Stratis Health announced eight critical access hospital (CAH) staff who will serve as national Virtual Quality Improvement Mentors through a new initiative that aims to broadly transfer knowledge from leading CAH quality improvement staff to others across the country. The initiative is organized through Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA), a program of Stratis Health […]
A Missouri man in his mid-40s died this week at Mercy Hospital St. Louis due to an illness associated with the use of e-cigarettes. This is the first vaping-related death in Missouri and the eighth nationwide. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services concluded it was a vaping-related lung injury after lung samples were taken […]
To date, nine possible cases of lung illness associated with the use of e-cigarette products have been reported to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, with two cases confirmed and the remaining seven under investigation. These are amongst the 450 possible cases in 33 of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. […]
Missouri’s hospitals and a coalition of individuals and organizations supporting Medicaid expansion announced the launch of a campaign to let Missouri voters decide the future of expanded coverage to low-income individuals caught in the “coverage gap.” “Missouri is among only a handful of states to not expand Medicaid. As a result, approximately 200,000 citizens of […]
Though mosquitoes often become a nuisance in early summer, the danger of catching a mosquito-borne illness continues into the late summer months. As long as temperatures remain warm, mosquitoes will continue to be a pest and a potential danger to one’s health. So while Labor Day marked the unofficial end of summer, the Missouri Department […]
The University of Missouri School of Medicine has received two Health Resources and Services Administration grants totaling nearly $5 million to increase the number of doctors in Missouri and address the physician shortages in rural parts of the state. A Missouri Hospital Association study last year predicted a shortage of up to 49,000 primary care […]
September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness month and Wright Memorial Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions program is working to raise awareness. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an average of 129 deaths by suicide occur per day and there are an estimated 1,400,000 suicide attempts per year. Talk of suicide should never be […]
Missouri State Representative James “Jim” Neely of Cameron, Republican, announces his candidacy for Governor of the State of Missouri. Neely, a practicing physician, represents Missouri’s 8th House District. He was elected to office in 2012 and has been a very active and involved legislator. He has introduced a large number of House Bills and has served on […]
Several lettered-route bridges within the Green Hills Region are to benefit from federal money that Congressman Sam Graves announced will be forthcoming to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Each of the targeted bridges has a poor condition rating. Graves received notification from the U.S. Department of Transportation that Missouri will receive $20.7 million for the […]
The Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a health advisory to providers and partners regarding severe lung disease associated with vaping. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there have now been 193 potential cases of severe lung illness associated with vaping in 22 states from June 28-August 20. The CDC is […]
Historically, most of the bills passed during the Missouri Legislature’s regular session become law on August 28. Of the roughly 2,100 measures filed this year, 144 proposals made it across the finish line. Dozens of proposals become official today. Here is a snapshot of 10 key measures taking effect: Education funding In the fiscal year […]
From September 15, 2017, to August 20, 2019, there have been 414 hepatitis A outbreak-associated cases in 35 Missouri counties. Of the cases reported, there have been 233 hepatitis A outbreak-associated hospitalizations and 2 hepatitis A outbreak-associated deaths. The disease appears to be spreading through direct person-to-person contact, mostly among people who use illicit injection […]
The highway patrol reports a Browning resident, 30-year old Bryce Ross, was arrested early Saturday in Sullivan County and accused of felony counts of driving while intoxicated and no drivers license. In addition, Ross was accused of failing to have two headlamps. The patrol also indicated there was a felony Scotland County warrant accusing Ross […]
Hepatitis A was diagnosed in an employee at the Bob Evans restaurant located at 3151 Phoenix Center Drive, Washington, Missouri, 63090. The investigation by the Franklin County Health Department found that this employee worked while infectious during the timeframe of August 3-10. While it is uncommon for restaurant patrons to become infected with hepatitis A […]
Livingston County Prosecutor Adam Warren announced on Wednesday the immediate refusal to prosecute misdemeanor marijuana possession and plans to dismiss all pending cases regarding the same offense. Warren says the “new policy reflects the new definition of hemp in Missouri Statutes.” The Missouri Legislature passed Senate Bill 133, which in part gives a new definition […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education approved the 2019 tax rate at a hearing prior to its regular meeting on Tuesday evening. The board set the tax rate at $4.127 cents per $100 of assessed valuation which includes $3.227 for the incidental fund and 90 cents for the debt service. The 2019 tax levy is […]
The Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol is seeking volunteers in the northwest Missouri area to help seniors protect their Medicare benefits. The SMP needs more volunteers for its team. The statewide SMP has a mission to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse through […]
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest of two Trenton residents on Thursday on child endangerment and drug-related charges. Sixty-one-year-old Mac Rakes has been charged with the felonies of endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk—first degree—first offense—no sexual contact and delivery of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of […]
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade says 120,000 Missourians, including about 95,000 children, have reportedly been removed from Medicaid since January 2018. State Representative David Wood, who chairs a budget committee involving Social Services, says the number of Missourians on state healthcare has declined, but the state’s Medicaid costs continue to climb. Wood thinks […]
Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 1913, creating the Missouri Health Insurance Innovation Task Force. The Governor’s action aims to curb rising healthcare premiums and increase access and competition in health insurance markets for all Missourians. It is imperative that the State of Missouri develop comprehensive and innovative ways to transform the health insurance market […]
