| CAMC files to develop Teays ambulatory care center.
Charleston Area Medical Center has filed with the West Virginia Health Care Authority a letter of intent to develop a $2,438,000 ambulatory care facility at 3257 Teays Valley Road in Hurricane. The information is included in the Oct. 12 edition of the State Register
Renewal approved for WVU Hospitals, Davis Memorial Cancer Center
The same issue of the Register announces a renewal granted through March 31, 2019, “for the formation of a joint venture to improve the services provided at the Cancer Center on the campus of [Davis Memorial Hospital]. Under this structure, DMH would continue to operate the Medical Oncology Program and Radiation Oncology Program as an outpatient department of DMH. [West Virginia University Hospitals] and DMH would form a limited liability company. The LLC will acquire the land, building and existing equipment for the Radiation Oncology Program and lease the land, building, existing equipment and new radiation oncology equipment to DMH.” The total cost of the project is $6.2 million.
Cannabis
Illegal cannabis worth about $3.3 billion in Canada in 2016. The Penticton Herald reports, “OTTAWA – The illegal production and consumption of non-medical cannabis was worth about $3.3 billion in 2016, according to a Statistics Canada analysis of the underground economy.”
Election
Circuit judge candidates cite experience. The Gazette-Mail reports, “The three candidates in the running for the Kanawha County circuit judge’s post vacated in April by Jim Stucky all cited experience as a key reason for voting for them in the general election, for which early voting begins on Oct. 24.”
The Fix details what’s in federal opioid legislation. The Fix reports, “New legislation intended to aid in the fight against the opioid epidemic was approved by both the House and Senate, and is currently headed for signature by President Donald Trump… Policymakers have expressed their support for the bill, though treatment advocates have voiced reservation about the scope and effectiveness of the legislation. Here’s what is proposed by the SUPPORT Act:
“- Expansion of provisions for Medicaid programs, including expanded access to opioid addiction treatment, including secured flexibility for alternative services not permitted under a state Medicaid plan, improved data sharing between state databases, and increased screening for opioid dependency during doctor’s visits.
“- Increased Medicaid coverage for opioid treatment programs that prescribe medication-assisted treatment …, which is currently not recognized by Medicaid, and an increase in the number of health care specialists that are allowed to prescribe and dispense such treatment.
“- A provision to expand a grant program that allows first responders to administer naloxone for opioid overdoses.
“- Creation of a grant program from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration … to establish comprehensive opioid recovery centers, which will provide dependency and recovery programs for communities
“- A provision to allow the National Institutes of Health … to establish ‘high impact, cutting-edge research’ for combating the opioid epidemic and development of non-addictive pain management medication, which will be funded through reauthorization of the Common Fund from the 21st Century Cures Act.
– “Authorization for the Drug Enforcement Administration … to reduce manufacturing quotas for controlled substances, including prescription opioids, when the agency suspects diversion.
“- Authorization for the Department of Health and Human Services to allow doctors to remotely prescribe medication-assistant treatments to assist needy individuals in remote or rural areas.
“- The STOP Act, which will assist the U.S. Postal System in preventing the import of fentanyl through international mail by improved digital tracking.
“- Improved coordination between the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to allow greater means of detecting and halting the import of drugs at borders.
“- Increased penalties for manufacturers and distributors in regard to over prescription of opioid medication.”
Slate calls West Virginia ‘a real constitutional crisis…’ Slate reports, “Want to know what a real constitutional crisis looks like? Consider the current situation in West Virginia, where the House of Delegates impeached the entire state Supreme Court in August, alleging improper use of government funds. Chief Justice Margaret Workman sued the legislature, alleging that her impeachment violated the state constitution. Her case went to … the West Virginia Supreme Court, where every justice is either disqualified from hearing it or has been suspended without pay. Five acting justices—who were appointed by an appointed justice, who in turn was selected by a retired justice, who was chosen by Workman—heard the case instead. …They ruled unanimously in Workman’s favor.”
Health
Massachusetts focusing on education and communication to address HIV outbreak. The Lowell Sun reports, “BOSTON — Nearly three months after a state report revealed an outbreak of HIV cases in Lowell and Lawrence, the state Department of Public Health said it is focusing on education and better communication between state and local officials as preventive efforts.”
Polio-like illness found in Midwest. The Courier and Press reports, “A rare and mysterious polio-like illness appears to be spreading throughout the U.S., including the Midwest.” |
