AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday invited a select group of state lawmakers to an “informational session” held during a luncheon at the Blaine House, the governor’s official residence. Those asked to attend included a number of rural Republican state representatives who have either said they would support a Medicaid expansion or who […]
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Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills
Behavioral health workers gather to learn about gambling addiction
NORWAY — Treatment and support options for Mainers struggling with a gambling problem have expanded in recent years, and new state rules may help more people break away from an addiction to gambling. A handful of representatives from local social work, behavioral health and faith organizations gathered in a conference room at Stephens Memorial Hospital […]
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Posted inBethel, Franklin, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State, Oxford Hills, River Valley
State offers free flu shots to all Mainers
The Maine Immunization Program is offering the flu vaccine free to all Mainers. The vaccine — both in a shot and a nasal spray — is available through participating doctors’ offices. “We have vaccine available that hasn’t been utilized and instead of, basically, letting it go to waste, we want to make sure that everybody […]
Posted inBethel, Franklin, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State, Oxford Hills, River Valley
Flu season so far slower than last year
This flu season so far, in the words of one Maine infectious disease specialist: boring. Flu vaccines seem to be a good match for the viruses circulating. Fewer Mainers are coughing and aching. Local emergency rooms are all but empty of flu patients. So far, no big deal. “Last year there was tons of information […]
Posted insj-web
Historic smoking report marks 50th anniversary
ATLANTA (AP) — Fifty years ago, ashtrays seemed to be on every table and desk. Athletes and even Fred Flintstone endorsed cigarettes in TV commercials. Smoke hung in the air in restaurants, offices and airplane cabins. More than 42 percent of U.S. adults smoked, and there was a good chance your doctor was among them. […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Franklin, Lewiston-Auburn, Oxford Hills, River Valley, The Franklin Journal
Whooping cough cases fewer but still significant in Maine
Whooping cough cases in Maine have dropped by about half in the past year, but the numbers still remain high. Maine typically sees 40 to 60 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, a year. Last year, that number jumped to 737. This year, as of mid-December, Maine has had 317 cases, including one recent case […]
Posted inLocal & State
Lawmakers to review Maine Medicaid study contract
AUGUSTA — The Auditor General for the State of Pennsylvania said Monday that he has his doubts about how well the Maine Department of Health and Human Services vetted a company that it awarded a nearly $1 million no-bid contract to in September. Meanwhile, two committees of the Maine Legislature are expected to discuss the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine hospitals reluctant to play lead role in implementing Obamacare
AUGUSTA — A lobbyist for the Maine Hospital Association says that at least half of the state’s hospitals have specialists on hand to help uninsured visitors sign up for health insurance on the exchanges launched last month as part of the Affordable Care Act. Still, the hospitals are wary about taking a lead role in […]
Posted inConnections
Local schools honored for prevention programs
LEWISTON — Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0, a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program of the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, has recognized 210 school, after-school and childcare programs across Maine for supporting children and families in healthy eating and active living. The recognition was given to those organizations and programs that follow five […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Success story: Tale of two smokers who quit
Nov. 21 is the annual Great American Smokeout, when smokers are encouraged to quit, even for a day, and maybe longer. This is the story about two who tried and tried again, and finally succeeded. Heart attack led Dave Cyr to stop LEWISTON — Dave Cyr, 57, started smoking off and on when he was […]