Virginia improves health ranking in national survey
RICHMOND A low prevalence of smoking and a relatively small percentage of children in poverty helped contribute to a slight improvement in Virginia's overall health. The nonprofit United Health Foundation ranked Virginia as the 20th healthiest state in the country, an improvement from last year, when it was 22nd.

Health care rivals go to trial
The antitrust legal dispute between Wuesthoff Health System and Health First will go to a jury trial in November 2009.

Rockies: O'Dowd: Helton's health affects Atkins' role
Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said Thursday that Garrett Atkins' future with the team is linked to Todd Helton's health.

CEO of Ohio health insurer dies in plane crash
CLEVELAND ? The chief executive of the Medical Mutual of Ohio health insurance company has died in a small plane crash in Puerto Rico, a company spokesman said. Kent W. Clapp was 62. Also killed in Wednesday?s crash was his fiancee, Tracy Turner, and the pilot of the plane they chartered. The twin-engine plane crashed in dense fog into a mountain in the El Yunque rainforest about 13 miles east ...

Harkin urges speed on health care reform
The nation?s political and economic conditions have created a sense of urgency for Congress to enact sweeping health care legislation, Sen. Tom Harkin said in Des Moines on Thursday.

Obama laying the groundwork for U.S. health reform
WASHINGTON (Reuters)?President-elect Barack Obama has begun laying the groundwork for overhauling the troubled U.S. health care system, reaching out to interest groups and building grass-roots support for the huge undertaking.

WellSpan to close mental health office
A local mental health facility that serves about 1,600 people in the community will soon close its doors.

Cash-strapped health clinics saved by merger
Two longtime health clinics -- Roseland Children's Health Center and Santa Rosa Free Clinic -- have been acquired by the Southwest Community Health Center to prevent them from having to close because of rising costs and diminished funding.

Mental health officials warn of cuts
The state's Commission on Mental Health and Developmental Services plans to urge Gov. Jim Gibbons to consider the needs of the mentally ill and developmentally disabled before axing percentages off upcoming budgets.

Governor names Eve Franklin health policy adviser
Associated Press - December 5, 2008 10:04 AM ET HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Gov. Brian Schweitzer has named Eve Franklin as his policy adviser on health and families.

CEO of Ohio Health Insurer Dies in Plane Crash
The chief executive of the Medical Mutual of Ohio health insurance company has died in a small plane crash in Puerto Rico, a company spokesman said. Kent W. Clapp was 62. Also killed in Wednesday's crash was his fiancee, Tracy Turner, and the pilot of the plane they chartered.

AHIP Announces Universal Health Care Plan That Aims To Slow Growth Of Health Care Costs By 30% Over Five Years
America's Health Insurance Plans on Wednesday announced a universal health coverage proposal that would be funded in part by slowing the growth of health care costs by 30% over five years and reducing inefficiencies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

CEO of Ohio health insurer dies in plane crash
CLEVELAND (AP) - A spokesman for health insurer Medical Mutual of Ohio says the company is in mourning over the death of chief executive Kent Clapp. Sixty-two-year-old Clapp and his fiancee were killed in Puerto Rico Wednesday, along their pilot.

Editorials, Opinion Pieces Address Issues Related To Health Care Overhaul
Summaries of several recent editorials and opinion pieces that address issues related to health care reform appear below. Editorials Boston Globe: Recent support from the health insurance industry for guaranteed health insurance for all U.S.

Colorado Health Programs Likely To Be Affected By Declines In Cigarette Tax Revenue
A decline in smoking rates in Colorado has led to a decline in cigarette tax revenue that is used in part to fund state health insurance programs, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports. In 2004, the state increased the cigarette tax by 64 cents per pack with the goal of using the revenue for health care and tobacco education. The tax generated $169.

Incoming Obama Administration Begins To Lay Groundwork For Health Reform
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for HHS secretary, on Wednesday launched an effort by the incoming administration to "lay the groundwork" for health care overhaul, the Washington Post reports.

Daschle In Denver For Health Care Summit
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will be in Denver Friday to lead a discussion about health care reform.

No link found between abortions and later mental-health problems
Previous claims that women who have elective abortions have long-term mental-health problems are based on poor-quality studies, say researchers

Mental health system ailing
A new state report reveals a mental health system hampered by poor communication, a critical shortage of hospital beds and commitment laws that don't adequately address complex needs.

Outrage as U.S. health centre offers 'abortion gift certificates' for Christmas
A U.S. health centre has sparked outrage by offering Christmas gift certificates that can be used to pay for an abortion.