Friday Blog Roundup

Itâs been a while since I highlighted some of the great blogging on healthcare topics:

• Anna Wilde Matthews at the WSJâs Health Blog reports on a new analysis that finds the U.S. wastes more than half of our health spending.
• Merrill Goozner at GoozNews explains why comparative effectiveness agencies are important and considers the hurdles to setting one up in the U.S. 
• Maggie Mahar at Health Beat investigates whatâs behind the large and growing amount we spend on hospital bills ($648 billion in 2006).
• Rob Cunningham at the Health Affairs Blog considers the reasons why mental health treatment is too rarely coordinated with supportive services.  

Also, congratulations to RH Reality Check and NRDCâs Switchboard for their Webby Award honors!

Elsewhere:

Revere at Effect Measure reports on the latest in the case of Dr. Deborah Rice, who was removed from an EPA scientific advisory committee at the request of the American Chemistry Council.

Coturnix at A Blog Around the Clock alerts us that NIH is now implementing the public access law.

Leah Ceccarelli at Science Progress introduces us to the term âmanufactroversyâ (think climate-change denialism, AIDS dissent in South Africa, etc.) and explains why itâs a powerful rhetorical strategy.

Sean Casten at Gristmill uses a simple multiple-choice test to explain whatâs wrong with the Lieberman-Warner greenhouse gas legislation.

Akua at Enviroblog finds Washington stateâs new toxic toy law to be less than what it could be.

Tara C. Smith at Aetiology reminds us of the 2006 mumps outbreak in Iowa, and reports on a new article that explores possible causes and ways to prevent such outbreaks in the future.

Aman at Technology, Health & Development tells us how American Idol is raising millions to fight malaria.