Week of July 7 - In Case You Missed It...TOMF Medical News Roundup
July 14, 2014
In Case You Missed It...
July 9, 2014
Goodbye Dr. Ilzaliturri
Linda Ilzaliturri MD died from complications related to polycystic kidney disease on July 3. She was 59. Born in Yuma, she earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona and trained there as a dermatologist. She had a private practice in Green Valley.
Goodbye ObamaCare Subsidies?
A federal appeals court decision is expected any day that will decide the fate of people who get subsidies to cover parts of premium payments in states, like Arizona, that have a marketplace exchange run by the federal government. The case was spawned by a wording glitch in the Affordable Care Act that says subsidies will be paid for people who signed up through an exchange established by the state. If the panel of judges rules against the Obama Administration, it is a sure bet a re-hearing will be asked for in which the entire 11-judge court of appeals will be involved.
Banner/UA News
At a series of town halls last week Banner and UA administrators gave straight answers to questions posed by physicians and employees about the proposed merger. One refreshing answer: "I don't know."
While most questions about work load, uniforms and pensions were "inside baseball," it was interesting to get a sense of timelines. Right now, through September, is the due diligence period. Both sides are looking at the matter and will decide whether to go ahead. Once the go-ahead is received, contacts will be established with a start date of January 1, 2015. After that date, every employee will be retained at the same salary and benefits for six months. At the end of six months, staffing changes will be made.
That will make for a very interesting July 1, 2015 in Tucson.
One reassurance: most programs (transplant, etc) will remain for five years. The trauma center will be retained -- and strengthened.
In Case You Missed It...
July 10, 2014
Congratulations to Some Top Docs
Tucson Lifestyle has one issue that is its run-away bestseller: its biennial issue of the local physicians who are listed in Best Doctors in America.
Local osteopathic physicians who made the list are: Victoria E. Murrain DO, Jennifer Howell-Welle DO, Geoffrey S. Landis DO, Franz Rischard DO and Deborah Jane Power DO.
ADHS Oks Medical Marijuana for PTSD
After rebuke from an administrative law judge, Arizona Department of Health Services Director Will Humble has added post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of conditions for which one can obtain and Arizona Medical Marijuana card.
Humble did add restrictions. A page one story in today's Arizona Daily Star provides details on the decision and the new restrictions.
Free Healthy Eye Screenings
Worried about your vision? Do you have a family history of glaucoma? Are you age 50 or older and concerned about the health of your eyes?
The University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, in conjunction with the University of Arizona Medical Center (UAMC) sponsor monthly Free Healthy Eye Screenings at St. Elizabeth's Health Center. The next screening date is Saturday, July 19, from 8 a.m. to noon. Please call 694-1471 to make an appointment!
At these healthy eye screenings, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and dry eye will be checked. Screenings are recommended for individuals over age 18, those with a family history of eye disease, a diagnosis of diabetes and/or high blood pressure, and for those taking certain medications.
Free eye screenings also will be held Saturday, August 16 and Sept. 20 - same time, same place: St. Elizabeth's Health Center, 140 W. Speedway Blvd. (next to Pima Community College west of Stone & Speedway).
Health Net Leads Dept. of Insurance Complaints
Consumers complain about Health Net more than any other health insurance product, but the complaints are few. The Arizona Department of Insurance has received 89 complaints since January 1, 2014, and the department has only received 21 complaints about all other insurers combined.
Health Net was the lowest priced health insurance on the Marketplace Exchange in Arizona and received the bulk of ObamaCare sign-ups.
In Case You Missed It...
July 11, 2014
Stroke of Luck
Too often the news in medicine is bad. Today's TMC blog has some good news.
Ron and Sandy Goodsite have been part of the Tucson medical community since 1970 -- Ron as a pediatrician and Sandy as owner of Professional Medical Management. On April 22, Sandy had a stroke.
Read about her amazingly quick treatment time and full recovery here.
Surgeon Case Against Openness
No, Dr. Marty Makary at Johns Hopkins isn't arguing against full disclosure to patients; in today's Wall Street Journal's editorial pages he argues patients should know that minimally invasive surgery may be safer and better than open surgeries. For starters, he points out the US could save $25 billion annually just on the lower complication rates with smaller incisions. Yet many hospitals don't offer minimally invasive surgeries at all. Worth checking out.
Too Good to be True
Multiple media sources report today that the baby cured of AIDS four years ago, now has HIV in her blood. She has not been on anti-virals for two years but needs to start again. This will complicate a huge trial set to start this fall that was going to use this baby's treatment approach on a large set of babies born with HIV.