Recently in Health Care Category

UPDATED: Komen just announced that they are reversing their decision to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood.  Good decision, but now CEO Nancy Brinker should fire Nancy Handel, then resign herself for this political decision.You've probably heard by now that breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen Foundation recently terminated its long time partnership with Planned Parenthood purportedly because PP was "under investigation".  The "under investigation" excuse is from a new rule Komen put in place...

In 1946, my grandmother welcomed a healthy son into this world - with joy.  In 1950, she welcomed a healthy daughter -  my aunt - into this world.  In 1953, my grandmother fell pregnant with my mother.  She cried.  Pregnancy was hard on her; she did not have the money to feed three children.  In 1955, my grandmother fell pregnant again.  In 1957, once again.  All in all, she had five children.  She celebrated the...

Here's a shocker...Montana Senator Max Baucus, who helped the Repubs kill single payer proposals during the healthcare debate, slipped an interesting provision into the watered down Healthcare bill; everyone in Libby Montana gets Medicare.  No. Really.  Everyone.  Now.So, if you need healthcare, move to Libby.  Of course, be aware that the reason he did it was that the entire town is full of asbestos and everyone is sick from it....

I've made an observation about myself lately, and a friend mentioned this morning that what I'm going through might be described as a mid-life crisis. No, I haven't gone out and bought a little red convertible nor have I scheduled any cosmetic procedures nor broken off any long-term relationship to attach myself to someone 20 years my junior. I have instead come to the realization that I'm finally imposing the boundaries and filters that should...

Back in the good ol' days, when people got sick, they would try home remedies they knew to kick the illness. If those didn't work and the illness got bad enough they would go to their family doctor. Their family doctor would describe whatever medicine he or she saw fit and then that would be it. More serious illnesses would work the same way except that family doctor might farm you out to a specialist....

The non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation has reported that up to 44 million Americans could lose health coverage under the radical budget proposed by Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.From Kaiser---"This analysis projects the state-by-state impact of converting Medicaid into a block grant and eliminating the planned expansion of the program by repealing the health reform law, as called for under the House Budget Plan. It finds that the plan would trigger major reductions in Medicaid program...

The Texas forced sonogram bill is on the way to Governor Rick Perry's desk. The Governor intends to sign the bill.Below is what Republican State Senator Dan Patrick--the Senate sponsor of the bill-- said about the picture you see above---"Speaking at the House press conference this morning on their acceptance of the latest version of the bill. Thanks to Rep Miller (white hat) and House members who worked with us to pass this bill."Senator Patrick...

I'm going to redirect your attention from mainstream politics today to talk a little bit about health, lifestyle, and fitness.  The first lady's Let's Move initiative focuses on teaching children about food, nutrition, and fitness.  (So does Recipe for Success, a local nutrition education program that was founded by Gracie Cavnar, wife of the founder of The Daily Hurricane, Bob).  Our nation faces a serious health crisis.  Our medical costs are staggering today; imagine what...

This Op-Ed, by Charles M. Blow, documents the United States decline in a number of measures.  Not only are we no longer "Number One", in many measures we are among the worst of the worst of industrialized countries.American Shame.html...

(Above--The Donley County, Texas Courthouse received Texas Historical Commission funds for renovation. Governor Perry wants to end funding for the Commission. Photo by Billy Hathorn.)We all know that brutal cuts in the Texas state budget are on the way.Due to longstanding Republican mismanagement of state finances, we have a massive budget deficit in Texas.These cuts to health and education will cost lives and leave Texas children less able to compete with young people in other parts of the nation and from elsewhere in the...