State Highlights: Southern Calif. Is Hot Spot For Stem-Cell Treatment Industry; Troubled Ohio Nursing Home Faces Permanent Closure

KPBS: Patients Turn To San Diego Stem Cell Companies For Costly, Unproven Treatments
The stem cell treatment industry is flourishing in the U.S. without much oversight. Southern California is a hotspot for clinics advertising stem cell treatments for everything from stroke to autism. And experts say San Diego is an attractive location for any company hoping to usher patients across the border for expensive treatments that have not been proven to be safe or effective in humans. (Wagner, 9/20)

Columbus Dispatch: Regency Manor Nursing Home May Lose License, Be Forced To Close
The state health department could soon revoke a South Side nursing home’s license, forcing a permanent shutdown of the troubled facility. The Regency Manor Rehabiliation and Subacute Center is accused of more than a dozen recurring health and safety violations, according to state and federal public records obtained this month. Among them: sanitary concerns, errors distributing medication, abuse, neglect, privacy concerns, poor living conditions and failure to follow emergency protocols. (Widman Neese, 9/21)

Denver Post: Colorado Veteran’s Suicide Prompts Call For Investigation Into VA Wait Times
Two U.S. senators are calling for an investigation into wait times at Veterans Affairs facilities in Colorado after the suicide of a 26-year-old U.S. Army Ranger who did not receive counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder in time. The request, by Republican U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, also asks that an internal watchdog at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs examine allegations that VA officials forged documents after the service member’s death and then threatened a whistle-blower who raised these issues with authorities, according to a letter dated Monday. (Matthews, 9/20)

The New York Times: Orlando’s Latest Theme Park Is A City For Wellness
Orlando is trying to show itself as a place far different than a land of fantasy. An important part of Orlando’s emerging presence as a mature and innovative city is the 14-square-mile Lake Nona project, which is being built on land that only a decade ago was mostly pasture. Once finished, the development, being built by Tavistock Development Company, will resemble a city in everything but name, with hospitals, hotels, office buildings, schools and colleges, recreational and sports training facilities, retail centers, entertainment spots and, ultimately, about 11,000 homes and more than 25,000 residents. (Madigan, 9/20)

Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Cancer-Causing Pollutant Made Famous By Erin Brockovich Found In NE Ohio Drinking Water
Drinking water tainted with a cancer-causing toxin made famous by the environmental activist Erin Brockovich was found in all but one of the 30 water systems in Northeast Ohio, according to a report released today. The Environmental Working Group, a health research and advocacy organization, said its report marked the first time widespread contamination by Chromium 6 had been documented in the drinking water of more than 200 million Americans in every state in the U.S. None of the levels of Chromium 6 found in the water tested exceeded California's legal limit of 10 parts per billion. (McCarty, 9/21)

Kansas Health Institute: KDADS Grants Boost Programs For Young Psychosis Patients
Two community mental health centers in Kansas hope a new program will help young people recently diagnosed with schizophrenia avoid its possible complications — a higher risk of unemployment, homelessness and incarceration and lower life expectancy — and achieve goals for school, work and their personal lives. This year, Valeo Behavioral Health Care in Topeka received a $193,000 grant from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to start a program in Shawnee County for young patients in the early stages of psychosis. Wyandot Center in Kansas City launched its program last year with help from a $174,000 KDADS grant. (Hart, 9/20)

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Three Philly Heart Patients Among 20 In Pa. Diagnosed With Rare Infection
Three patients who underwent heart surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center contracted unusual infections linked to a medical device called a heater-cooler, bringing the total of such cases in Pennsylvania to at least 20. A fourth patient at Penn Presbyterian tested positive for the type of bacteria in question but did not show signs of infection, said Patrick J. Brennan, chief medical officer of the University of Pennsylvania health system. (Avril, 9/20)

Miami Herald: Miami Files Appeal, Continues Fight Over Increase In Chemical Levels In Water
Moving quickly after a judge tossed out challenges to controversial new state water-quality standards, the city of Miami has signaled it will continue battling in an appeals court... The water standards, which were developed by the Department of Environmental Protection and approved July 26 by the state Environmental Regulation Commission, have been highly controversial. They involve new and revised limits on chemicals in waterways, with the department saying the plan would allow it to regulate more chemicals while updating standards for others. (Saunders, 9/20)

WABE: Georgia Among States Affected By Kellogg's Recall
Kellogg’s has announced a voluntarily recall of roughly 10,000 cases of its Eggo Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat waffles. Officials with the company say the product might be contaminated with listeria. This is the only Eggo product that is linked to this recall. No related illnesses have been reported thus far. (Lorinc, 9/20)

The Tennessean: GOP Donor Fined $7.75M In Military Health Care Fraud Case
Andy Miller and his brother Tracy Miller operate Healthmark Investment Trust. Andy Miller said they are minority owners in a Florida company called QMedRx Inc. The Millers and QMedRx are accused of participating in submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement from TRICARE, a federal health care program for military members and their families, according to a Sept. 13 settlement agreement from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. (Boucher and Ebert, 9/20)