State Highlights: Report Finds Wyo. Falls Short In Efforts To Reduce Cancer Rates; Pool Parasite Outbreak Spreads In Ariz.

Wyoming Public Radio: Wyoming Struggles To Reduce Cancer Rates
According to a report by the American Cancer Society’s Action Network, Wyoming could do much more to reduce cancer rates. Each year, the report evaluates ten different policy areas that deal with prevention and quality of treatment in each state. Out of those ten areas, Wyoming only did well in two—oral chemotherapy fairness and funding for the state tobacco prevention program. The biggest thing that would improve Wyoming’s score would be to expand Medicaid. (Mullen, 8/19)

CNN: Arizona Pool Parasite Outbreak Spreads
Health officials in metropolitan Phoenix are working to stop a parasite outbreak at several swimming pools in Maricopa County that causes diarrhea. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) and the Environmental Services Department (MCESD) are responding to growing concerns since the microscopic parasite cryptosporidium was first reported August 4. More than 100 people have been sickened at about 20 public recreational water facilities, officials said. (Ansari, 8/20)

NBC News: More Than 100 Sickened In Arizona Cryptosporidium Parasite Outbreak
More than 100 people in Maricopa County, Arizona, have been infected with Cryptosporidium, a parasite officials believe was in at least 20 pools in the community.Cryptosporidium, or "Crypto," causes problems ranging from stomach cramps to vomiting and fever. The most common symptom is watery diarrhea, which generally begins a week after infection. Those with healthy immune systems don't need treatment and usually recover after a week or two. (Chuck, 8/20)

St. Louis Public Radio: VA Officials Say Veterans' Care Is Improving 
Veterans Affairs officials say they’re making progress towards shorter wait times at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, but the numbers show that challenges remain. At a meeting Friday with the leaders of veteran’s service organizations, Keith Repko, interim medical director, cited the latest report: In St. Louis, patients are waiting an average of five days for mental health appointments, 12 days for primary care and about eight days to see a specialist. (Bouscaren, 8/19)

The Star Tribune: Allina Nurses Prep For More Negotiations, Possible Strike
Union officials met Saturday to continue conversations about another possible strike against five Allina Health hospitals, where as many as 4,800 nurses could walk out in a labor dispute over health benefits, workplace safety and staffing. The nurses rejected a proposed Allina contract on Thursday, voting against it with a wide enough margin to authorize a strike. They have to give Allina 10 days’ notice before a strike can occur. (Sawyer, 8/20)

Health News Florida/News Service Of Florida: Medical Marijuana Group Raises $34K
With the November election starting to draw closer, a group backing a proposed constitutional amendment that would broadly legalize medical marijuana raised $34,526 from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12, according to a finance report posted Thursday on the state Division of Elections website. The group, People United for Medical Marijuana, received $20,000 from the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project. Orlando attorney John Morgan has spearheaded the effort to legalize medical marijuana and has contributed heavily to People United for Medical Marijuana, which is also known as United for Care. (8/19)

California Healthline: Race, Ethnicity Affect Kids’ Access To Mental Health Care, Study Finds
One in five Americans is estimated to have a mental health condition at any given time. But getting treatment remains difficult — and it’s worse for children, especially those who identify as black or Hispanic.That’s the major finding in research published last week in the International Journal of Health Services. The study examines how often young adults and children were able to get needed mental health services, based on whether they were black, Hispanic or white. (Luthra, 8/22)

The Baltimore Sun: Patients, Supporters Of Chase Brexton Protest Firings Of Workers
More than 100 people rallied outside the Mount Vernon headquarters of Chase Brexton Health Care Friday to protest the recent firings of five employees and draw attention to what they say has been a decline in the quality of care provided. The rally comes after the firings that some employees and others allege are a part of a growing labor dispute between management and workers trying to unionize. The union seeking to represent Chase Brexton employees filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board last week claiming that the five employees were fired to intimidate other workers and dissuade them from voting to join the union. (Cohn, 8/19)

Denver Post: Aurora’s DAWN Clinic Provides Free Health Care Through CU Medical Students 
The DAWN — Dedicated to Aurora’s Wellness and Needs — Clinic was formed in March 2015 by a group of medical students and community members at the Dayton Street Opportunity Center, which was opened last year by Rep. Rhonda Fields. The clinic at 1445 Dayton St. is owned and operated by the Fields Foundation. (Mitchell, 8/19)

The Washington Post: U-Md. Teams With Hospital To Provide Dental Care For Low-Income Adults
The U-Md. School of Dentistry and the hospital have opened the Monocacy Health Partners Dental Clinic in a unique arrangement that school officials hope will serve as a model for providing dental care to low-income adults, who often still lack coverage even as access to health insurance has been vastly expanded in recent years under the federal Affordable Care Act. Last year, more than 1,200 people seeking toothache relief came to Frederick Memorial. (Cohn, 8/21)

The Boston Globe: Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus In Watertown
The state Department of Public Health has notified Watertown that West Nile virus has been found in samples of mosquitoes taken in town. The town’s health department issued a statement to residents on Friday noting that it is not unusual for mosquitoes to carry viruses “in this warm, dry weather.” The notice came three days after the state announced that a resident of Middlesex County, a woman in her 70s, is the first person this year to be infected with West Nile. ... A total of 25 cities and towns in Middlesex County, including Cambridge and Newton, have had mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus, according to data tracked by the state public health department. (Sennott, 8/21)

Arizona Republic: Phoenix To Offer Transgender-Inclusive Benefits To City Workers
Phoenix will be the first Arizona city to offer transgender-inclusive health-care benefits to its workforce of municipal employees and their families, Mayor Greg Stanton announced Thursday evening. The city will provide coverage for employees and their dependents who are transgender and seek access to a range of care, such as hormone therapy or surgical procedures, as they transition their bodies to match their gender identity. (Gardiner, 8/20)

CNN: Scallops Recalled After Hundreds Get Sick With Hepatitis 
Sea Port Products Corp is voluntarily recalling a batch of its scallops after at least 206 people became sick with hepatitis A, prompting an investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease control and Prevention. The federal agencies are assisting the Hawaii Department of Health, which reported the cases on August 17. The cases are linked to raw scallops. Of those who contracted hepatitis A, 51 were hospitalized. All the cases involve adults. (Christensen, 8/21)