With sincere apologies for a long stretch without posts, I’m relaunching #healthnewsgems, health stories worthy of recognition from the past week. Here are some of worthwhile reads that caught my eye:

The Prescription Epidemic by Carol Smith @invw: http://invw.org/prescription-epidemic

What We Give Up for Health Care, Zeke Emanuel’s take in @nytimes: http://nyti.ms/x2jnNz

Rx for Danger: CVS’ ‘blacklist’ of some doctors sparks outcry, legal action by @AmyPavukOS @orlandosentinel http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-01-21/health/os-cvs-blacklisted-doctors-20120114_1_cvs-oxycodone-purchasing-doctors-pharmacy-chain

Too many tests? Routine checks getting second look, by @AP: http://bit.ly/y6AGs3

State tries to get tough on lawbreaking medical practitioners, by @sshealthwriter: http://sunsent.nl/yABN9w

Calculating A Long-Term Care Policy: Will It Cover Your Needs, Can You Pay For It & Can You Afford Not To Have It?, by @khnews: http://bit.ly/yzeUYH

Disbanding of Calif. nursing board raises questions about public protection http://californiawatch.org/node/14609 via @CaliforniaWatch

(and @wheisel’s take: The Limits of Self-Control: Patients May Be Better Off Without California Nursing Board: http://www.reportingonhealth.org/blogs/2012/01/27/limits-self-control-patients-may-be-better-without-california-nursing-board)

How Health Care Dropped Out Of The Presidential Conversation, by @jrovner: http://n.pr/wz20Kj

Nursing Homes in California Confront Pharmacists’ Errors, by @laurieudesky: http://nyti.ms/wp9aYz

Some doctors try to squelch online reviews, by @washingtonpost: http://wapo.st/AkmQ9s

(Please keep your nominations coming.)