Apr 24 Two Listeria recalls raise questions about ice cream manufacturing By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Blue Bell Creameries of Texas and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams of Ohio — extremely popular brands in their home states — took all their products off shelves this week. Blue Bell ice cream is linked to 10 illnesses in four… Continue reading
Apr 23 Jeni’s ice cream recalls all products for possible listeria contamination By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press A second ice cream company has shut down production this week after health officials found listeria in a sample of its frozen treats. Continue reading
Apr 23 Officials weighing options to hold down Medicare costs for hospice By Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News Medicare officials are considering changes in the hospice benefit to stop the federal government from paying twice for care given to dying patients. But patient advocates and hospice providers fear a new policy could make the often difficult decision to… Continue reading
Apr 22 New warning to states: reject Medicaid expansion, risk losing federal funds By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News Add Tennessee and Kansas to the list of states that have been warned by the Obama administration that failing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act could jeopardize special funding to pay hospitals and doctors for treating the poor. Continue reading
Apr 20 Could doctors donning Google Glass reduce ER wait times? By Lisa Gillespie, Kaiser Health News Imagine walking into an emergency room with an awful rash and waiting hours to see a doctor until, finally, a physician who doesn’t have specific knowledge of your condition gives you an ointment and a referral to a dermatologist. Continue reading
Apr 20 Supreme Court rejects appeal over fish pedicure ban By Associated Press The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from an Arizona salon owner challenging a decision by local regulators to stop her from offering pedicures using fish that nibble dead skin off people's feet. Continue reading
Apr 19 HIV-stricken Indiana county sees uptick in new cases By Daniel Costa-Roberts A southeastern Indiana county at the epicenter of a drug-related HIV crisis has seen a significant uptick in new cases of the virus since it began a temporary needle exchange program more than two weeks ago. Continue reading
Apr 17 Proposal on wellness program garners business praise, consumer concerns By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News Business groups praised a proposed new rule from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission clarifying how employers can construct wellness programs, but consumers advocates said the new policy could harm workers. Continue reading
Apr 17 Army shutting down wounded warrior transition care units By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — For the second time in two years, the U.S. Army is shutting down a number of the specialized medical units that were set up at military bases around the country to help care for severely wounded warriors returning… Continue reading
Apr 14 Congress OKs bill reshaping Medicare doctors’ fees By Alan Fram, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Conservatives hated that it's expected to swell federal deficits over the coming decade. Liberals complained that it shortchanged health programs for children and women. But after years of complaints and failed efforts, huge majorities of both parties in… Continue reading