| More states expand children's health insurance rolls
WASHINGTON (AP) - Many states are making more children eligible for government-funded health insurance even as President Bush's health chief says families are relying too much on public money for the coverage. The goal of the states is to allow more middle-class families to participate in the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The states are raising income limits so families once shut out because of their earnings now can qualify. When the program began a decade ago, states could offer coverage to families whose income was not more than double the federal poverty level. Today, for example, that threshold is $41,300 for a family of four. A few states use a Medicaid-based formula that lets them insure more children than under the income limit. Already, 18 states exceed the 200 percent level, with federal permission.
Daily Planner: Thursday
GOLD NUGGET EVENTS: Scout Troup 770 spaghetti feed 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Paradise Senior Center, 877 Nunneley Road; adults, $7; kids and seniors, $5. Opening ceremonies, whisker championship, queen contest and introduction of grand marshall, 7 p.m. at Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunnely Drive. $7. VOLUNTEER TRAIL DAYS: 9 a.m.-noon. Repairs, maintenance on Middle Trail, Bidwell Park. Wear weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes. Minors must have a release form signed by parent or guardian; 13 and younger must be with a parent, guardian or chaperone. Lise Smith-Peters, park volunteer coordiinator, 896-7831; or www.ci.chico.ca.us/parks/Volunteer_Calendar.asp. HEGAN LANE BUSINESS PARK ARTISTIC SIGN UNVEILING: 2 p.m. Corner of Hegan Lane and Huss, Chico. Sculpture designed and created by local artist Glen Cowen.
Twenty-two health centres re-open in Amuru district
TWENTY-TWO health centres have been re-opened in Amuru district, the LC5 chairman, Anthony Louis Omach Atube, has said. Justin Moro reports that the centres were closed at the peak of the Lords Resistance Army insurgency in the area.
Atube on Thursday said 13 other health centres remain closed awaiting renovation. He, however, revealed that the centres were understaffed and lack equipment.
Atube emphasised that more services were brought closer to the people with the relative peace. As the security situation continues to improve and the people living in camps continue to return, the health, education and other sectors are all being streamlined to improve on the service delivery, he said.
He revealed that health centres lack storage facilities for drugs and vaccines.
Health Canada advises moms, kids, to limit tuna
Health Canada has for the first time recommended that pregnant or breastfeeding women and children up to age 11 restrict how much canned Albacore tuna they eat to limit their intake of mercury. The advice, which was unveiled Monday, ranged from up to four half-cup servings a week for such women, to one serving a week for kids four and under. But as it released the new guidelines, the department took pains to stress that no one else need restrict how much Albacore they consume and that other types of canned tuna are no worry at all. .
Ex-Boca resident Tara Ryan joins Crescendo Consulting
Tara Ryan, formerly of Boca Raton, has recently joined Portland, Maine-based Crescendo Consulting Group LLC as a senior consultant. Her primary role is that of marketing and member services manager for the Maine Health Management Coalition account. Prior to joining Crescendo, Ryan served as client manager at Portland-based KempGoldberg where she supported a variety of clients in the specialty healthcare, insurance and recreation industries. Before relocating to Maine, Ryan worked for Hillier & Associates (now part of Greenberg Taurig) and Boca Raton Community Hospital. She holds a B.A. in English and sociology from Tulane University and an MBA degree from Boston University. She is currently on the board of the Junior League of Portland and is involved with the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter.
Dilemma: post-operative sexual problems are not unusual
My wife and I have been very happily married for 23 years and we have always enjoyed a close and loving relationship. Sadly, this is no longer the case since my wife had a hysterectomy two years ago. Although nobody told us that this might happen, she no longer enjoys making love in the way that she used to. She has tried HRT but stopped because the weight gain made her feel worse. It seems now that she will avoid any kind of physical closeness with me because she doesn't want to "start something". I love her so much that I respect her wishes but I know that it distresses her, too. She tells me to "go and find a real woman to satisfy you", which is very upsetting because the last thing I would ever do is be unfaithful. Men can be prescribed Viagra, but there is nothing that I know of that can help women.
Firm driven by fashion for adventure
A Cardiff company arranges for many of these people to get the treatment, medication and in extreme circumstances the rescue they need. Global Response, in business since 1999, has a team of linguists experienced in ensuring on behalf of insurance companies that the travellers are treated and the medical staff are paid. It employs 15 full-time members of staff and expects to hire an additional five in the next 12 months. As holidaymakers grow more adventurous, providing healthcare is becoming an ever greater challenge. .
|
