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Section: Health

U.S. Prosecutor Tackles Heroin Scourge That Claimed Son

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The phone at Bruce Brandler’s home rang at 3:37 a.m. It was the local hospital. His 16-year-old son was there, and he was in really bad shape. A suspected heroin overdose, the nurse said. Brandler didn’t believe it. Erik had his problems, but heroin? It seemed impossible. Nearly 10 years later, the […]

January 4, 2017

State Must Give Inmate $50,000-plus Medication

PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge in Pennsylvania has mandated that the state should provide expensive new medication to former death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal to treat his hepatitis C infection. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Abu-Jamal sued to improve the health care he was receiving in prison after he fell into diabetic shock and was diagnosed with […]

January 4, 2017

Judge Blocks Mandate on Transgender and Abortion

President-elect Donald Trump can undo many of President Obama’s executive orders with the stroke of a pen, but rolling back a key new mandate forcing religious doctors and hospitals to perform abortions and transgender surgeries looks to be a much more protracted legal battle. Many judges have begun to adopt the administration’s expansive interpretation of […]

January 4, 2017

Obamacare Enrollment Hits All-Time High

In less than three weeks, the sands of time will likely begin slipping away for the Affordable Care Act, which is more commonly known as Obamacare. The hallmark legislation passed by President Obama in March 2010 faces the likelihood that it’ll be heavily amended or repealed in its entirety soon after President-elect Trump takes office. […]

January 4, 2017

Obama: Health Care Repeal Will Cost GOP

Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama delivered a mandate to Democrats on Wednesday: “Don’t rescue” Republicans on Obamacare. Less than three weeks out from leaving the White House, Obama visited Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill with a mission to save his signature healthcare reform law as Republicans are moving quickly to unroll the Affordable Care […]

January 4, 2017

Indiana University Alters Health Plans for Same-sex Partners

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — More than 20 Indiana University employees will lose health care coverage if they don’t marry their same-sex partners by the end of the month. The South Bend Tribune reports that university employees in same-sex relationships have relied on a domestic-partner health care policy offered since 2002. That benefit ends Dec. 31. […]

December 29, 2016

Faculty & Staff

Retiring University of Kansas Professor Invented Widely Used Drugs for HIV

LAWRENCE, Kan. — There’s a high chance you know someone whose life has been saved, extended or improved by a drug invented by University of Kansas professor Valentino “Val” Stella. Stella himself does: A KU colleague and the father of another both used the drug Velcade to treat blood cancer, to name just two. “About […]

December 29, 2016

Researchers: Nearly 400 Drug Addicts Helped in Police Effort

BOSTON — A novel drug addiction program developed in a small Massachusetts fishing town and since replicated in dozens of cities nationwide was able to place almost 400 addicts into treatment nearly each time they sought it during the first year of operation, researchers say in a report being published Thursday in the New England […]

December 22, 2016

Doctors Divided on Trump’s HHS Choice

Thousands of doctors are objecting to President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Rep. Tom Price, MD, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services — and then there are thousands who think it’s a great idea. The AMA along with several dozen other “organized medicine” voices like the choice, but those who are opposed are […]

December 21, 2016

Congressman: Patients Must Shoulder More Costs

While the Affordable Care Act put in place under President Obama is credited with giving 20 million Americans health insurance, it has been criticized for driving up insurance rates and adding regulations that interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. President-elect Donald Trump and Republican leaders are eager to begin “repealing and replacing” the sweeping healthcare law. […]

December 21, 2016

Maine Creates Slots for Addiction Treatment

AUGUSTA, Maine — The state Department of Health and Human Services has announced it will expand access to medication-assisted addiction treatment by creating 359 slots with a program scheduled to start next month. The department says about 300 to 450 people in Maine are dealing with an opiate use disorder who are on the waitlist […]

December 21, 2016

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Native American in PGA Works on Health Issues

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The PGA Tour’s first full-blooded Native American golfer and his nonprofit foundation are working to improve Native American health. Notah Begay spoke to a crowd in December at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and said childhood obesity “drastically impacts everyone in this room, because of the huge health care costs coming down […]

December 21, 2016

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Data Show Spike in Worst Black Lung Cases

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — New data show many more coal miners across Appalachia suffering from the most serious form of black lung disease than federal regulators previously reported. National Public Radio reported December 16 that its investigation shows cases 10 times more prevalent, with data from 11 black lung clinics in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and […]

December 21, 2016

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Pine Ridge Hospital Fails Inspection Again

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. —An embattled government-run hospital whose leadership had promised to significantly improve its operation has again been found in violation of quality-of-care standards. The Indian Health Service, which administers the hospital on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, announced December 16 that federal inspectors determined the failures, primarily in the emergency department, constituted […]

December 21, 2016

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Trump Health Plan Could Hurt Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON — One of President-elect Donald Trump’s first, and defining, acts next year could come on Republican legislation to cut off taxpayer money from Planned Parenthood. Trump sent mixed signals during the campaign about the 100-year-old organization, which provides birth control, abortions and various women’s health services. He said “millions of women are helped by […]

December 21, 2016

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Consultants Outline Top Health Care Issues for 2017

There’s no doubt that with President-elect Donald J. Trump preparing to take office, the healthcare industry is headed for significant changes on many fronts. In a new report, “Top health industry issues of 2017: A year of uncertainty and opportunity,” the consulting firm PWC outlines its view of how the healthcare landscape will take shape […]

December 21, 2016

LGBTQ Supporters Should Resist HHS Pick

Donald Trump’s choice of Republican Rep. Tom Price of Georgia to be the next secretary of health and human services has drawn what could charitably be called a mixed reaction. While some medical groups hastily issued statements in support of his nomination, many others have expressed grave concerns about the decisions he would make as […]

December 19, 2016

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Obama Signs Cancer “Moonshot” Bill

WASHINGTON — On a “bittersweet day” that brought back memories of loved ones lost, President Barack Obama signed into law legislation that makes new investments in cancer research and battling drug abuse. Obama signed the bill December 13 at a ceremony on the White House campus flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and key lawmakers […]

December 19, 2016

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