State Highlights: Puerto Rico Debt Leaves Island Without Air Ambulance Service; In Tenn., Vanderbilt’s Clinic Helps Transgender Patients
Outlets report on health news from Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas, Oregon, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and California.
The Associated Press:
Puerto Rico Left Without Air Ambulance Service Over Debt
Puerto Rico's only active air ambulance company announced Tuesday that it has suspended its services, blaming a multimillion-dollar government debt amid a deepening economic crisis that has affected basic services in the U.S. territory. Aeromed said in a statement that it has been negotiating with Puerto Rico's government for nearly three years, but that health officials last week rejected a deal to make a minimum payment of $4.4 million, a portion of a much larger overall debt. (6/7)
The Tennessean:
Vanderbilt Tries To Ease Transgender Challenges In Health System
Vanderbilt University Medical Clinic is taking steps to help transgender patients from across the state navigate the thorny process of getting care as officials look to connect them with a full compliment of specialists who could aid their transitions. (Fletcher 6/7)
The Washington Post:
Language Barriers, Fear Heighten Woes In Flint Water Crisis
Margarita Solis regularly drives to Flint distribution centers to load up on bottled water, as thousands of residents have done in the city coping with a lead-contaminated water crisis. ... The city of nearly 100,000 has been dealing with the lead contamination since switching from the Detroit system, which draws from Lake Huron, to the Flint River in April 2014 as a short-term measure to save money while another pipeline to the lake was under construction. ... The struggles have been acute for members of some Spanish-speaking households, who say it took several months to learn about the water problems and the need for filters. State officials said there are no Spanish language print media or radio outlets in Flint devoted to news. What’s more, some people in the country illegally have been afraid to provide information to anyone in exchange for water or other basic help lest they be deported or questioned by law enforcement officials. (Karoub, 6/8)
The Oregonian:
All Children Test Lead-Free At Portland's Second School Screening
No children tested positive for elevated lead in their system during screening for nearly 300 children at Creston Elementary in Southeast Portland on Tuesday, Multnomah County health officials reported. Students at Creston were exposed to high levels of lead in drinking water at the school this year, prompting the large screening for elevated lead levels. (Hammond, 6/7)
North Carolina Health News:
Finding Common Ground Around Rare Diseases
Last summer, North Carolina became the first state in the nation to pass a law creating an advisory council for rare diseases. Now, collaborative efforts are looking for ways to increase awareness, offer better screening, and find treatments. (Nigam 6/8)
The Cleveland Plain Dealer:
First Year Cleveland Infant Mortality Initiative Wins $3M In State Funding
First Year Cleveland, a city-county initiative designed to reduce the region's high infant mortality rate, has been awarded nearly $3 million from the state department of Medicaid to fund its work. (Zeltner, 6/8)
The Texas Tribune:
Doctors, Telemedicine Companies Meet To Plot New Course
Though many expected a messy fight over Texas’ telemedicine rules next year, medical and industry groups are coming together to try to hammer out a compromise over how health care can be provided remotely. (Walters, 6/8)
Charlotte Observer:
Third President Of Carolinas College Of Health Sciences Named
T. Hampton Hopkins has been named president of the Carolinas College of Health Sciences, replacing Ellen Sheppard, who retires June 30 after 22 years with the college, 15 as president. Hopkins has served as dean of student affairs and enrollment management at the college since 2001 and will be the third president when he assumes the role June 12. (Garloch, 6/6)
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
Connecture Inc. Buys Chicago Benefits Technology Company
Connecture Inc., a Brookfield software company that designs online marketplaces for health plans, said Tuesday that it has bought ConnectedHealth LLC, a Chicago benefits technology company. (Boulton, 6/7)
Kaiser Health News:
A New Sort Of Consultant: Advising Doctors, Patients On California’s Aid-In-Dying Law
Few people have the unusual set of professional experiences that Dr. Lonny Shavelson does. He worked as an emergency room physician in Berkeley for years — while also working as a journalist. He has written several books and takes hauntingly beautiful photographs. Now, just as California’s law aid-in-dying law takes effect this week, Shavelson has added another specialty: A consultant to physicians and terminally ill patients who have questions about how it works. “Can I just sit back and watch?” Shavelson asked from his cottage office. “This is really an amazing opportunity to be part of establishing policy and initiating something in medicine. This is a major change … [that] very, very few people know anything about and how to do it. (Aliferis, 6/8)
