Health

Committee sends bill for medical marijuana clinics to Nevada Senate: Thursday, May 23, 2013; By Cy Ryan; A plan to create a network of medical marijuana clinics — with the owners paying hefty licensing fees — was approved by the Nevada Senate Finance Committee today.

Recent events raise the question: Is Las Vegas prepared for a major medical emergency?: Thursday, May 23, 2013; By Tovin Lapan; In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, approximately 300 injured people were treated at 26 Boston-area hospitals. That same week, a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, exploded, sending more than 200 inured people to area hospitals. Monday, after a devastatingly large and powerful tornado ripped through Oklahoma, 200 people, including 50 children, were treated for injuries. So, how is Southern Nevada prepared for a large-scale medical emergency? After all, Clark County has one of the largest tourist corridors in the world in the Las Vegas Strip.

Strong winds expected through evening; air-quality advisory issued: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; By Riley Snyder; Because of expected strong winds, Clark County officials are warning of the possibility of blowing dust this afternoon and evening.

Sausage at Firefly tests positive for salmonella; number of sick now at 294: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; By Ed Komenda; Health officials say cooked chorizo collected from the Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar on Paradise Road has tested positive for salmonella. The discovery comes after a salmonella outbreak last month that sickened at least 294 people from 27 states and two foreign countries who ate at the popular off-Strip restaurant, according to a report released by the Southern Nevada Health District today.

Firefly owner enlists new PR firm after salmonella outbreak: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; By Ed Komenda; John Simmons, the embattled owner of Firefly Tapas Restaurant & Bar, has hired a new public relations firm to represent his restaurant. The Ferraro Group on Wednesday announced it would replace Purdue Marion & Associates.

Narrow definitions in new health care law could penalize some Nevada Indians: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; Culture:; Michelle Rindels, Associated Press; On one hand, Angie Wilson said she’s looking forward to when the health care overhaul takes full effect in 2014 — it’ll allow the Northern Nevada tribal health clinic she directs to maximize its limited resources. But on the other hand, the director of the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center is worried about the federal government’s plans to use a narrow definition of American Indian in the law — one that could mean an estimated one-third of her clinic’s 7,000 regular clients will be hit with a $695 annual fine for not carrying insurance.

Nevada Medical Board, just whom do you serve?: Monday, May 20, 2013; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Earlier this year I wrote about Dr. Sean Steele, an internist who was accused of a brutal sexual assault after a night of drinking in Las Vegas. Here's the latest from California, which revoked his license, and what's happening (nothing) in Nevada.

IRS scandal reopens rift over Obamacare; Nevada lawmakers entangled: Sunday, May 19, 2013; Politics:; By Karoun Demirjian; Congress was supposed to be done arguing over repeals of the Affordable Care Act, but the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups has reopened a partisan rift.

Children find rabid bat in North Las Vegas: Friday, May 17, 2013; By Ed Komenda; At least two rabid bats have been found in the Las Vegas Valley this year, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.

Nevada kindergartners' access to health care, insurance lacking, UNLV survey finds: Thursday, May 16, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; More Nevada children are entering kindergarten without health insurance and face greater barriers to health care access, according to an UNLV report released Thursday.

Wind could bring blowing dust, smoke from California fire: Thursday, May 16, 2013; By Dave Toplikar; High southwesterly winds gusting up to 45 mph are expected in the Las Vegas area today, creating the potential for wildfires and blowing dust and smoke.

Why will consumers outside insurance exchange pay fees?: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Health Care: Silver State Insurance Exchange clarifies issue after Senate committee is left with questions; By Cy Ryan; Due to confusion about fees charged in the federal Affordable Care Act, the Silver State Insurance Exchange has issued a clarifying statement on the issue.

Nevada cutting wellness insurance plan for government employees: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; By Cy Ryan; Public employees enrolled in a state wellness insurance plan designed to keep participants healthy are going to be hit with a big increase in premiums in 2015.

What local hospitals charge for their 10 most common procedures: Sunday, May 12, 2013; Health Care:; By Conor Shine; Prices for the same type of treatment — whether for kidney failure or a knee replacement — can vary wildly depending on the hospital you choose, often differing by tens of thousands of dollars, according to data released earlier this week by the federal government. The Medicare data, released Wednesday, covers the average charge for the most common types of procedures at 3,300 hospitals nationwide, including 13 in the Las Vegas Valley.

Question remains: How much does it really cost to go to the hospital?: Sunday, May 12, 2013; Health Care:; By Karoun Demirjian; Southern Nevada got its first peek at the cost of health care in hospitals last week, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released an enormous data trove detailing how much hospitals across the country charge the government for similar services. But the view has raised more questions.