What’s Essential?: Regulators are working on definitions of the “essential” medical care that must be offered by insurance plans under the health-care overhaul law, the WSJ reports . The law defines ten categories of care that must be provided, but the specifics are sparking debate — for example, which so-called habilitative services, such as behavioral therapy for autistic kids, should be defined as essential. Question Mark: The CDC may have issued interim guidance on how to use Gilead’s drug Truvada to prevent HIV infection in certain men at high risk for contracting the virus, but the drug’s high price and side effects are keeping many doctors and patients on the sidelines, Bloomberg News reports . According to Bloomberg data, use of the drug has increased only slightly, with one analyst calling Truvada’s market potential as a preventive therapy “a giant question mark.” It hasn’t yet been approved by the FDA for this use. Subsidiary Sales: Merck is selling two contract biodrug manufacturing subsidiaries to FujiFilm Holdings, the

WSJ reports . The subsidiaries own all the assets of the Merck Biomanufacturing Network, which makes products including vaccines and biologic drugs. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, and Merck says it will remain an important customer. Overradiated: The New York Times continues its series on medical radiation with a piece looking at the exposure of premature infants to unnecessary full-body X-rays at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. New York State’s health department is investigating the matter. Physicians tell the NYT the department has changed its practices and hospital officials say they are working with the health department “to re-evaluate the issues raised by our Department of Radiology in 2007, and to ensure that we are in compliance with national and state standards.” The problems at the hospital raise the larger issue of whether radiologic technicians need more oversight and higher professional standards, the NYT says. Image: iStockphoto

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A.M. Vitals: Health-Law Debate Turns to Defining ‘Essential’ Care