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Connecticut House Approves Two Health Insurance Pooling Bills
The Connecticut House on Wednesday approved two separate measures to expand health insurance pooling in the state, the Hartford Courant reports. The first measure would create a public health insurance pool open to all residents. The pool, intended to compete with rather than replace private insurance, would be based on the existing pool for state workers (Keating, Hartford Courant, 5/21). The bill will create a nine-member board of directors to investigate and recommend a plan to guarantee every resident health insurance. The bill also creates four committees that will work with the board and provide advice on electronic health records, medical homes, clinical care guidelines and preventive care. In addition, three task forces will examine obesity, tobacco use and care provider shortages (Stuart, CT News Junkie, 5/20).The cost of plan, known as SustiNet, could be a "sticking point" given the state"s $8.7 billion budget deficit over the next two years, the Courant reports The state Senate and Gov. Jodi Rell (R) will consider the plan next.The second measure would allow local governments, small businesses and not-for-profit groups join the state employee insurance plan. The bill would increase the current pool"s membership from 200,000 to an estimated 300,000. Juan Figueroa, a former state legislator and president of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, said, "Both of these plans reduce costs and increase choice. The partnership (pooling) bill has features that SustiNet can build on. The two bills fit hand in glove." Democrats said the second bill would utilize economies of scale to lower costs. Steve Fontana (D), co-chair of the State House Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said, "The larger the pool you have, ... you reduce the volatility and the risk associated with that pool."Opponents say the pooling measure would affect only those who already have coverage. According to House Republican Leader Larry Cafero, "This bill does not solve that problem. If you don"t have it now, you"re not going to have it because of this" (Keating, Hartford Courant, 5/21).
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Prospect Therapeutics, Inc.'s GCS-100 Inhibited Blood Vessel Formation In A Variety Of Cancer Models
Joseph F. Finn, Jr., C.P.A. ("Finn"), announced today that there has been promising initial interest from pharma companies in the intellectual property of Prospect Therapeutics, Inc. ("Prospect").
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New Results In Fight Against Blindness Revealed
The CARMA Study Group, representing leading researchers at Queens University, Belfast and the Waterford Institute of Technology will unveil the results of a 5 year project into age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on Friday, 19th June at 2pm in the Radisson Hotel, Belfast. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world*1.
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Don't Throw Swine Flu Parties, Say Northern Ireland Doctors

Throwing "swine flu parties" in an attempt to get immunity against the virus while it is a fairly mild form is not a good idea, the BMA said yesterday, 1 July 2009. Reports have emerged of people intentionally mixing with friends who have flu. Their reasoning is that it is best to be infected before the winter when the virus could become more deadly. Chairman of the public health committee for the BMA in Northern Ireland, Dr Colin Hamilton, said such behaviour could undermine the fight against swine flu. Dr Hamilton said, "I have heard of reports of people throwing swine flu parties and I don"t think it is a good idea. I would not want it myself. "I must stress that while the H1N1 virus is currently a mild flu, parents would still be putting their health and the health of their children at risk. People will still get ill and there is a risk of mortality". "The virus has only been known for two months and is still an unknown quantity. Our advice remains that people should avoid contracting it as much as possible until vaccines are produced. "The idea of having a flu party is the complete opposite to this advice. Apparently healthy young people have died in Mexico and the USA from this virus and many children may have conditions unknown to their parents, which would make them especially vulnerable". Dr Hamilton continued, "If you have recently travelled from an infected country or believe that you have been in contact with someone who potentially has swine flu, then you need to stay at home and phone your GP. Travelling to a busy GP surgery will only spread the virus further. "You should also follow the Department of Health"s straightforward measures to help reduce the spread of flu". Measures include: - Always use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing - Dispose of the tissue - Wash your hands with soap and water or sanitising gel The message is simple, Catch It, Bin It, Kill It. British Medical Association Northern Ireland 16 Cromac Place Cromac Wood, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JB


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