News health 2008-05-02 Andanh.com

The Androgynous Pharaoh? Akhenaten had feminine physique
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Akhenaten wasn't the most manly pharaoh, even though he fathered at least a half-dozen children....

CDC: Measles cases in US top 70, highest in 6 years
ATLANTA (AP) -- Measles outbreaks in several states have led to more than 70 cases so far this year, the worst in six years, health officials said Thursday....

Teen girl's upside-down feet treated in NYC surgery
NEW YORK (AP) -- In her 15 years, Jingle Luis has never walked on the bottoms of her feet. Born in the Philippines with feet so clubbed they twist backward and upside down, she uses crutches to hobble on what should be the tops of her feet....

OxyContin that's harder to abuse? FDA debates new version
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is evaluating a new version of OxyContin - the potent painkiller sometimes called "hillbilly heroin" - designed to be harder to abuse....

Audit: Vets with brain injury still not getting proper care
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Many Iraq war veterans with traumatic brain injury are not getting adequate health care and job assistance for their long-term recovery despite years of government pledges to do so, Veterans Affairs Department investigators say....

Pentagon plans national mental health campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senior military officers could be talking about their emotional struggles on YouTube and MySpace this year, in a Pentagon campaign to urge troops into counseling for wartime mental problems....

Report boosts bipartisan health plan
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A bipartisan plan for universal health care coverage would pay for itself and eventually could create modest budget surpluses, according to a congressional report released Thursday....

Avigen's Q1 loss widens Thu, 01 May 2008 14:34:49 GMT
Avigen Inc. posted a first-quarter loss of about $7.4 million, or 25 cents per share, compared with a loss of $5.8 million, or 23 cents per share, for the year ago quarter. (AVGN)

NFIB backs anti-initiative campaign Thu, 01 May 2008 19:42:36 GMT
The National Federation of Independent Business of Colorado has joined Coloradans for Responsible Reform in an effort to fight the impending flood of ballot initiatives, the organization announced Thursday.

Health plans get top J.D. Power grades Thu, 01 May 2008 17:36:26 GMT
Health insurers serving Western New York have received high grades for member satisfaction in a recent J.D. Power survey.

Riley offers tax reform plan Thu, 01 May 2008 16:31:07 GMT
Gov. Bob Riley is offering a tax relief compromise proposal that cuts state sales tax on groceries, raises the income tax filing threshold and will allow Alabamians to vote on reverting back to four-year property reappraisals.

Pizzo gets top job at Blue Cross and Blue Shield West Florida Thu, 01 May 2008 13:25:07 GMT
David Pizzo has been appointed Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida's market president for West Florida, effective immediately. (HUM)

Brown & Toland's 2007 profit more than triples to $12M Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:12:34 GMT
Brown & Toland Medical Group, which serves close to 300,000 HMO and PPO patients in San Francisco and its vicinity, said Wednesday it posted $12 million in operating income last year on revenue of $235 million. That was 6 percent higher than 2006's comparable revenue figure of $221.67 million.

Survey ranks Kaiser tops in Colorado Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:24:53 GMT
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado ranked highest in customer satisfaction among health insurers in the state, according to a new J.D. Power and Associates study released Wednesday. (CI) (MHP)

UnitedHealth: HSA enrollment exceeds traditional accounts Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:31:26 GMT
UnitedHealth Group said Wednesday that for the first time, enrollment by its members in health savings accounts have surpassed enrollment in more traditional health reimbursement accounts. (UNH)

Healthspring earnings shoot up 50% Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:21:14 GMT
HealthSpring Inc. (NYSE:HS) earnings were up nearly 50 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago. (HS) (HS)

WIBA enrolling members for health coverage Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:18:06 GMT
The Wichita Independent Business Association is offering a variety of health insurance coverage options for its members. Enrollment is open through May 15.

Coloradans like health savings accounts Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:17:05 GMT
Colorado ranks fifth in the country when it comes to health savings account plan enrollment as a percentage of all people with private health-insurance coverage, according to a new study by America's Health Insurance Plans.

Wahiawa General part of Koa Ridge plan Fri, 02 May 2008 01:44:02 GMT
The new community planned by Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii at Koa Ridge in Central Oahu will include medical facilities overseen by the operator of Wahiawa General Hospital.

Noam Chomsky, other academics and journalists, weigh in on SEIU-UHW feud Thu, 01 May 2008 23:55:01 GMT
In an "open letter" addressed to Andy Stern, president of the 1.9 million member Service Employees International Union, dozens of U.S. authors, academics and several journalists on Thursday took Stern to task for an ongoing feud with United Healthcare Workers West, an SEIU local based in Oakland.

City budget calls for 20 percent reduction in non-public safety services Thu, 01 May 2008 22:52:58 GMT
The city of Sacramento on Thursday released a $964 million proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which aims to balance a budget shortfall and includes a 20 percent cut to non-public safety services -- and an 8 percent reduction in public safety activities.

St. Vincent's East planning 80-bed clinic Thu, 01 May 2008 19:48:45 GMT
St. Vincent's East wants to spend $6 million to build an 80-bed psychiatric clinic on its campus, according to state filings.

Report: Mo. hospitals made $15.9B economic impact in 2006 Thu, 01 May 2008 19:40:52 GMT
Missouri's hospitals provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefit and generated an economic impact of nearly $15.9 billion in fiscal year 2006, according to a new report issued Thursday from the Missouri Hospital Association.

Excela Health completes deal for Mercy Jeannette Thu, 01 May 2008 18:55:31 GMT
Excela Health has completed its purchase of Mercy Jeannette Hospital, the Greensburg-based health care system said Thursday.

Alle-Kiski Medical Center CEO resigns to take Texas job Thu, 01 May 2008 18:45:02 GMT
Cindy Schamp has resigned as president and CEO of Alle-Kiski Medical Center to become president of Baylor Medical Center at Irving in Irving, Texas, the West Penn Allegheny Health System said Thursday.

Jupiter Medical Center, UM medical school enter partnership Thu, 01 May 2008 17:56:22 GMT
Jupiter Medical Center and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have entered into an affiliation agreement to give the Palm Beach County hospital access the resources available at the university teaching hospital.

Via Christi to receive state award for low-income Clinic Thu, 01 May 2008 16:20:32 GMT
The Kansas Hospital Association will be presenting Via Christi Regional Medical Center with a statewide Community Connections Award in a presentation Friday afternoon.

Cincinnati health care jobs get tougher to fill Thu, 01 May 2008 16:19:13 GMT
Overall vacancy rates in 32 "hard-to-fill" health care positions increased to 6.3 percent in 2008 from 5.2 percent last year, according to the Greater Cincinnati Health Council.

Education board approves nursing programs to address shortage Thu, 01 May 2008 15:32:55 GMT
The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved five new nursing programs within the University of Massachusetts system and elsewhere.

Pediatrix buys Maryland practice Thu, 01 May 2008 15:12:14 GMT
Pediatrix Medical Group said it has completed its acquisition of Neonatology Associates, P.C., a neonatal physician group practice in Rockville, Md. (PDX)

New cardiac institute to take shape at St. David's Thu, 01 May 2008 15:05:07 GMT
A new institute created by St. David's HealthCare and the physician group Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia will bring more research, specialized treatment and physician training to Central Texas -- and potentially also draw millions of dollars in research grants and spur medical device development in the region.

Hahnemann and St. Christopher's reach accord with Independence Blue Cross Thu, 01 May 2008 14:24:55 GMT
Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children reached an agreement in principle on terms of new reimbursement contracts with health insurer Independence Blue Cross Wednesday night. (THC)

AngioScore catheter gets FDA approval Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:35 GMT
The Food and Drug Administration approved AngioScore Inc.'s balloon catheter device for marketing, the company said Thursday.

Humana completes purchase of UnitedHealth assets Thu, 01 May 2008 12:36:43 GMT
Humana Inc. has completed its $185 million purchase of certain Medicare assets in Las Vegas from UnitedHealth Group Inc. (HUM)

ThedaCare plans $90M medical center project Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:14:52 GMT
ThedaCare of Appleton announced Wednesday it will undertake a three-year, $90 million redesign of nursing units and patient rooms at Appleton Medical Center and Theda Clark Medical Center.

Parkland receives $182,000 grant from Susan G. Komen Dallas Affiliate Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:12:42 GMT
Parkland's Cancer Prevention Intervention Program has received a $182,000 community grant from the Dallas County Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

BJC HealthCare names Kevin Roberts CFO Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:01:12 GMT
BJC HealthCare said Wednesday it hired Kevin Roberts as the health-care provider's new senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective June 30.

Glu Mobile CFO takes post at McAfee Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:17:01 GMT
Glu Mobile Inc. said Wednesday its chief financial officer, Rocky Pimentel, is leaving to become chief operating officer and chief financial officer at McAfee Inc. (GLUU) (MFE)

Lawmakers approve hospital merger bill Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:13:06 GMT
A bill that would grant Colorado's attorney general the authority to review nonprofit hospital transactions that would result in "material change" of services was approved by the Colorado House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 39-25.

Software engineering unit of St. Clair Health acquired Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:57:50 GMT
Hospira Inc. has acquired Sculptor Developmental Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of St. Clair Health Corp., according to a jointly issued news release.

Komen St. Louis grants SSM $96,284 for Breast Health Initiative Outreach Program Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:45:58 GMT
Susan G. Komen for the Cure's St. Louis affiliate awarded a $96,284 grant to the Breast Health Initiative Outreach Program at SSM St. Joseph facilities in St. Charles County to assist in providing free mammogram screenings.

Texas Transportation Commission to be steered by new members Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:18:17 GMT
Gov. Rick Perry appointed a new chair and member to the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees the Texas Department of Transportation.

Salk named Tricore CEO Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:03:42 GMT
Jessie Salk will take over as CEO of TriCore Reference Laboratories in July, following the quiet departure of Russell Duke from the post at the end of February.

Witt/Kieffer to find next Grady CEO Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:07:59 GMT
Witt/Kieffer has been hired to conduct a national search for Grady Memorial Hospital's next chief.

ResCare buys Texas home health agency Thu, 01 May 2008 20:10:38 GMT
ResCare Inc. has purchased Select Health Care Services, a home health care agency in Baytown, Texas. (RSCR)

Third Wave reports 1Q loss Thu, 01 May 2008 19:30:44 GMT
Third Wave Technologies Inc. of Madison reported a wider net loss for the first quarter, excluding last year's $10.75 million settlement win from a competitor in a patent infringement case.

Walton Construction breaks ground on $6.7M Chesterfield Medical Institute Thu, 01 May 2008 15:55:36 GMT
Walton Construction St. Louis is breaking ground Thursday on the new $6.7 million, 20,000-square-foot Chesterfield Medical Institute that will include an outpatient surgical unit and will house three different medical practices.

Safeway Foundation gives UCSF $2M for breast cancer research, new web site Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:22:56 GMT
The Safeway Foundation has donated $2 million to University of California, San Francisco, to help fund breast cancer research and the anticipated June launch of a web site matching patients with clinical trials, UCSF and Safeway Inc.'s philanthropic arm said Wednesday. (SWY)

Wyeth research head stepping down Thu, 01 May 2008 21:09:08 GMT
Wyeth said Thursday that Robert Ruffolo will step down later this year as head of pharmaceutical research. (WYE)

Scolr Pharma buying out lease, will move to cheaper locale Thu, 01 May 2008 17:34:33 GMT
Scolr Pharma Inc. said it's entered into a lease buyout deal at its current Bellevue headquarters and plans to move to a less expensive location.

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