What happens to healthcare programs if the country goes over the fiscal cliff?

A federal appeals court denied Hobby Lobby's request for a preliminary injunction against President Obama's birth control coverage rules.

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the Christian-run arts-and-crafts chain must comply with the policy as its case proceeds.

The decision is the latest setback in Hobby Lobby's case against the Obama administration. 

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) called for a full reauthorization of the federal mental health agency, known as SAMHSA, in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. shooting massacre.

In an op-ed Thursday, Blunt noted that the the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has not seen a comprehensive reauthorization since 2000.

He then called on Congress to address the issue. 

A federal appeals court on Thursday declined to revisit a decision that allowed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia voted 6-2 to reject a request for the full court to reconsider a June ruling that upheld EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act.

The court’s action could set up a Supreme Court challenge by industry, energy firms and the state of Alaska, which were pushing for the rehearing.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) quipped Thursday about Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) "Plan B" tax bill, which shares its name with a popular brand of emergency contraception.

"I actually got really excited when I heard Speaker Boehner tracking up 'Plan B' because I thought, 'Finally, they've made progress on a really important women's health issue that I've been working on,'" Murray said Thursday at a press conference.

"That was not the case," Murray said to laughs. 

Public health advocates are praising President Obama for pledging action to curb U.S. gun violence.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) wrote to Obama Thursday urging a comprehensive plan to reducing gun deaths.

“Gun violence is one of the leading causes of preventable death in our country and we must take a comprehensive public health approach to addressing this growing crisis,” wrote APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, M.D. 

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Three more states won conditional approval Thursday to run their own insurance exchanges under President Obama's signature healthcare law.

The Health and Human Services Department gave conditional approval to state-run exchanges in Delaware, Minnesota and Rhode Island.

HHS has previously given conditional approval to eight states and Washington, D.C.

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Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will continue leading the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, passing up the chairmanship of Appropriations.

The spot was open given the sudden death of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) this week. Both Harkin and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) declined to take it, leaving the position to Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who will be the panel's first woman leader.

In a statement, Harkin said that his passion lies with issues governed by the HELP committee and promised to push education and pension reform during the next Congress.

Next challenge for the health law is getting the public on board

California leaders set state health goals to be met by 2022

Bodaken says incorporating new regs will be challenge next year