Autism in siblings more likely than thought (Morning Read)

Current medical news and unique business news for anyone who cares about healthcare.

Cause of autism: another piece to the puzzle? Parents with a child with autism have a 19 percent chance that their next child will have some form of the disorder, too, according to a new study in the Journal of Pediatrics. Researchers have long thought that autism runs in families, but previous studies using a smaller number of families and a narrower definition of autism estimated the recurrence rate of autism in siblings at only 3 to 10 percent. The most recent findings run counter to a controversial report earlier this summer suggesting that the cause of autism may be more linked to environmental factors than genetic factors.

Obamacare grants for states. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia will receive a total of $185 million in government grants to establish state-based health insurance markets under the Obamacare health plan.

Whistleblower website goes live. The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched its official website for the Office of the Whistleblower where people can leave tips about law violations. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, cash rewards will be offered to those who provide information that leads to a case resulting in a penalty of over $1 million.

Weldon meets with Obama. J&J CEO William Weldon was one of eight big business executives who met with President Obama on Friday to discuss plans for economic recovery and job creation.

A blow for healthcare overhaul. A federal appeals court ruled last week that part of the Obamacare health plan requiring Americans to purchase health insurance is unconstitutional. The case will likely proceed to the Supreme Court.