualify for subsidized health coverage in new marketplaces, or insurance exchanges.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Senate passed a major bipartisan bill on Thursday to prevent drug shortages and to speed federal approval of lifesaving medicines, including lower-cost generic versions of biotechnology products. A similar bill is on a fast track to approval in the House, perhaps as early as next week. President Obama, consumer groups and pharmaceutical companies strongly support the legislation.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: A key government health panel has decided that healthy men should no longer receive a P.S.A. blood test to screen for prostate cancer because the test does not save lives over all and often leads to more tests and treatments that needlessly cause pain, impotence and incontinence in many.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Obama administration forged ahead with healthcare reforms last week, announcing a November 16 deadline for state governments to submit proposals showing how they intend to operate health insurance exchanges in 2014.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Ob-gyns are among the most frequently sued medical specialists. According to a survey, 90% of board-certified members of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have been sued. Rather than reflecting rampant negligence and maltreatment of patients, these numbers reflect that even the best care cannot guarantee a perfect birth outcome.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Republican governors and GOP-dominated state legislatures were united in opposing President Obama's health care law, but now that it's in place, they are far more divided over how far to go in complying with it, especially with the U.S. Supreme Court poised to rule on the law's constitutionality.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Healthcare or a Hyundai? The average cost of healthcare for a family of four this year has increased nearly 7% to $20,728 annually, according to a new study by benefits consultant Milliman, or similar to the cost of a mid-size sedan.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: This week, In a swipe at President Obama's signature health care legislation, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey vetoed an online marketplace that the Legislature created to help residents and small businesses buy health insurance.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The House Approved $310 Billion in cuts, but passage in the Senate is very unlikely. Of the savings, $23.5 billion came from Medicaid and children's health care; $4.2 billion from hospitals that serve the poor and uninsured; and $33.7 billion from supplemental nutrition assistance. In all, about a quarter of the cuts would come directly from programs that benefit the poor.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Senate is embroiled in a partisan struggle over how to pay for an extension of the current interest rate for student loans. Democrats propose increasing the Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes on high-earning stockholders of some privately owned corporations. Republicans would like to take funds from the health law's prevention fund.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: According to a new study, cut the growth in rates of obesity by just 15 a year over the next two decades, and you’ll slice health care costs by $85 billion. Keep obesity rates at their current levels – which is well below a 335 increase being projected — and you'll save nearly $550 billion during the same time frame.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: As Congress returns after a week long recess, the real issue continues to be how to pay for the Medicare doc fix: whether to use the health law's prevention trust fund or increase Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes for high earners.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, more doctors are being trained, but some say the move could backfire since too many young doctors are going into high-paid specialties instead of primary care, which could exacerbate rising health care costs.