Health – Page 39 – The Mississippi Link

UMMC to enter lease agreement for Grenada Lake Medical Center

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With approval Thursday from the State Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, University of Mississippi Medical Center leaders will sign an agreement to lease the 156-bed Grenada Lake Medical Center from the Grenada County Board of Supervisors.

Under the agreement, UMMC would begin managing GLMC Sept. 1, and lease the facility beginning Jan. 1. Under the terms, UMMC would pay the county about $1.8 million annually to retire the facility’s $37.4 million debt. […]

State officials report second West Nile Virus Death of 2013

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The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported the second West Nile virus (WNV) death for 2013 last week, along with four new human cases. The death occurred in Bolivar County, and the new reported cases occurred in Forrest, Hinds and Rankin counties. These new reported cases bring the state total for 2013 to 12 cases, with two deaths.

The first death was an elderly man from Duck Hill in Montgomery County on July 2.

So far this year, cases have been reported in Forrest (3), Lincoln, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Wayne, LeFlore, Bolivar, Hinds and Rankin counties. The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public. In 2012, Mississippi had 247 WNV cases and five deaths. […]

Mississippi firm recalls frozen chicken meals

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A Mississippi distributor of frozen chicken has recalled nearly 2,500 pounds of meals because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen, according to the U.S. Department Agriculture.

Traditions Meal Solutions, located in Pearl, Miss., said in a news release last week that the 2,486 pounds of recalled frozen chicken meals contain milk but that it is not on the label. Milk is a known allergen.

The USDA said the problem was discovered by the firm during a routine label review. Milk is a sub-ingredient of the butter flavoring used in the product. The problem occurred after a change in formulation which resulted in milk being omitted from the label.
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Panel: 1/5th of child deaths in 2011 preventable

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More than one-fifth of all childhood deaths in Mississippi could have been prevented, a state panel says.

The Child Death Review Panel looked at 229 of the 610 child deaths reported statewide in 2011. It found that 134 of those deaths – about 22 percent of the 610 – were preventable.

Seventy-five of the deaths were the result of motor vehicle accidents. […]

Mississippi gets funds for anti-obesity program

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The Mississippi State Department of Health will receive $8.5 million over the next five years to help combat obesity and chronic disease across the state.

State Health Officer Dr. Mary Currier said in a news release that the funds come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Currier says the money will support a comprehensive, statewide approach to promoting health and controlling and preventing chronic diseases and their risk factors. […]

Miss. insurer could cut ties to 2 hospital systems

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Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi has told the state’s second-largest hospital owner that it will end its contract with the company’s 10 Mississippi hospitals at the end of August.

The insurer sent the termination notice to Health Management Associates hospitals statewide on June 25. Naples, Fla.-based HMA had sued Blue Cross for $13 million a week earlier, claiming the Flowood, Miss., insurer is breaking contract terms by underpaying for a number of procedures. […]

Humana to sell policies in unserved Miss. Counties

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All Mississippians will have at least one insurance option on the new federal online marketplace when it starts enrolling customers in October.
Humana, based in Louisville, Ky., announced Friday that it would cover people in the 36 Mississippi counties where no insurer had agreed to write policies.

Coverage under those policies begins Jan. 1.

“This builds on Humana’s current presence,” the company said in a statement. “By working together with local health care providers, we believe we can enhance quality of care and improve health outcomes in the state.” […]

Anti-drug initiative loses funding

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Washington County has lost funding for its community anti-drug program that has operated for 25 years.

Audine Hayes, executive director of the Anti-Drug Community Partnership RADAR Center, tells the Delta Democrat Times that the Mississippi Department of Mental Health chose to close it down by the end of summer due to budget cuts.

Hayes said the RADAR Center began as a 12-person task force comprised of Hayes, law enforcement officials, business professionals and school administrators who chose to take a proactive approach in changing the lives of youth in the Delta. That 12-person group eventually expanded to more than 150. […]

State’s first West Nile Virus death reported in Montgomery County

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The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports the first West Nile virus death for 2013, along with two new human cases. The death was in Montgomery County – in Duck Hill – and the new reported cases are in Forrest and Wayne counties.

Tuesday’s report brings the state total for 2013 to six cases, including one death. This time last year there were no reported deaths from WNV in Mississippi.

So far this year, cases have been reported in Madison, Forrest (2), Wayne, Lowndes and Montgomery counties. The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public. […]

Pickering to study viability of hospitals

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The office of State Auditor Stacey Pickering will be studying which community-owned hospitals in Mississippi are facing economic difficulties and why.

Pickering says he is concerned that some accessibility to health care will be lost if those hospitals can’t remain viable.

Pickering spoke last week to a forum hosted by Mississippi State University’s Stennis Institute of Government and the Capitol press corps.
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