Healthy Living
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Only 3 companies will sell health insurance on the MT exchange
Posted 7:35 AM 5/17/2013 by Marnee Banks - MTN News
HELENA - Only three health insurance companies intend to sell policies on Montana's health insurance exchange.
Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica Lindeen announced Thursday that Blue Cross Blue Shield, PacificSource and the Montana Health Cooperative all filed necessary paperwork with her office to sell policies on the exchange.
The exchange is a federally mandated online marketplace where people can shop for health insurance.
The federal government has laid (More)
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New St. V's program aims to stop cancer before it starts
Posted 3:26 PM 5/16/2013 by Stan Parker & Gabby Weber - Q2 News
BILLINGS - Thursday afternoon, St. Vincent Healthcare announced their newest cancer center program. The Risk Assessment Prevention Program brings specialists together, helping women understand their potential for cancer. If the risk is high, the team develops a plan tailored to each patient.
The program uses a variety of testing and treatment options, including a new genetic testing method.
Karen Stears, a genetic counselor, spoke of the long-term benefits the (More)
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Scientists successfully clone human stem cells via skin cells
Posted 8:59 AM 5/16/2013 by Michelle Castillo - CBS News
Scientists have successfully changed skin cells into embryonic stem cells, marking the first time human stem cells were cloned by transferring the nucleus of another cell.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) were able to create embryonic stem cells, which are valuable for research because they can be turned into any other cell type found in the body. Stem cells provide a way for scientists to look into replacing (More)
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High number of pertussis cases reported in Montana
Posted 2:38 PM 5/15/2013 by MTN News
HELENA - State health officials say they're seeing an unusually high number of pertussis cases in Montana, with 265 cases having been reported this year.
The vast majority of cases have been in school-aged children, and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials say they have determined that many of these cases were not up to date on their pertussis vaccinations.
DPPHS adds that only 19% of students between 11 and 12 years old had received the recommended (More)
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Careful with those drinks; tougher standard for drivers may be on way
Posted 9:42 AM 5/14/2013 by CNN
WASHINGTON - A decade-old benchmark for determining when a driver is legally intoxicated -- the 0.08 blood-alcohol content rate -- should be lowered to 0.05, reducing the amount a motorist can imbibe before being presumed to be drunk, federal safety officials said Tuesday.
At a meeting in Washington, the National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that all 50 states lower the threshold to reduce the nation's drunk driving death toll, which has plateaued at about 10,000 deaths a (More)
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Flathead County seeing jump in norovirus cases
Posted 4:13 PM 5/10/2013 by MTN News
KALISPELL - Local health officials say they're seeing a jump in gastrointestinal illness caused by norovirus in area schools and long-term care facilities.
Norovirus is a group of virus that causes the majority of gastrointestinal outbreaks in the United States and is associated with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea symptoms. The virus can be spread in food or water, by direct contact between people or with contaminated surfaces.
It only takes a small number of virus particles to cause (More)
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Dream lives on for Billings man as he helps other cancer patients through treatment
Posted 5:36 PM 5/9/2013 by Victoria Fregoso - Q2 News
BILLINGS - It was an emotional reunion for family members of Ryan Eaton and staff members at Billings Clinic Thursday morning. Just 26 years old, Ryan lost his battle to cancer this past February. He was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma just five days before Christmas in 2011. "His positive attitude and just willing to fight was very striking for us," said Billings Clinic Radiation Therapist Lisa Sides. "We're all kind of in the same age as he is so it hit home for everybody."
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After 41 years in the profession, nurse shares her experience and love for the job
Posted 6:24 PM 5/7/2013 by Victoria Fregoso - Q2 News
BILLINGS - If you've ever been a patient at Billings Clinic, you might recognize nurse Mary Orler. She's going on her 15th year of working at Billings Clinic, but her career began 41 years ago. "I think I've always wanted to be a nurse. There was some nursing in my family but also just caring for my grandmother when she got sick and it progressed on from there."
To recognize the dedication and value of Mary's work, fellow nurses and coworkers elected her to receive the lifetime achievement (More)
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"Melanoma Monday" serves as reminder to be cautious when outdoors in the sunlight
Posted 5:37 PM 5/6/2013 by Q2 News
BILLINGS - With this week's nice weather, it may be tempting to soak in the sun. That's why the dermatologists at Saint Vincent Healthcare have recognized today as "Melanoma Monday" and reminds everyone about the dangers of sun light.
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and its estimated one American dies from the disease every hour.
Doctors say to watch out for moles on your skin that grow or change color.
All skin types are at risk of getting the disease, but the (More)
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Blue Cross merger clears hurdle
Posted 7:31 AM 5/3/2013 by MTN News - Helena
HELENA - Former Supreme Court Justice William Leaphart recommended approval of the merger between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana and Health Care Service Corporation. Leaphart presided over the hearings in February.
According to his findings, Blue Cross has experienced significant underwriting losses over the last four years, and the company is ill-suited to weather the financial uncertainty associated with the Affordable Care Act.
(More)
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