K2 Radio » Health

Health Centers Get $150 Million To Help Uninsured

Associated Press — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:06:52 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says community health centers around the country will get a $150 million injection to help tens of millions of uninsured Americans sign up for health insurance coverage under the new health care law

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Wyoming Urges Preparation For Insurance Changes

Associated Press — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:04:24 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — State Insurance Commissioner Tim Hirsig is urging Wyoming businesses to prepare for federal health care law requirements so they do not face unnecessary fines.

Many of the new health insurance requirements under the Affordable Care Act will take effect Jan

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FDA: Morning-After Pill to Move Over-the-Counter

Associated Press — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:33:25 +0000

The Plan B morning-after pill is moving over-the-counter, a decision announced by the Food and Drug Administration just days before a court-imposed deadline.

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Whooping Cough on Rise in Colorado, Remains Flat in Wyoming

Anthony Pollreisz — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:55:24 +0000

Colorado is experiencing one of its worst whooping cough outbreaks in several decades.

According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, several hundred confirmed cases of whooping cough – also known as pertussis – have been reported in many of Colorado’s metropolitan centers.

In neighboring Wyoming, however, the severe respiratory disease has been kept

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Smokefree Natrona County to Continue Fighting Against Smoking Ban Changes

Anthony Pollreisz — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:35:37 +0000

Smokefree Natrona County says it will try to derail future attempts by Casper City Council to amend Casper’s current public indoor smoking ordinance.

Officials with the organization say they’ll try to sway council opi

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Revised Casper Smoking Ordinance Passes First Reading

Anthony Pollreisz — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:01:09 +0000

Casper City Council took its first of three steps toward significantly changing Casper’s public indoor smoking ordinance Tuesday night.

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Feds Will Enforce Insurance Regulations In Wyoming

Associated Press — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:51:39 +0000

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The federal government will directly enforce Affordable Care Act regulations in Wyoming when key pieces of the federal health care reform law take effect in January.

Federal officials made the decision after learning the Wyoming Department of Insurance lacks the authority to enforce the rules

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Obamacare Credits Could Trigger Surprise Tax Bills

Associated Press — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:49:44 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of people who accept government subsidies to help buy health insurance next year could get stung by surprise tax bills later on. That's if they don't accurately project their income

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Casper Fire-EMS: 2012 Fire Calls Down, EMS Calls Up

Anthony Pollreisz — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:06:48 +0000

Casper Fire-EMS released its 2012 annual statistical report on Monday.

In the report, officials say the total number of fire calls fielded by area 911 dispatchers last year dropped five percent to 204, while total EMS calls climbed nine percent to 4,242.

Mark Young, the fire chief for the city of Casper, says the increase in EMS calls can be attribu

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Public Health Director Favors Continuation of Casper Smoking Ban

Anthony Pollreisz — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:44:06 +0000

Officials at last week’s Natrona County Board of Health meeting said they were concerned about Casper City Council’s recent decision to revisit – and possibly amend or repeal – the city’s controversial public indoor smoking ban.

The ordinance was approved in June of

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Flu, Despite Declining Numbers, Remains Severe

Anthony Pollreisz — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:13:00 +0000

Officials with the Casper-Natrona County Public Health Department say the number of flu cases in the Casper area is on the decline.

However, health officials also say that, despite the declining numbers, many area flu cases remain severe

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Powell Hospital Settles With Management Company

Associated Press — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:57:04 +0000

POWELL, Wyo. (AP) — Powell Valley Healthcare has settled its lawsuit against a management company over a former hospital CEO charged with bilking the organization of $848,000.

The Associated Press reported Thursday the amount of the settlement with HealthTech Management Services hasn't been disclosed

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Bill To Bar Attack On Health-Care Workers Advances

Associated Press — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:18:43 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A state House committee has approved a bill making it a crime for patients to assault health-care workers who are treating them.

The Associated Press reported the bill sets penalties of up to 12 years in prison and a $5,000 fine

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Campbell County Leads State In Flu Cases

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:17:59 +0000

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming health officials say Campbell County leads the state in reported flu cases this year.

The Associated Press reports that, according to a report by the Wyoming Health Department, the county had 402 confirmed cases of flu through the week of Jan

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Smokefree Natrona County Says it Will Fight to Keep Smoking Ban in Place

Anthony Pollreisz — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:04:57 +0000

A Casper-based anti-smoking organization says it’s upset with Casper City Council’s recent decision to reevaluate the city’s months-old public indoor smoking ban.

Some Casper entrepreneurs say revenues at multiple Casper businesses have been down significantly since the city enacted the ban last September

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Committee Votes Against Medicaid Expansion Bill

Associated Press — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:37:38 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming legislative committee has voted against a bill to approve expansion of the federal Medicaid program.

The Senate Labor Health and Social Services Committee voted 4-to-1 on Wednesday to recommend that the full Senate not pass the bill to add nearly 30,000 people to the Medicaid rolls in the state

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Committee To Hear Bill On Medicaid Expansion

Associated Press — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:40:27 +0000

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming legislative committee is set to consider a bill to approve expansion of the federal Medicaid program.

The Senate Labor Health and Social Services Committee is set to consider a bill Wednesday that would add nearly 30,000 people to the Medicaid rolls in the state

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Health Officials Say Flu Shot is Safe, Mostly Harmless

Anthony Pollreisz — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:14:47 +0000

Health administrators say the flu virus is continuing its spread throughout Wyoming and the U.S.

Despite limited remaining vaccination quantities, officials with the Casper-Natrona County Public Health Department are urging residents to get their flu shots as quickly as possi

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Health Officials in Midwest Report a Flu Vaccine Surplus

Anthony Pollreisz — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:15:38 +0000

Despite shortages being reported throughout much of Casper and the state of Wyoming, health officials in Midwest say they actually have a flu vaccine surplus. Michael Smith, the director of the Midwest Community Clinic, says officials within his facility anticipated a particularly difficult flu season and over-ordered the vaccine. “Between the state vaccine and our [...]

Flu Season Strikes Early And, In Some Places, Hard

Associated Press — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:56:08 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) — From the Rocky Mountains to New England, hospitals are swamped with people with flu symptoms.

While flu normally doesn't blanket the country until late January or February, it is already widespread in more than 40 states, with about 30 of them reporting some major hot spots

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