Day: February 14, 2017

2 big insurance breakups on Valentine’s Day

It was a rough day for the already-roiled U.S. health insurance market: One giant merger was abandoned, another is threatened by infighting, and a major insurer announced it will stop selling coverage on public exchanges in 11 states. Both merger deals had already been rejected by federal regulators and judges, but the companies were considering appeals to those decisions.

Paul Ryan faces major test in selling his plan to replace Obamacare

House Speaker Paul Ryan , R-Wis., spent Tuesday on a door-to-door tour of the Capitol in hopes of salvaging his plan to repeal and largely replace the Affordable Care Act by spring. The day-long blitz comes as Republicans in Congress have made virtually no visible progress in recent weeks on overhauling the health-care system, according to interviews with several senior GOP aides.

Four Valentinea s Day gifts that can be purchased without leaving the desk

Valentine’s Day is mere hours away, and for those who’ve procrastinated finding the perfect gift – or simply forgot that the holiday falls on Feb. 14 every year – here’s a quick list of four thoughtful gifts that can be bought right from the desk. Gifts for the gourmand If the way to a sweetheart’s heart is through his or her stomach, check out Goldbely’s curated list of Valentine’s Day treats.

alert Increase in flu activity in Huron County

Huron County Public Health has recently seen an increase in flu activity in the county as well as across the state. The Ohio Department of Health’s Influenza Activity Summary has indicated an increase in flu activity above the seasonal norm or threshold for the past several weeks.

UPDATE 1-Top gold ETF gets Islamic finance certification to tap new markets

Feb 15 The world’s largest physically-backed gold fund said on Wednesday it has been certified as sharia compliant, the latest effort aimed at spurring demand for bullion from investors across majority-Muslim countries. Gold had traditionally been classified as a currency in Islamic finance, confining its use to spot transactions, but new guidance issued in December is making room for a wider range of investment products.

US uninsured rate hit record low last year

The nation’s uninsured rate tumbled further last year, hitting the lowest rate on record, according to new government data that underscored what is at stake in the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In the first nine months of 2016, just 8.8 percent of Americans lacked health coverage, survey data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

Costly Parkinson’s treatment to be covered for ‘small group’ of British Columbians

A small number of British Columbians suffering from Parkinson’s disease will soon be able to try the costly medication Duodopa, with fees covered by the province, as long as they have no other option of treatment. In a statement released Tuesday, Health Minister Terry Lake said he’s been in discussion with Parkinson Society British Columbia and the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre about the high cost of the drug and its effectiveness.

Eating These Foods Could Make You Happier

… level, too. According to a study published in PLOS One , fruits and vegetables aren’t just great for your physical health – they can work wonders on your mental health, too. For the study, researchers examined a group of young adults who didn’t …

Cardiovascular Disease Costs Will Exceed $1 Trillion by 2035, Warns the American Heart Association

A new study, released today by the American Heart Association, projects that by 2035, cardiovascular disease , the most costly and prevalent killer, if left unchecked, will place a crushing economic and health burden on the nation’s financial and health care systems. According to the study, in the next two decades, the number of Americans with CVD will rise to 131.2 million – 45 percent of the total U.S. population – with costs expected to reach $1.1 trillion.

D-backs’ Gardenhire has prostate cancer

The 59-year-old Gardenhire revealed the diagnosis in a meeting with reporters on Tuesday, saying it was the only time he would talk publicly about the subject this spring. Gardenhire says he received the diagnosis about a week ago after tests in Minnesota and would undergo surgery to remove the prostate gland, probably the second week in April.

Florence Williams to Chat the Nature Fix at Music Hall

Prize-winning author Florence Williams sets out to uncover the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain in her latest work, THE NATURE FIX. Williams will discuss the book at The Music Hall Loft on Wednesday February 22 at 7 p.m. In this informative and entertaining account, Williams investigates cutting-edge research as she travels from cypress forests in Korea to meet the rangers who administer “forest healing programs,” to a river trip in Idaho with Iraqi vets suffering from PTSD, to the West Virginia Mountains where she discovers how being outside helps children with ADHD.

Few smokers seek CT scans to check for lung cancer

Few smokers seek CT scans to check for lung cancer Screening rates have barely budged in recent years Check out this story on thecalifornian.com: http://bit.ly/2lgSjYA In 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended annual low-dose CT scans for many current or former smokers between the ages of 55 and 80. Under the health law, health plans have to cover preventive services recommended by the task force without charging consumers for them. Lung cancer screening rates have barely budged in recent years, according to a new study, even though under the health law many people don’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket for them because the test is recommended by a panel of prevention experts.

Cigna Sues Anthem After Ending Deal; Anthem Says It Has No Right

Simmering tensions between Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. exploded Tuesday as Cigna sued to end their $48 billion deal, and Anthem moments later said the smaller health insurer had no right to do so and that it would fight to keep the merger alive. As part of its lawsuit, Cigna is seeking a $1.85 billion breakup fee, plus $13 billion in additional damages it says are owed after “the path for regulatory approval of the transaction was fatally compromised” by Anthem.

Excellent advice for the path forward

You may have missed the insert in the newspaper Feb. 5 and thrown it out with the ads. I almost tossed it myself, but fortunately took a second look at “Crossroads for America: Challenges and opportunities in renewing our republic.”

Marcus Stroman wins arbitration case with Blue Jays

Stroman asked for a raise from $525,900 to $3.4 million, and Toronto argued for a $3.1-million salary. ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.-Toronto’s Marcus Stroman, Houston’s Collin McHugh and Tampa Bay’s Jake Odorizzi have won their salary arbitration cases, and St. Louis’ Michael Wacha, Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson and Arizona’s Taijuan Walker have lost.