Community of Care
News Headlines

Cancer-Starving Drug Shows Promise

New Virus Causing Respiratory Illness

June 2, 2003 - A newly discovered virus called human metapneumovirus (hMPV) may be responsible for many previously unexplained cases of respiratory illness in infants and children. A new study shows human metapneumovirus is already circulating in the U.S. and may be a major cause of influenza, pneumonia, and other respiratory illnesses and infections that can often prove deadly among young children. More...

Rx for Diabetes: Laughter

May 28, 2003 -- Diabetes isn't funny. But the newest way to improve diabetes treatment is a hoot.
Laughter, Japanese researchers find, lowers blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Seriously. The findings appear in the May issue of Diabetes Care.
The findings bear out the advice of Norman Cousins, the famous editor widely known as "the man who laughed his way to health." Laughter, he said, is a form of internal jogging. More...

HRT Now Linked to Alzheimer's, Dementia
May 27, 2003 -- Hormone replacement therapy is under scrutiny again.
Last summer, a landmark study linked hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer. And now, there's more news about HRT -- none of it good. This time, it's about dementia and Alzheimer's disease. More...

Universal Health Care Gets Boost
Democratic Rivals Push New Plans
By Amy Goldstein and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, May 26, 2003; Page A01
Democratic presidential candidates have resurrected universal health care -- an issue that produced one of the low points of Bill Clinton's presidency -- in a calculated gamble that the voters are ready for a new debate over providing access to health care coverage to all Americans. More...

This Week:

Cancer-Starving Drug Shows Promise

New Virus Causing Respiratory Illness

Rx for Diabetes: Laughter

HRT Now Linked to Alzheimer's, Dementia

Universal Health Care Gets Boost
Democratic Rivals Push New Plans

New Tools Can help Patients Reduce Cost of Medications
Excerpt from Wall Street Journal Article by Kelly Greene
January 21, 2003
Some tools are making it easier to shop for deals on prescription drugs, and maybe even get them free. As Congress continues to put off adding a prescription-drug benefit to Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, dozens of drug manufacturers and state governments have started to offer stop-gap relief.
There are at least 240 programs, covering nearly 800 drugs, to help people of various ages and income levels get their hands on the medications they need.
But those who need help the most, and the relatives and friends who try to help them, often have a tough time figuring out which programs apply to them. Enter the Internet, through which several groups are trying to simplify the search. The newest Service, BenefitsCheckupRX, was launched last month by the National Council on the Aging, a non-profit group in Washington. It hopes to reach some of the estimated eight million to 12 million older adults believed to be eligible for some sort of public or private assistance, but who aren’t getting it. “Anyone on Medicare who doesn’t have insurance now for drugs and has an income under $28,000 alone or $38,000 as a couple will find at least one program now to save them money,” Says James Firman, the group’s president.
The Web site also can help younger people and in some cases, people with higher incomes, by searching 116 patient assistance programs sponsored by drug companies.

Related Resources
See the Lifespan page for more prescription savings links.

What HIPAA Means to Health Plans
From HealthLeaders Magazine Part 2/3

What HIPAA Means to Hospitals
From HealthLeaders Magazine Part 3/3

Distance Learning Opportunities for Health Care professionals

For those practicing health care in a rural environment, distance learning may be the best method for ongoing professional development. Take a look at these options.  More...

More Stories

Contact us if you have a story that you would like to share.

Links Related To Health Care News:

WebMD National Health News source

Reuters Health News. The premier supplier of health and medical news on the Internet.

World News Digest. A News Digest from the Center for Health Communication. (Harvard School of Public Health).

Center for Mental Health Services. Mental Health News on the Net. (SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

HealthLeaders.  Information to lead.  Print, internet and Research information on the business of health care.