Medical records of 1,018 patients stolen at Lexington Clinic, but no apparent identity theft

One of the fears of electronic health records is that personal information can be stolen en masse, a possibility that became a reality when a laptop computer was stolen at the Lexington Clinic.

The machine was taken Dec. 7 from the clinic's neurology department at the St. Joseph Office Park. Letters were sent to the 1,018 affected patients last week about the theft, Mary Meehan of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

The laptop contained the names, contact information and diagnoses from patients from as long as five years go. Not among the data were Social Security numbers, credit card or bank account numbers. So far, there is no sign of identify theft. 

The clinic said it took six weeks to informing patients because it took time to "pinpoint exactly what information was on the laptop, which was used in conjunction with the clinic's electromyography machine," Meehan reports.

Another theft happened at UK HealthCare in June, when the medical records of 3,000 patients were taken from the Department of Pediatrics' newborn screening program. Patients were not informed of that breach until two months later. (Read more)

455 deficiencies found in 72 Kentucky nursing homes in fourth quarter of 2011

State inspectors found 455 deficiencies in 72 Kentucky nursing homes in the fourth quarter of 2011, with one facility accounting for 25 of them alone: Kindred Transitional Care & Rehab-Fountain Circle in Winchester.

The information was released by Kentuckians for Nursing Home Reform, a nonprofit organization that advocates for nursing home residents and obtains the data regularly through open-records requests to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and distributes it statewide. The information is posted as part of Medicare's nursing-home comparison data.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the average number of deficiencies for a nursing home inspected in the U.S. is eight and the average in Kentucky is seven. Inspections assess a facility on the care of residents and how that care is administered; on how staff and residents interact; and on its environment. Certified nursing homes must meet more than 180 regulatory standards. The state Office of Inspector General website has more data, such as the results of inspections and the ownership of each facility.

Nursing homes with 10 or more deficiencies in the fourth quarter of 2011 were:

• Bridge Point Care and Rehabilitation Center, Florence (22)

• Pineville Community Hospital (17)

• North Hardin Health & Rehabilitation Center, Radcliff (15)

• Richmond Place Rehabilitation and Health Center, Lexington (13)

• Hart County Health Care Center, Horse Cave (13)

• Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Pikeville (13)

• West Liberty Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (13)

• Redbanks, Henderson (12)

• Knox County Hospital, Barbourville (11)

• The Forum at Brookside, Louisville (11)

• Bradford Square Care and Rehabilitation Center, Frankfort (10)

• Florence Park Care Center (10)

• Boyd Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Ashland (10)

• Corbin Health & Rehabilitation Center (10)

For more information about Kentuckians for Nursing Home Reform, click here.

Fruit Halwa-A delicious and healthy snack

The following is the procedure to how to make halwa.This adds the delicious taste to your snacks.The halwa can be made by different kinds of fruit so that you may get healthy and nutritional snack.

INGREDIENTS

• Bananas-1/2 kg
• Dates-150g
• ghee or oil(1c)
• Apples-150g
• grapes(Green)-150g
• Pomegranate-1no
• Sugar-According to your sweetness
• ground cardamom
• Pineapple essence - ½ tsp
• Raisins-50g
• Cashew nut-50g
• Almonds-50g

METHOD

• Pour maida in big bowl and add water to it.Then  add food color to this maida and leave a side.
• Add the mixture with sugar syrup and keep it to stir for 6-8 min until it get thick.At the same time heat the ghee nicely and add the ghee to the maida and sugar syrup mixture and keep stirring well.
• Then add  dry fruits, netmeg powder and mix it well and make them to cool.
• Now transfer it  to a  plate and make it flat with a spoon and cut in to pieces.
• This will stay for 15 days
• When ever you want to serve remove from the fridge and keep it in the microwave for 5 sec. and serve.

A couple's journey with infertility; similar tale likely in your town

Laura Ungar of The Courier-Journal follows the story of Kelly and James Durst, who turned to in vitro fertilization when they had trouble conceiving a child.

The Dursts are "among the 12 percent of reproductive-age couples in the United States who couldn't conceive without help," Ungar reports.

In April 2010, they gave birth to son Cooper, one of more than 675,000 babies born in the U.S. through assisted reproduction techniques since 1985. "He is literally the light of our lives," Kelly said. "He's why we try to make things better each day."

Ungar follows the Dursts' journey to have a second child, this time using the frozen embryos that were created at the time of Cooper's conception. The embryos will be placed in Kelly's womb.

Given the growing prevalence of assisted reproduction techniques, stories like the Dursts' can likely be found in nearly every community and make for a compelling read. (Read more)

Prescription pill abuse summit Wednesday at UK hospital

A prescription pill abuse summit will be Wednesday at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, featuring many notable speakers.

They will include: Gov. Steve Beshear; Wilfredo Ferrer, U.S. attorney from the Southern District of Florida; Van Ingram, executive director of Kentucky's Office of Drug Control Policy; police chiefs and law enforcement officials; and health care professionals.

"We think this summit will help lay the foundation for a future that will lead to increased communication and awareness among all the societal entities that are engaged in this fight," said U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey of teh eastern District of Kentucky.

The summit is from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pavilion A auditorium. For more information, call Harvey's office at 859-685-4805. (Read more)

FDA wants to reduce standard for fluoride in public drinking water

Lowering the amount of fluoride in drinking water, as proposed in January by the Food and Drug Administration, will increase medical expenses and harm the poor and the poorly educated the most, a mother writes in an op-ed piece in the New York Times.

Jane E. Brody delves into the concept of fluoridation, pointing out its benefits. "In the early years, rates of tooth decay among the young dropped by 60 percent in communities that adopted fluoridation," she writes. "Every $1 invested in fluoridation saves approximately $38 in dental treatment costs."

Though fluoride was initially thought to become incorporated into developing teeth, it was later found that its benefit is topical, meaning it works on teeth already formed. "Fluoride, which is present in saliva and concentrates in dental plaque, inhibits the action of acid on tooth minerals," she writes. "It also promotes remineralization by sticking to tooth surfaces, where it attracts calcium ions present in saliva."

Still, there remains controversy about whether or not fluoride is safe, with the substance being accused of causing everything from heart disease to Alzheimer's disease. "None of these supposed risks has ever been established in scientifically valid studies," Brody writes. "The only proven risk, a condition called fluorosis, which results in white and sometimes brownish markings on the teeth from too much fluoride, rarely results from a normal intake of fluoridated water."

Since fluoride is also available in other substances, like toothpaste, the FDA proposed reducing the amount of fluoride in public drinking water to 0.7 milligrams per liter, from a range from 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. Brody feels the move is a mistake: "Fluoridation confers the greatest benefit to those who need it most: the poor and poorly educated and those with limited access to regular dental care," she writes. "In the years ahead, removal of fluoride from drinking water will almost certainly cost taxpayers millions of dollars in increased Medicaid expenditures." (Read more)

In Kentucky, there is 100 percent fluoridation in public drinking water systems, though perhaps half a million residents get their water from wells, springs or cisterns.

Kentucky ranks 37th, Louisville 33rd in percentage of commuters who bike or walk to work

Kentucky ranks 37th in the nation for its number of commuters who bike or walk to work. Of the 51 largest cities in the county, Louisville ranks 33rd.

These are the findings of the Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report, compiled by the Alliance for Biking & Walking. As well as looking at commuter numbers, it also examined how safe those commuters are and where transportation funding is being spent on "alternative means of local travel," reports Jeannine Stein of the Los Angeles Times. (Times photo by Wally Skalij)

Alaska, despite its cold climate, has the highest percentage of commuters who bike or walk to work. Boston has the highest ranking among cities. The lowest are Alabama and Fort Worth, Tex.

Across the country, 12 percent of all trips are on foot (10.5 percent) or by bicycle (1 percent), though from 2000 to 2009, the number of cycling commuters increased by 57 percent. While numbers are growing, safety is a concern. In the 51 largest cities, 12.7 percent of trips are by foot and 1.1 percent are by bicycle, but 26.9 percent of traffic fatalities are pedestrians and 3.1 percent are bicyclists.

Despite the risk, the report makes a connection with biking or walking and health. It points out cycling and walking levels fell 66 percent between 1960 and 2009, while obesity levels increased by 156 percent. The picture was more grim when it came to children. Between 1966 and 2009, the number of children who biked or walked to school fell by 75 percent, while the percentage of obese children rose by 276 percent.

Despite the physical benefits of the activity, states spend just 1.6 percent of their federal transportation dollars on bicycling and walking, amounting to just $2.17 per capita, the report found.

Instead of biking or walking, people are still relying mostly on their cars. The report found 40 percent of trips in the United States in 2009 were shorter than two miles, but Americans used their cars for 87 percent of trips that were 1 to 2 miles in distance. When it came to trips up to 1 mile long, Americans still used their cars 62 percent of the time.

The report was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AARP and Planet Bike.

Should companies refuse to hire employees who smoke? Opposing views outlined

The growing controversy surrounding companies who refuse to hire employees who smoke is featured in two opposing opinion pieces in USA Today.

Paul Terpeluk, medical director of employee health services at Cleveland Clinic, explains why the policy makes sense for his company. "Consider that cigarette smoke contains hundreds of chemicals and compounds that are toxic and at least 69 that cause cancer," he writes. "To ignore this would be to undermine our commitment to health and wellness, which includes providing a healthy environment for our employees, visitors and patients. Plus, the policy has not proved to be an overwhelming obstacle for job applicants. Since it was instituted, less than 2 percent of job offers — about 300 out of 20,000 — have been rescinded due to positive nicotine tests." (Read more)

But a USA Today editorial expresses a different view, in response to Baylor Health Care System's move to stop hiring workers who smoke. "Intruding this deeply into people's privates lives raises questions that bear scrutiny," it reads. "Companies can charge smokers more for health coverage or ban smoking on the job. But punishing people for using a legal product on their own time crosses a troubling line."

The editorial makes an exception for health-care companies who want to practice what they preach. "But such practices are not confined to the health care industry, and they raise a broader issue: If employers routinely reject people who engage in risky, but legal, behavior on their own time, what about such things are overeating or drinking too much alcohol?" (Read more)

West Liberty City Council votes to ban smoking in city buildings, but question may be revisited

The West Liberty City Council voted narrowly last week to ban smoking in city buildings, reports Miranda Cantrell of the Licking Valley Courier.

Mayor Jim Rupe opposed the move, which passed 3-2 with one abstention. If the vote had been tied, Rupe could have broken it.

"Rupe, a smoker, advised council members to consider city employees who smoke, including City Clerk Sally Barker and some department heads," Cantrell reports. Council Members Mark Walter and Belinda Jordan said they were trying to help members of the public who use city buildings.

"Barker said the council will likely revisit the smoking issue at next month's meeting," Cantrell reports. "No effective date for the ban was suggested." (Read more)

Tips to make strawberry ice cream

Strawberry are good in vitamins and nutrients.This fruit provides nutritional values much for kids .Those who feel to make ice cream at home can follow these procedure to make tasteful strawberry ice cream easily.The following are the some of the ingredients for making ice cream.

Ingredients:

• 1cup of strawberries
• 2oz(100g)sugar split into 2 equal halves
• 2egg yolks
• 1/4pint(150ml)full cream milk
• 1/2pint(250ml)double cream
• 1/2teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2teaspoon cornflour

Method

Cut the strawberries into small pieces. Take a big bowl and add choped berries and then add 1oz (50g) sugar.Mix well until you get that mixture. Then chill the mixture in the refrigerator.Then mix the egg yolks together with 1oz (50g) of sugar and cornflour.Pour the milk into a saucepan and heat gently on the minimum heat till it become hot . Then stir the hot milk into the egg and add sugar with it. Then keep in the minimum heat and heat it gently.After several minutes it starts thicken into a custard. At this time remove the pan from heat and make it to cool. Afters cooled, put it in a chill bowl. Then keep in the refrigerator for 3 hours .After that pour the double cream into a separate mixing bowl and whip until it becomes slightly fluffy. Stir into this the vanilla extract. The mixture is now ready to transfer to the ice cream maker and freeze according to the serving.

Cabinet files appeal to prevent releasing full child abuse records; Beshear backs decision

On the day the state was supposed to release unadulterated records on deaths and near deaths from child abuse, under a court order, it filed an appeal to stop the process. And though Gov. Steve Beshear had ordered the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to release the records, yesterday he sided with its officials, saying in an op-ed piece sent to Kentucky newspapers he did not "think the judge's order was protective enough" of informants who often want to remain secret, such as relatives, health-care providers, teachers and law-enforcement officials. (Getty Images photo)

“You teach in a small community and suspect a student is being abused,” Beshear wrote. “Can you come forward without the newspaper naming you as the accuser?" Jon Fleischaker, attorney for The Courier-Journal and the Kentucky Press Association, said Beshear was “fear-mongering,” and noted that Shepherd’s order to release records applies only in cases in which children were killed or nearly killed from abuse or neglect, following a state law designed to hold the cabinet accountable for its child protective services.

Beshear wrote, “The cabinet has been accused of 'operating under a veil of secrecy' in a supposed attempt to protect inept workers and a poorly designed system. But this is not about shielding the system from scrutiny. We understand the need to be more transparent than in years past.” In December, the cabinet handed over 353 pages of records, but the names of at least eight children who died from abuse or neglect had been redacted, along with all the names of children who had been seriously injured, as well as much other information. The Courier-Journal, the Lexington Herald-Leader and the Todd County Standard had sued the cabinet for refusing to release the records. Twice before, Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd ordered the cabinet to turn them over. Last week, Shepherd fined the agency $16,000 for its secretive treatment and delays. He also found the cabinet should pay more than $57,000 in legal fees for the newspapers. (Read more)

Yesterday, the cabinet filed its motion with the state Court of Appeals and "asked the court to block Shepherd's Jan. 19 order to release records, starting today, with limited redactions," reports the C-J's Deborah Yetter. In the meantime, the cabinet released about 90 internal reviews of child deaths and serious injuries incurred by abuse but with deletions it feels is necessary "to protect the best interests of the state's child welfare system," its motion read. (Read more)

Home-health industry is the latest to complain about late payments since state switched to managed-care Medicaid

Kentucky's new Medicaid managed-care system is three months late in making payments to home-health agencies, officials told the House Health and Welfare Committee Thursday.

Nurses Registry and Home Health has outstanding claims of $300,000 to $400,000, Jeannie Lemaster, chief compliance officer, told lawmakers. "Kip Bowmar, executive director of the Kentucky Home Health Association, said only 8 percent of the claims from the approximately 150 home-health agencies have been paid since the switch to managed care Nov. 1," reports Beth Musgrave of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

"If these problems don't get corrected, there is a likelihood that some agencies could go out of business," Bowmar said.

Therapists who work with abused, neglected and at-risk children have likewise told lawmakers of back payments. Independent pharmacists have said "reimbursement rates are much lower than they were under traditional Medicaid, which means they are having to lay off employees," Musgrave reports.

In November, Kentucky made the switch to managed care for its 500,000 Medicaid recipients outside the Louisville region. The move is expected to save the state more than $1 billion in the next three years. Three companies, Coventry Cares, Wellcare of Kentucky and Kentucky Spirit, broker the care and are paid on a per-patient, per-month rate.

Lemaster said most of her agency's problems are with Coventry, which has denied 82 percent of their claims. "Lemaster said that because there are differences in the managed care companies and what is being approved for payments, there are inequities in the Medicaid system," Musgrave reports. "Some people are receiving services and others aren't."

Jill Midkiff, spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said problems related to the changeover are being ironed out. "The primary focus of the Medicaid program staff is and continues to be the prompt resolution of any issues that arise as we ease the transition of providers to managed care," she said. (Read more)

Lawmakers hear testimony about state's pill mill problem, discuss whether to put all prescription-drug issues into one bill

With a raid on a pain clinic in Paintsville making headlines yesterday morning, state legislators heard from community leaders and officials telling them to pass legislation to curb the proliferation of pill mills.

Lois Windhorst, best known as a leader of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, told the Senate Judiciary Committee about a family member she lost to prescription-drug abuse. "It just progressively got worse," she said. "She carried a big bag of pills with her wherever she went."

On the legislative agenda is Senate Bill 42, which "would require licenses for pain management clinics and doctors to own them," notes Greg Hall of The Courier-Journal. There are 77 pain clinics in the state, 33 of which are owned by people who have no medical background.

No vote was taken on the bill. Its sponsor, Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, said he will revise it based on yesterday's testimony.

Sen. Ray Jones, D-Pikeville, argued for a more all-inclusive bill, which would include the premise of Higdon's bill; ban cash payment at clinics, as proposed in House Bill 251; and require doctors and pharmacists to use the state's electronic drug monitoring system known as KASPER, a bill that Attorney General Jack Conway and others are expected to push once it is filed.

Jones "also said filling prescriptions from out of state should be required to check with registries in those states to guard against duplicate prescriptions," Hall reports.

Committee Chairman Tom Jensen, R-London, said there is much support to deal with the issue of prescription-drug abuse in this legislative session. Nearly 1,000 Kentuckians die each year due to prescription drug overdoses. (Read more)

Meds-for-meth bill could lead to overcrowding at doctors' office, Hopkinsville hospital official says

Making pseudoephedrine available only by prescription has led to fears of packed waiting rooms in doctors' offices, Dennis O'Neil writes for Hopkinsville's Kentucky New Era. (Photo of Sudafed pills by WebMD.com)

"It could lead to some overcrowding of primary care facilities that are already overcrowded," said James Goss, director of marking and community relations for Jennie Stuart Medical Center.

This session, three bills have been introduced to deal with pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient to make meth. House Bill 80 would prohibit anyone convicted with a meth-related charge from getting the drug without a prescription. The other two bills would prohibit anyone from getting the drug without a prescription, with the exception of pills in gel cap form.

Goss said he is worried a new law would inconvenience patients. "On its face, the bill seems well intended to protect the health and well being of the community," he said. "We are sympathetic to the pocketbook and convenience issues of our patients." (Read more)

State auditor will examine University Hospital's indigent-care trust

After the Jefferson County attorney said the fund lacked oversight, state Auditor Adam Edelen said he will audit and review the indigent-care trust in Louisville through which $32 million tax dollars flow. (Courier-Journal photo by John Rott)

The audit will determine "whether there are adequate resources to treat indigents in the Louisville area," reports Patrick Howington of The Courier-Journal. The issue came up recently when University Hospital, the recipient of the funds, tried to merge with two other hospital systems.

Earlier this month, County Attorney Mike O'Connell said the trust's board, which is appointed by the University of Louisville, "had not met in more than two years," Howington writes. The next day, U of L President James Ramsey asked Edelen to look into the trust's financial records.

Edelen spokeswoman Stephenie Steitzer said the lack of board meetings raises the question of "whether there is a proper and effective governance structure in place."

The trust receives $25 million each year from the state and $7 million from Louisville Metro Government. University Hospital uses those funds to treat poor, uninsured patients. Last year, the trust only paid for "about one-third of the facilities' charity care last year, which cost $88 million and involved more than 63,000 cases," Howington reports. (Read more)

Bills would require more assessment before a patient can be admitted to a personal-care home

Legislation dubbed "Larry's Law" is aimed at preventing what happened to Larry Lee from happening again.

House Bill 307, filed by Democratic Rep. Terry Mills, right, "would require an individual to be examined and assessed by a medical professional before admission to a personal care home, and it would require further assessment of the degree of disability for an individual with an acquired brain injury who was being considered for placement," report Valarie Honeycutt Spears and Beth Musgrave of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Senate Bill 115, filed by Republican Sen. Jimmy Higdon, left, would require that a potential resident be evaluated by a mental health professional before someone is admitted to a personal care home, a cost that would be picked up by the state. Higdon and Mills are both from Lebanon, where Larry Lee lived until he went to Falmouth Nursing Home in Pendleton County.

In August, Lee, right, disappeared from the home, one of 82 free-standing personal care homes in Kentucky. Lee, who had a brain injury from childhood, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and diabetes. He was found dead four week after his disappearance on the banks of the Licking River, which flows through Falmouth.

A pre-admission assessment "is the only thing that we found that could have saved Larry Lee," Higdon said. "His condition was too severe. He should have never been in a personal care home." (Read more)

Police make second raid in a year at pain clinic in Paintsville

As lawmakers wrestle with what to do about prescription pill abuse in Kentucky, law enforcement continues to crack down on so-called "pill mills."

For the second time in less than a year, officers descended upon Care More Pain Management in Paintsville last Wednesday, arresting 29 people outside the clinic. "The raid was part of an ongoing investigation by Attorney General Jack Conway's office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration into doctors who allegedly over-prescribe pain medications," report R.G. Dunlop and Laura Ungar of The Courier-Journal.

"We're been looking forward to this day for almost as long as I've been in office," five years, said Paintsville Mayor Bob Porter. "Hopefully, other people will think twice before they try to get into this business."

Dr. Richard Albert, who had practiced at the clinic, was arrested last Feb. 16 and pleaded guilty in December to conspiring to illegally prescribe about 50,000 Percocet tablets. Conway's office believes Albert was prescribing about 100,000 pills a month and seeing about 55 patients per day. (Read more)

USDA issues new school lunch rules; not as broad as first written, but will make meals healthier

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released new, finalized requirements that will make school lunch a healthier meal for students.

The guidelines will mean:

• Students will be given both fruit and vegetables every school day.

• More foods will be made with whole grains.

• Students will be offered only fat-free or low-fat milk.

• Calories will be limited by portion size, based on the age of children being served.

• There will be less saturated fat and trans-fats in the food served.

• The amount of sodium will decrease gradually over the next 10 years.

Though the changes represent the first school-lunch overhaul in 15 years, they are not as comprehensive as the Obama administration initially wanted them to be. A bill passed late last year "would require the department to allow tomato paste on pizzas to be counted as a vegetable, as it is now," reports Mary Clare Jalonick of The Associated Press. "The initial draft of the department's guidelines, released a year ago, would have prevented that." Congress also kept USDA from limiting potatoes to two servings a week. Potato farmers and frozen-pizza companies lobbied hard against those proposals, some conservatives said the government shouldn't be telling children what to eat, and some school districts said the changes were too broad and too expensive.

Some of the changes will be incorporated by September, and others will be phased in. The changes affect lunches that are subsidized by the federal government in the National School Lunch Program, which serves 32 million children. Participation rates are very high in Kentucky. The Covington and Owsley County school districts have the highest percentage of students — 88 percent — eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Magoffin County has the second highest with 86 percent followed by Newport (85 percent); Bell County (83 percent); and West Point Independent in Hardin County (81 percent). (Read more)

The changes are aimed in part at curbing childhood obesity. That has also been the target of measure to limit junk food in schools, which have been called into question. A recent study of almost 20,000 students found no link between junk food at school and weight gain in children. "The researchers examined the children's weight and found that in the eighth grade, 35.5 percent of kids in schools with junk food were overweight while 34.8 percent of those in schools without it were overweight — a statistically insignificant increase," reports Benjamin Radford of Discovery News. (Read more)

Free seminar on guardianship to be offered Feb. 26 in Lexington

Kentuckians for Nursing Home Reform will provide the opportunity to learn from experts about guardianship Feb. 26. More than 23,000 Kentuckians live in nursing homes.

Lexington attorneys Carolyn Kenton and Robert McClelland will speak, along with Virgiel Clayton, director of the Division of Guardianship in the Department of Aging and Independent Living.

The seminar, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Tates Creek Branch of the Lexington Public Library. For more information, click here.

PhytoMultiTM The "Smart" Multi The Revolutionary Approach to Daily Nutritional Support* Only PhytoMulti provides a potent, research-based spectrum of phytonutrients that has been scientifically tested for biological activity—demonstrating its potential to recharge, nourish, and defend cells unlike any other foundation nutrition formula.* * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Smart Nutrigenomics Design Research-based combination of phytonutrients and essential vitamins/minerals for multidimensional health support* Smart Cell Signaling Support* Nourishes and recharges cells to enhance communication throughout the body* Smart Antioxidant Protection Capacity* Shielding potential against five free radicals demonstrated in vitro with total functional ORAC assay *Smart DNA Stability Support Potential* Potential to help maintain DNA integrity verified by sophisticated COMET assay* Smart Cell Protection Potential* Strategic combination of phytonutrients and essential nutrients designed to protect the cell and promote cellular health and function I am excited to share with you the new formula, PhytoMulti.  I was never able to be compliant with taking my vitamins because most of the good ones required taking up to 8 tablets a day.  I am thrilled with this new product because now I can take just 1-2 per day and get huge benefits!  This formula combines a Full Spectrum of Phytonutrients along with Optimized Vitamins and Minerals.  PhytoMulti goes beyond basic wellness support with a proprietary blend of concentrated plant extracts and phytonutrients with scientifically tested biological activity to protect cells and maintain DNA stability–activating health potential like no other supplement.* An analysis of all the PhytoMulti active ingredients equivalent to 2 tablets showed a total ORACFN of 25,268. Another sophisticated COMET assay demonstrated Phytonutrient-treated cells maintained 52% greater stability when compared to untreated cells.  PhytoMulti is truly a unique Multi-Vitamin: · Intelligent blend of a highly-concentrated, full spectrum of phytonutrients with science-based efficacy.*  · Phytonutrient potential for cell protection and DNA stability verified by sophisticated in vitro ORACFN and Comet assays.*  · Phytonutrients impact cell signaling to communicate healthy messages throughout the body.*   · Enhanced with select bioactive plant compounds—including lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and resveratrol.   · Optimized with essential vitamins and minerals for multidimensional health support.*   · Recharges, nourishes, and defends cells like no other foundation nutrition formula.* To order now or for more information please e-mail jes@jescollection.com or call 208-629-0444.

Fruits & Veggies-Healthy life for kids

Fruits and vegetables are natural healthy and nutritious food for the kids.They posses vitamins minerals,proteins,carbohydrates,etc.These helps to grow the kids in a healthy manner.

• Fruits that are rich in vitamin C, like oranges,lemons, helps to heal your burn faster. They also make your teeth nice and strong.
  
• Due to cholesterol person may suffer by heart problems.Hence Fruit has zero cholesterol.By consuming this kids can have healthy diet.
  
• watermelons are used to carryout the water content in their body.
  
• Banana can be taken during night due to proper digestion and helps in control of blood pressure.
  
• Kiwi fruit is named for the national bird of New Zealand, the Kiwi bird, because of its brown fuzzy skin. These fruits are good for bones and relief from arthritis,etc.
  
• Pineapples are berries,just like strawberries and blueberries that helps the kid to have good eye sight.
  
• Pumpkins are derived from Greek word for large melon.Theses also contains enriched minerals.
  
• Bilberries, cousins of the blueberry,helps to improve nighttime vision.
  
• raspberries contain antioxidants that can reduce cancer.
  
• Eating five servings of fruit and vegetables each day is a good way to stay healthy and strong.
  
• It is possible to use fruit juice in your cake or cookie recipe in place of some of the fat. It will add to the fruit intake for the day in a sweet and tasty way.
  
• Fruit can be added to a tossed salad to add a different flavor and a boost of extra vitamins and nutrients.
  

In 11-1 vote, Somerset passes comprehensive smoking ban

Lighting up in Somerset, once a big tobacco town, will no longer be allowed in all enclosed public places. The city council voted 11-1 Monday evening to pass a smoking-ban ordinance, reports Heather Tomlinson of the Commonwealth Journal. (C-J photo)

The ordinance includes restaurants, bingo halls, gaming facilities, nursing homes and any place of employment. "It's a public health safety issue," said councilor Jerry Girdler, who lost his well-known brother Eddie two weeks ago to throat and lung cancer. "The facts back up that smoking is harmful to the people around them."

The meeting attracted a crowd of more than 50, many of whom voiced their opinions. Business owner Teresa Singleton said, "I am really shocked at the fact that the City of Somerset is considering taking away the rights of businesses to make those decisions on whether we want our place of business to be smoking or non-smoking. For you to take that on your own, I think that's a major step in the wrong direction."

Local podiatrist Pamela Jensen-Stanley disagreed. "I believe the ban is necessary," she said. "I think it's time that Somerset moves up and gets with the program." (Read more)

Secrets of Making Body Always Powerful

Secrets of Making Always Powerful Body | Maybe some people worry that it would lack the energy to undergo a variety of daily activities, especially if it must be coupled with exercising. Here's a quick way to get enough energy to stay active.

Here are some quick ways you can do to get enough energy to remain active as quoted from MSNHealth, Friday (20/01/2012), among others:
1. Eat a balanced diet

Unless a person exercising for 1 hour or more, then it does not need to eat more calories or eat special foods to increase energy. A balanced diet will give most people enough energy for physical activity.

Eat the recommended amount or a portion of each food group. Experts recommend the food guide pyramid based on age, gender, and amount of daily physical activity.

Food groups are:
a. Meat or meat substitutes.
b. Of milk.
c. Fruits and vegetables.
d. Grains, such as bread and pasta.
e. A limited amount of fat and sugar.

2. Drinking a lot of fluids

Many people do not drink enough fluids to compensate for perspiration by physical activity. Some things you can do to avoid dehydration, among others:

a. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after physical activity.
b. Consuming sports drinks, if it will be exercising for more than an hour, and try to drink at least every 15-20 minutes.
c. Avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol. They increase dehydration.
d. In very hot weather, you should do extra precautions to prevent dehydration.
e. If dizziness or very tired, then stop exercising.

3. Rest Enough

If you feel weak and tired but not sick then the things you should do include:

a. Short runs and fast for 5-10 minutes can give you plenty of energy or other mild physical activity.
b. Gradually increasing exercise activities can give you more energy.
c. Avoiding drugs that can cause fatigue, such as sedatives, cold and allergy medications.
d. Eating a balanced diet can give you more energy. Do not skip meals, especially breakfast.
e. Abstain from alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
f. Reduce watching TV.
g. Getting a good night's sleep.

If you feel weak and tired due to colds or flu then the things you should do include:

a. Getting extra rest when sick.
b. Return slowly to undergo daily activities.
c. Drink plenty of fluids so as not to become dehydrated. [detik]

How to Maintain Sexual Health for Women by Age

Maintaining sexual health is very important for both men and women. As people age, how to maintain sexual health in women may vary. How to maintain sexual health in women can be grouped by age.

What should be done by women to maintain sexual health?

Here's how to maintain sexual health for women of all ages as quoted from HealthLine, Thursday (19/01/2012), among others:

1. For woman ages 20 years and over

a. Sexual intercourse is safe
Nearly two-thirds of all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur in women under the age of 25 years. Especially in women who often have sexual relations with multiple partners, it can increase the risk of STDs. Therefore, it is very important to use condoms every sexual intercourse.

b. Getting the HPV vaccine
Some high-risk strains of HPV can cause genital warts and cervical cancer. So it's important to get the HPV vaccine.

c. Check up on a regular basis
If sexually active, it is important to do a pap smear and annual examinations begin 3 years after first sexual intercourse or at age 21 years. Because many STDs do not show any symptoms, so that annual screening is also important.

2. For ages 30 years and over

a. Determine the family planning
Appropriate birth control is still very important. The most popular method was oral contraceptives. Other options, such as vaginal rings, injections, condoms, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs). Talk to your doctor about the type of birth control is right for you. Learn more about birth control options.

b. Discuss with a partner if sexual intercourse did cause pain.

Pain during sex can be a sign of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a reproductive disorder in which endometrial tissue that lines the uterus, also grows in the ovaries, pelvic, and fallopian tubes.

3. For ages 40 years and over

a. balancing of hormones
Rise and fall of hormones and perimenopause (5-10 years before menopause) leads to lower libido, irregular periods, and vaginal dryness.

b. Guard against STDs
Using a condom is still the most important protection.

4. For ages 50 years and over

a. Pay attention if symptoms of menopause have emerged
The average age of menopause is approximately 51 years earlier. With menopause comes there will be a decrease in hormones that can cause lower libido, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. So women tend to avoid sexual contact altogether.

But with the help of doctors, it will be able to manage the symptoms of menopause as well.

b. Using vaginal lubricants
Lower hormone levels can cause vaginal tissues to thin and dry. So that intercourse can be uncomfortable and unwanted. For many women, a little lubricant or moisturizer will help, but others may need a prescription creams that contain estrogen to relieve dryness and inflammation.

5. For ages 60 and 70 years and over

a. Do not stop having sex
Many women over age 60 who remain sexually active. Many people aged over 60 years of regular sexual intercourse will tend to be healthier than those having sex less often or not at all.

b. Sexual intercourse with a slower rhythm
Sexual intercourse will probably take a while for you and your partner. Do foreplay as needed.

c. Prepare a sexual relationship with either
With drug erectile dysfunction (ED) can be more active sexual life in the elderly. For a pair of women do not use soap to wash the vagina. Instead, look for a cleanser that has a pH equal to a healthy vagina, which is between 3.8 to 4.5.

Florida-to-Appalachia 'pill pipeline' appears to be shriveling

Attorneys general from Florida and Kentucky say the prescription pill pipeline between the two states is beginning to close, reports Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader. They credit new programs and rules in Florida, but Kentucky AG Jack Conway says more work is needed "to attack the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in Kentucky." The pipeline has also supplied Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee.

Florida became the epicenter of the prescription drug trade to the Appalachian states because of lax regulation of pain clinics and tracking prescription drugs, Estep reports. People from the region traveled to Florida, stocked up on drugs, then returned home to sell them. In 2010, a police raid uncovered 1,400 files in a Florida doctor's office, and most were on Eastern Kentuckians. Police estimated that 60 percent of pills illegally sold in Kentucky were prescribed in Florida.

Florida officials have increased monitoring of prescription pills, boosted enforcement, required pain clinics to register with the state, started a prescription monitoring system and barred many clinics from dispensing pills. The results have been significant, Florida AG Pam Bondi said at a substance-abuse conference in Lexington. In 2010, 98 of the top 100 oxycodone prescribers were in Florida; only 11 are now. Registered pain clinics in the state have dropped from 943 to 579. (Read more)

Don't Stop Taking Resveratrol, Says Top Doc

Newsmaxhealth.com

Sunday, January 22, 2012 1:57 PM

A major scandal erupted this month when a researcher at the University of Connecticut was accused of faulty research — or downright fraud — in at least 26 articles he wrote about the benefits of resveratrol.

 Resveratrol, an anti-inflammatory found in the skins of red grapes, has been hailed as the "Fountain of Youth," and is said to fight heart disease, cancer, and other diseases of aging. Some researchers believe the resveratrol contained in red wine is responsible for the “French Paradox” — the apparent ability of the French to eat high-fat diets and drink copious amounts of red wine and still have low rates of heart disease and cancer.

 "It has anticancer properties and a powerful ability to protect the brain against immunoexcitotoxicity, the central mechanism in brain aging and neurodegenerative disease of the brain," says Newsmax Health contributor Dr. Russell Blaylock. "Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant that stimulates brain growth and synaptic connections."

 Although disturbing, the news that some resveratrol research is in question shouldn't taint the reputation of a valuable heart-healthy nutrient, says Dr. Blaylock. He is in agreement with other scientists and researchers who believe the news will have minimal impact in the field of resveratrol research, since Dr. Dipak K. Das, the scientist in question, isn't a major researcher in the field.

 "Dr. Das is NOT the major researcher in resveratrol effects on cardiovascular health," says Dr. Blaylock. "Several of his papers are review papers of other people's research.

 "We are not sure what is being questioned," says Blaylock, who notes that "bias and corruption within the ruling medical elite can attack a researcher unfairly." So, in Dr. Blaylock's opinion, the jury is still out on Das's guilt.

Das's research aside, the overwhelming amount of research from other sources found that resveratrolis, in fact, an effective nutrient. "There are 4,460 research and review papers listed on PubMed that are published from labs from all over the world," says Dr. Blaylock. "They are finding a tremendous effectiveness of resveratrol on cardiovascular health, neuroprotection, and usefulness in cancer prevention and treatment.

"That means that greater than 99.9 percent of the research done on resveratrol is from labs completely independent of Das' lab or his institution."

 The media adds to the confusion when stories like the resveratrol story break, says Dr. Blaylock. "The media wants to make the most exciting headline they can — so they write such nonsense as 'resveratrol research faked: forget that glass of wine,'" says Dr. Blaylock. "Ironically, they are committing a more glaring fraud than the person they are writing about.

 "It would have taken them no more than 10 minutes to find what I did — that 99.9 percent of the research is totally independent of Das' research, and virtually all of it finds resveratrol to be effective and safe."

There is also the problem that so many of the media's advertising dollars come from the pharmaceutical makers of statins, says Dr. Blaylock: "They have a vested interest in reporting a story that would destroy the resveratrol market. Again, this is glaring fraud by the media. The purpose of journalism is to dig out the truth — to carefully analyze a story and provide the real story to the public," says Blaylock. All too often, the media doesn't do its job, he says.

 As for himself and his patients, "I will continue to take resveratrol and recommend it," he says.

© 2012 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

UK opening new operating rooms, including high-tech hybrid

The region's first hybrid operating room, one that adds imaging and robotics to traditional surgery, is opening this week at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital. The only other hybrid OR in Kentucky is at the Trover Clinic in Madisonville, according to Kristi Lopez of UK Public Relations.

News media are being invited to see demonstrations and tour the facility, as well as eight new operating rooms opening in the next phase of the hospital's construction, on Wednesday afternoon. Those on the 1:30 p.m. tour will include Dr. Michael Karpf, UK's executive vice president for health affairs; Ann Smith, the hospital's chief administrative officer; Dr. Joseph "Jay" Zwischenberger, UK HealthCare surgeon-in-chief; Dr. Bernard Boulanger, surgical services director; Dr. David Minion, a vascular and endovascular surgeon; and Dr. Justin Fraser, a neurosurgeon.

"Advantages to a hybrid operating room include greater accuracy of surgical procedures, reduced recovery time, and reduced risk of postoperative complications," a UK press advisory said. "Vascular and endovascular surgeries will begin being performed in the new OR in the next few weeks."

Journalists wanting to take the tour and watch the demonstrations should park in the UK HealthCare parking garage at South Limestone and Transcript Avenue and meet university public-relations representatives promptly at 1:30. For more information or assistance, call or text Lopez at 859-806-0445.

Fruit cream recipes using healthy fruits

Fruit cream recipe can be made easily at your home itself.Take your own time to do this recipe by using the ingredients and directions as just mentioned below.

INGREDIENTS

Orange-1

Apple-1

Mango-1

Banana-1

Grapes-1 bunch

Plum-2

Pomegranate-1

Raisins-1/4cup

Nuts-1/4cup

mango-1/4cup

Sugar-1/2cup

Whipping cream-300 ml

 PROCEDURE

Cut each fruit into small pieces and put them in a large bowel so that you can able to mix all the fruits comfortably.you can use other fruits also that you like, but don't use much citric fruits for example lemon,lime,etc.Add cream, sugar, mango juice, and nuts, and mix them well.Keep in the refrigerator for 2 hours before. The cooler it is, the tastier it is!! You can even freeze it and serve it as fruit ice cream.

Rockcastle County school board nixes ban on smoking at schools

While more than 30 Kentucky communities have banned smoking in enclosed public places, and about as many school districts have imposed a total ban, many districts remain resistant to the idea. This month the Rockcastle County Board of Education turned down a smoking ban that would have allowed designated smoking areas at athletic events but no smoke breaks for employees.

"Four of the five board members expressed opposition to the ban, including Mike Burdette, who said he didn't feel it was right to tell an adult they cannot use a legal product on grounds their taxes pay for," reported  the Mount Vernon Signal. Other board members said they didn't like the fact that the proposal from the administration did not include smoke breaks since employees "can't leave school during the day except for designated reasons."

The Signal reported that Superintendent Larry Hammond "put forth the argument that research has shown that second- and even third-hand smoke can be harmful to students," but only Board Chairman Martin Vanzant supported the proposal. To a member who suggested that the ban be delayed for two or three years, he said that would be "postponing the inevitable." (Read more)

In Kentucky, "All 174 school systems have restrictions of some sort on the use of tobacco products on their campuses, and any that allow staff smoking have designated areas," Brad Hughes of the Kentucky School Boards Association told Kentucky health News. "About 30 have a total ban."

Prevent Blindness with Wine Fruit

Prevent Blindness with Wine Fruit - Many people believe that carrots are the only source of food that have an important function for eye health. However, do you wonder if in fact the grapes have a role no less important for eye health?

Recent research shows, the grapes have the ability to slow or prevent the onset of macular degeneration due to aging (age-related macular degeneration/AMD). Macular degeneration is a condition in which the macula, causing deteriorated visual acuity decline and will likely cause loss of central visual function. The macula is the most vital part of the retina that allows the eye to see fine details in the central visual field.

Researchers believe that antioxidants work that contain in wine has a protective effect. The findings are published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

In his research, researchers conducted experiments on mice fed a diet rich in antioxidants (grape). Then the researchers looked at the impact of changes in vision function mice, susceptible to retinal damage.

The results showed that wine consumption provides a dramatic protective effect. A diet high in grapes can prevent oxidative damage in rat retina and blindness.

"The protective effect of wine in this study is extraordinary, because it offers benefits for eyesight in old age even if the wine is consumed at a young age," said Silvia Finnemann PhD, Department of Biological Science from Fordham University, New York, as principal investigator.

Dr. Finnemann noted that these findings show an association between increasing age and decreased vision. "Diet for life which is enriched with natural antioxidants, such as wine, it seems to be a direct benefit to the health and function of the retina," he added.

A diet high in grapes may significantly reduce the accumulation of lipofuscin (oxidized fats triggers the aging process) and to prevent oxidative damage retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), thus ensuring optimum retinal function.

"Preserving the health of the eye should be a major concern along with increasing age. This is good news for consumers of all ages to enjoy the grapes, and these findings add to growing evidence that wine offers a variety of health benefits, continued Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission.

Drink Fresh Raw Milk must be Avoid

Drink Fresh Raw Milk must be Avoid | Some people argue that the consumption of fresh raw milk is more healthful because it contains bacteria and enzymes that good compared to the milk was processed. But the claim has not been proven, even fresh raw milk is one source of food poisoning.

According to data from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found 86 reported outbreaks of food poisoning caused by raw milk between 1998 and 2008. 1676 outbreak led to the sick, 191 have to be hospitalized and two people died.

"Raw milk to be hospitalized due to food poisoning. The amount is three times more than any other food poisoning," said Hannah Gould, a senior epidemiologist at the CDC enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch.

That's why now sell fresh raw milk is illegal in most American states.

Raw milk can be easily contaminated by bacteria originating from animal manure, soil, leather, fur or any other equipment on the ranch.

One safe way to kill bacteria is heated to high temperatures, either pasteurized or UHT. This method can be deadly literia bacteria, salmonella and E.coli.

In the United States there were two patients who suffered from Guillain-Barre syndrome (which can cause paralysis) after infection 'bacterial campylobacteriosis' caused by consuming raw milk.

7 Benefits Cycling Sport for Health

7 Benefits Cycling Sport for Health - Lately, the public interest to continue to increase cycling sport. It can be seen from the continued emergence of a new cycling sport community.

Cycling is one sport that attractive and can be done by anyone, regardless of age and gender status. Some studies even have shown some benefit from this simple activity as a tool to promote overall health.

Want to know more what are the health benefits of Cycling Sport? Here is his review:

1. Cycling good for your heart: exercise bike closely associated with increased cardiovascular fitness or health of the heart and blood vessels, and decreased risk of coronary heart disease.

2. Cycling good for the muscles: Riding a bike is very good for toning and building muscle, especially in the lower body such as the calves, thighs, and rear.

3. Keeping the ideal waist size remains: you can burn more calories while biking, especially when be Cycling Sport faster than usual. Cycling is not only effective in helping you lose weight, but also increase metabolism.

4. Extend age: Cycling is the best way to improve your life. Some research suggests that regular cycling activity has been associated with increasing age, even when it should be tailored to the risk of injury while riding a bicycle.

5. Cycling good for coordination: Active move both legs to pedal, while the two hands controlling the steering wheel is a good practice to train your body coordination skills.

6. Good for mental health: Cycling has been linked with improved mental health.

7. Boost the immune system: Cycling can strengthen the immune system, as well as a means of protection against certain types of cancer.

In Order Acne Not Severe Increase

In Order Acne Not Severe Increase | Although not preventable, there are several steps that can be done so that the acne from getting worse.

- Wash your face gently every day. Avoid scrubbing too hard or washing too often in one day.

- Avoid excessive sweating, if you believe it can cause acne worse. Wash your face immediately after completion of the move to the face clean of sweat.

- Frequently wash your hair, especially owners of greasy hair. Take care not to cover facial hair.

- Avoid using hair products, like gels, mousse, and pomade which contain lots of oil.

- As much as possible not to touch the face.

- Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals and oils such as kerosene.

- Diligent cleaning of the face make-up before going to bed. Sleeping with make-up is still attached will cause a blockage in the pores.

- Remove make-up that has expired. Clean all equipment make-up regularly with soapy water.

- Avoid wearing thick powder foundation.

- Wear loose clothing. Tight clothing will cause heat and moisture trapped in it and make the skin irritated. As much as possible do not wear a backpack, hel, or sports equipment to prevent friction with the skin. [kompas]

Vitamin water, How Need?

Vitamin water, How Need? - Today, bottled water is no longer just contain H20. In the market mostly found drinking water supplemented with vitamins, minerals, ions, herbs, and even oxygen. Identify the function and use appropriately.

The rise of supplement water products on the market may be triggered by the needs of the community will be a source of nutrients that can not be met from the daily diet given the community a minimal diet of vegetables and fruits.

According dr.Saptawati Bardosono, a nutritionist from the jakarta Medical Association Physician Nutrition, water included in the essential nutrients that are essential for body functions. But basically what we need from the water is a little intake of fluids and minerals.

"Vitamins and other nutrients should be met from the daily diet, not from water. As consumers we should be more observant in choosing a product because the water is added to other substances it is definitely more expensive," he explained in one session of the National Seminar on Food and Nutrition 2012 in Jakarta (19/1).

According Dr.Minarto, Chairman of Indonesia Nutritionist, get used to eating foods varied or varied is the principle of balanced nutrition.

"In contrast to the principles of Healthy 4 5 Excellent, balanced nutrition in principle, we are encouraged to eat a varied diet to meet all the nutrients the body embodied, but the number is limited according to the conditions that are not overweight," he explained in the same event.

Opponents of meds-for-meth bill hold teleconference

Since they were not given the opportunity to speak at last week's legislative hearing about a move to make pseudoephedrine available mainly by prescription, opponents held a teleconference yesterday to air their opinions. It was hosted by representatives of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents makers of over-the-counter drugs.

Pat Davis, mother of six and wife of 4th District U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, said "Our children are going to miss school, parents are going to miss time at work," if a prescription bill passes. Davis said she was disappointed she'd not been given the opportunity to speak last week. "There wasn't a single dissenting voice to be heard," she said. Legislators said they ran out of time and opponents would be given a chance to be heard.

Dr. Donald Neel, an Owensboro pediatrician, said he "recommends pseudoephedrine daily because it is the only safe and effective drug that we can recommend over the counter." He added, "It makes absolutely no sense for patients who need pseudoephedrine to have to come to the office, to take time off work. And we don't have time to see them." Neel said he feels "97 percent of his patients use the medicine legitimately,"

The bill at issue would require a prescription for pills containing pseudoephedrine but would not apply to medications using gelatin capsules, which are more difficult to use in meth making.

State Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, sponsor of an alternaitve bill, said the prescription measure goes too far. "Who do we punish? The soccer moms? Or the criminals?" he asked. His bill would only require the 5,500 people who have been convicted of a meth-related crime to have a prescription. It would also lower the amount of pseudoephedrine people can buy from 9 grams per month to 7.5 grams. It would continue to track the drug using MethCheck, which instantly tracks purchases at the point of sale. He called his effort "a common-sense approach."

Law enforcement and some legislators have criticized Yonts' bill because it won't alleviate "smurfing,"  meth cooks' payment of others to buy pseudoephedrine for them. But Yonts said MethCheck requires people buying the drug to hand over their driver's license and be placed in the system, allowing law enforcement to track who buys it often. "When they see these repeated efforts, they're going to be tracked down," he said, adding 30,000 stores and pharmacies use the system nationwide. "it's the right solution for Kentucky, and we can block criminals from getting this," he said.

Expect a bill that will require doctors to have KASPER accounts, state drug policy director says

By Tara Kaprowy

Kentucky Health News

A bill is likely to be filed in the General Assembly that will require drug prescribers to have an account with the state’s drug monitoring system known as KASPER, news that was met with applause at the Different Faces of Substance Abuse conference yesterday.

“We’ve got to get KASPER out of the dark,” said Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. “Let’s take the guesswork out of this, and let’s use the data proactively.”

The bill would also propose using the Kentucky All-Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system to “mine data toward patients,” Ingram said, meaning analysts would look for people who have gone to an unusually high number of physicians or other providers within a short period of time, presumably to doctor shop for drugs.

Ingram said the KASPER Advisory Council, charged by Gov. Steve Beshear to identify prescribing thresholds in various medical disciplines, is discussing targeting providers who write 6,000 to 8,000 prescriptions a year — or the top 5 percent of prescribers. Kentucky’s Office of the Inspector General, which is in charge of maintaining KASPER, would find the information and refer it to the various licensing boards, which would then take appropriate action. The move is “quite a paradigm shift,” since it would be using data proactively, rather than reactively, Ingram said.

Since some providers aren’t in the same location for a year at a time, Ingram said the counsel will likely advise KASPER to be analyzed on a per-day basis, since many "problem prescribers are here for a day."

Dave Hopkins, KASPER program manager in the Office of Inspector General, said 6.6 percent of Kentuckians have used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes, second highest in the nation behind Oklahoma. He said 15,000 Americans die annually of overdoses involved in prescription drugs.

KASPER monitors all Schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substances that are dispensed in Kentucky, data that is required by law to be inputted by pharmacists and other dispensers. That translates to more than 11 million controlled substance prescriptions each year, Hopkins said.

To use KASPER, doctors and providers can request reports about specific patients and see their prescription history over the Internet. In 2004, 122,469 such reports were requested by providers. In 2011, that number jumped to more than 800,000. “When we started this in 1999, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services estimated there would be a maximum of 200,000 reports a year,” Hopkins said.

Still, while 95 percent of the reports were requested by prescribers, just 32 percent of them have KASPER accounts. And though pharmacies are required to input the information, just 26 percent of them have accounts.

Ingram would not say who would file a bill that would change those numbers, but he feels hopeful about changes to come. “I’m really excited for the first time in a long time that we’re going to get some things done,” he said.

Kentucky Health News is a service of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications at the University of Kentucky, with support from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

Beshear spares some health-related funding in harsh budget

Though Gov. Steve Beshear recommended harsh, nearly across-the-board cuts in his state budget proposal yesterday, some areas relating to health were exempt.

Though the budget for Cabinet for Health and Family Services could be cut by 8.4 percent, its social service department would actually gain $21 million in the next two years. "Cabinet officials said that would allow them to hire about 300 new workers, about one-third of them front-line social workers," reports Tom Loftus of The Courier-Journal. The child welfare department has been under fire due to its handling of children who died or nearly died from child abuse.

Beshear's budget would also spare Medicaid, a $600 billion per year health plan paid for mainly by the federal government. The proposal would add $108 million in the next two years to the state's investment in the plan, which provides health care to the poor and disabled. "That's because of projected growth in the program, which already serves about 800,000 Kentuckians," Loftus reports.

The budget also protects mental-health programs, and, for the first time, adds funding for substance-abuse treatment as part of a Medicaid benefit. (Read more)