Congressman-Elect: Dude, Where's My Health Insurance?

Here's what we're checking out today:

Gimme Insurance: Writing in the Columbia Journalism Review, Trudy Lieberman examines the astonishing case of a newly elected doctor-Congressman who was irked because his new health insurance didn't start on the very first day of his new job. Welcome to the rest of America, Rep. Andy Harris.

Hospital Care: Researchers estimate that about 15,000 Medicare patients die each month in part because of poor hospital care, Rita Rubin reports for USA Today.

Radiation Risks: The New York Times' Matthew Wald examines the radiation risks of new airport body scanners vs. flying itself. Should travelers who fly 85,000 miles a year or more be classified as radiation workers?

Obesity: A formerly fat cardiologist details how he was stigmatized by other doctors in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The article is behind a paywall, but the Philadelphia Inquirer's Stacey Burling provides the backstory.

Breast Cancer: Peggy Orenstein's New York Times Magazine essay on "sexy breast cancer" messages contributing to cynicism and complacency is a must-read.