A boneheaded hospital lawsuit, health policy comics, and a "test" for health journalists: The ReportingonHealth Daily Briefing

Here's what we're reading and listening to today:

Prison Health: In our online chat TODAY at 11 a.m. PST., get tips on covering prison health from KPCC's Julie Small, whose "Prison Affliction" investigation has been airing this week.

Patient lawsuit: Department of boneheaded moves, hospital edition: a Virginia health system sues one of its own patients for not paying her bills – while she's still laid up in her hospital bed. Roanoke-based Carilion Clinic quickly backpedaled after the local paper started asking questions, calling it "a mistake" and asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit. Kudos to the Roanoke Times'  Laurence Hammack for a classic outrage story.

Shutdown: Medical marijuana could soon be a lot harder to obtain in Los Angeles after a controversial decision by city officials to issue notices to 129 clinics that they may have to shut down, leaving only 41 still able to legally operate. Cue the lawsuits (and maybe fewer folks with the munchies).

Journalist Quiz: A hospitalist-blogger from Arkansas wonders if health journalists should have to pass a test to do their jobs, and provides some challenging "learning objectives," aka quiz questions. Can you answer them correctly? (Hat tip: White Coat Underground)

Health Policy Cartoons: Now you can read the comics and learn something about health policy too, thanks to Kaiser Health News. Or at least that's what you can tell the boss who sees you reading them at work.