BACK AND FORTH: Does Bloomberg’s Anti-Tobacco Campaign Go Too Far?

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently proposed legislation that would ban public displays of tobacco products, strengthen penalties on retailers who evade tobacco taxes and require retailers to raise the prices of certain tobacco products, the New York Times reports.

The most controversial part of the legislation would require retailers to store tobacco products in places where customers cannot see or access them. If tobacconists opt to display their produces, they would have to ensure that minors who visit their stories do so with a parent or guardian.

BACK AND FORTH: NYC’s Anti-Teen Pregnancy Campaign May Do More Harm Than Good

The New York City Human Resources Administration and Department of Social Services recently launched the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign, a $400,000 initiative whose most controversial element is a series of provocative posters that have been posted throughout the city, CNN reports.

The posters feature crying infants who pose questions to their hypothetical parents. For example, one child asks, “Honestly mom … chances are he won’t stay with you. What happens to me?” Another one states, “”Got a good job? I cost thousands of dollars each year.”

BACK AND FORTH: Should Insurers Charge Women More for Long-Term Care?

The largest long term care insurance provider in the U.S. — Genworth Financial — has announced that women who apply beginning in April will be charged higher premiums. The rate changes will not affect existing beneficiaries.

BACK AND FORTH: Should Home Health Care Aides Get Overtime?

The Obama administration is proposing new rules that would extend minimum wage and overtime coverage to the two million workers employed as in-home health care aides.

BACK AND FORTH: Can NEJM Obesity Mythbusters Be Trusted?

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine aims to debunk some well-known obesity myths, but it has drawn criticism because several of the study’s 21 authors disclosed that they had ties to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and weight loss industries.

The study’s researchers reported ties to Coca Cola, Pepsi, Kraft, Jenny Craig, the National Cattleman’s Association and the World Sugar Research Organization, as well as weight loss drug producers Arena and Vivus.

BACK AND FORTH: Texas Bill Would Reward Employers’ Refusal To Provide Contraceptives

Texas Rep. Jonathan Strickland (R) on Thursday introduced a bill (HB 649) that would give a tax break to secular businesses whose religious owners object to complying with the federal contraceptive coverage rules.

BACK AND FORTH: Sticks, Carrots and the Individual Mandate

Beginning in 2014, individuals who do not purchase insurance coverage will face a $95 penalty under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate.

Health insurers fear that the penalty will not be enough to attract young, healthy individuals to purchase coverage. Without those individuals, premiums will “shoot through the roof” because the majority of individuals in the insurance pool will be sick, Politico reports.

BACK AND FORTH: Should Birth Control be Available Without a Prescription?

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists last week issued a policy statement recommending that oral contraceptives be available without a prescription.

BACK AND FORTH: What’s Really at Stake in This Year’s Fiscal Cliff Negotiations?

President Obama and Republican congressional leaders this week began negotiations to avoid mandated spending cuts scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2013 under sequestration, the Washington Post reports.

BACK AND FORTH: Will ACOs Lower Costs, Improve Care Quality?

Accountable care organizations are widely touted as one of the Affordable Care Act’s most effective cost-containing provisions, Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” reports.

The ACA required federal health programs to begin contracting with ACOs in January 2012. ACOs aim to lower costs and improve quality of care by fostering cooperation between physicians, hospitals and other providers.