KCUR Health News
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Bodybuilding: Not Just For Pros
If the only six-pack you have is sitting in your fridge, some local bodybuilders might have some advice for you.
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The Neuroscience of Obesity
It’s swimsuit season and many are looking to shed a few pounds gained over the winter. But losing weight is a challenge and current research shows the
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Avoiding A Summer Of Sizzling Sunburns
If you just grab the highest SPF sunscreen when you head out to the lake, you might not be making the best choice.
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Most Infected Missourians Unaware Of Hepatitis C Status
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that only half of Americans identified as having had Hepatitis C ever follow
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Bill Expands Opportunities For Physician Assistants In...
Physicians Assistants, or PAs, may soon have more opportunities to practice in Missouri. A bill headed to the Governor’s desk would provide more
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Liberty Hospital Announces Layoffs, Citing Pending...
More than 100 employees at Liberty Hospital will be getting the pink slip by the end of next week. The hospital says the layoffs are a response to a
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Baby Care: The First Few Months
When you're a parent—especially a first-time parent—you worry about all kinds of things you see in your baby's development.
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WyCo Effort Aims To Curb Infant Mortality
With one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country, Wyandotte County is taking steps to fix that problem.
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Missouri Trails Nation In Overall Well-Being
Missouri ranks among the bottom third of states when it comes to its overall well-being. Meanwhile, the Kansas City region has room for improvement. That’s
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How To Address Depression
According to the CDC 1 in 10 adults report being depressed and 11% of Americans over 12 years old take some form of antidepressant medication. Depression
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Walking Across Kansas For Stroke Awareness
Would you walk 500 miles to raise awareness for a cause? Would you walk 70 more?
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North KC Hospital Dispute Appears Headed Toward...
A heated feud over the fate of North Kansas City Hospital may soon be coming to a close. Hospital and city leaders are meeting Friday in hopes of
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A Window Into The World Of Tourette's
People with Tourette's syndrome are often portrayed as spouting curse words uncontrollably, but there's more to the condition than that.
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How Obamacare Might Change Your Private Health Insurance
After the passing of the Affordable Care Act, confusion about the future of health insurance in our country has become the norm. But as the legislation
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Making Homes Safe For Kids
When you’ve put child locks on all the cabinets and plugged all the electrical outlets, what’s left to child-proof your home?
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Advocates Still Wary Of Infectious Disease Bill
Kansas health officials are trying to assure local health groups that a controversial bill dealing with infectious diseases needed an update to response
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The Role Of A Power Of Attorney In A Health Care Setting
What exactly is the role of legal documents, like a power of attorney, in a health care setting, especially if a person is not related to the patient? An
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Kansas City Experiences Rise In Unintentionial Firearms...
Firearms related deaths among Kansas City residents have remained steady over the last decade. While that’s still unsettling, health officials have
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Disability Issues in KC
It’s estimated that in the United States, people with disabilities constitute the third-largest, and perhaps the most diverse, minority group. A person
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Speech Therapy
Speech and communication is a fundamental and necessary part of our days. Being able to articulate I thoughts, feelings and desires is perhaps the most
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Tackling A Taboo Subject
Does death always have to be a taboo subject?
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Medicaid Expansion Uncertain In Missouri
Last year’s Supreme Court ruling left a key part of the federal health law up to states to decide: whether to expand Medicaid. About half of states have
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Tyson To Pay $4 Million For Anhydrous Ammonia Release
Tyson Foods has agreed to a settlement with the federal government over accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia at its facilities in Kansas and three
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Is It Bioethical? Testing Kids For Adult-Onset Conditions
Should a child be able to grow up unhindered by the knowledge that later in life he or she will suffer from a serious illness?
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Kansas Lawmakers Take Up Controversial Infectious...
A controversial bill in Kansas that has caused outcry from groups like the National Minority AIDS Council appears to be on track for approval by House and
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Voters Renew Health Levy, Strike Down Anti-Nuke Measure
Voters in Kansas City, Missouri, struck down a measure in Tuesday's election that would have prohibited the city from giving incentives to companies that
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Competition
It has been quite a week for one of the biggest sports competitions of the year. And just as march madness comes to a end the Kansas City Royals, kick off
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Health Tax Renewal Goes Before Voters Tuesday
Kansas City has long supported health services for people without insurance or a means to pay. This is primarily done through a health levy, or property
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Living With Alzheimer's: Former Congressman Dennis Moore
Alzheimer’s affects so many people these days that many senior living facilities have dedicated wings for sufferers of the disease.
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Hallmark Petitioned For Hospice Cards
It seems like there’s a greeting card for everything these days: for going back to school, for anniversaries, and yes, even for losing your job. But what
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Preventing A DIY Dust-Up
Everyone knows you should wear a hard hat during construction, but are your lungs in just as much danger as your head?
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Judge Blocks Potential North Kansas City Hospital Sale...
North Kansas City’s hospital can’t be sold, so long as a dispute over whether the city has the authority to sell it is in court. That’s according to a
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Judge Strikes Down Mo. Law Challenging Contraceptive...
A federal judge has struck down a Missouri law that directly challenges the so-called contraceptive mandate under the federal health law. The result of the
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Parents, Teens & Break-ups
Paul Simon might know 50 ways to leave your lover, but psychologist Wes Crenshaw has his own list.
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Parenting Our Parents
For most of a child's life, from infancy and into adulthood, parents take care of, support and help their children make decisions. It's an odd experience
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A 'First Aid Kit' For Mental Health: Program Expands...
A first aid kit is helpful when you cut yourself or get a burn and if someone stops breathing, you can administer CPR. These medical skills are helpful
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The Case for Dental Health
A yearly physical is the norm for most of us, whether for children or their adult parents, and it's considered a part of living a healthy lifestyle. But
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Proponents Of City Health Tax Renewal Form Campaign
Efforts to renew Kansas City’s health levy went into full gear today. A renewal of the temporary property tax is up for a vote next month, and proponents
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Plaza Blast Underscores Region’s Emergency Medical...
As of mid-week, four people remained hospitalized from the gas explosion and fire that destroyed JJ’s restaurant on the Plaza. One employee, Megan Cramer,
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Extramarital Affairs
When surveyed, 20 to 25 percent of people admit to having an extramarital affair. It also is one of the most destructive forces to a relationship. Why is
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Possible North Kansas City Hospital Sale Draws Protests
Emotions ran high at a town hall this weekend, over the possible sale of North Kansas City Hospital. More than 100 residents and hospital staff packed
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Buyer Of Kansas Hospitals Faces Two Federal...
The would-be buyer of Providence Medical Center in KCK and Saint John’sHospital in Leavenworth faces two ongoing federal investigations. PrimeHealthcare
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Veterinarian Wayne Hunthausen On Pets & Winter Weather
Are you turning up the heat in anticipation of that winter storm? Do you have a plan for how to protect your pets from the icy winds?
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A New Era Of Blood Donation
We've all heard appeals to donate blood, but how have new advances in hematology changed the landscape? Is blood needed as much now as it was a decade ago
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Parents, Child Abuse And The Child Welfare System
Child advocates and state lawmakers are demanding answers after several recent high profile cases of extreme child abuse in Kansas City. The most recent
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Missouri’s Health Exchange: A Story Of Unrequited Love
For more than a year, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and others at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have been courting states to take part in
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Conflict
Today on Central Standard, we talk about conflict, and resolving it. Why is it that our workplaces, our families, even the international community have
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Evidence Lacking: Local Doctor On Effectively Treating...
Recent tragedies in Connecticut and Colorado have elevated the discussion around firearms and more recently, around how to best respond to kids who’ve
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Relief in sight? Region Hit Hard By Flu
The flu is widespread in Kansas and Missouri. It has been an especially rough season, but some say relief may be on the way.
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County Cashes In On Casino Money, Directs It To Public...
Wyandotte County has cashed in on its first payment from a new casino at the Kansas Speedway.
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Nixon Rallies Key Allies In Push For Medicaid Expansion
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is continuing his push to expand the state’s Medicaid program, an optional provision for states under the federal health law.
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Mayor And Business Leader Expand Weight-Loss Effort
A very personal yet public weight loss competition between two prominent city leaders is getting bigger. About two dozen area CEOs have signed up for the
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Will Missouri Adopt A Prescription Drug Monitoring...
Efforts to establish a prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri are making a comeback this year. But there’s a twist: the main opponent of
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Local Doctor Honors Medicine's Past In New Museum
Medicine is changing pretty fast these days, with new procedures, treatments and drugs coming out all the time. But one area doctor has been out on a
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Health Care Foundation President Steve Roling
Steve Roling is stepping down from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City . He's led the foundation since it was created in 2002
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A Text A Day Keeps The Doctor....In Touch?
It’s easy to go online and try to diagnose yourself when you're sick, but what do doctors think about that?
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Citywide CPR Effort Aims To Lower Cardiac Arrest Deaths
If a person suddenly collapses, CPR could mean the difference between life and death. That’s the message coming from city and hospital leaders in Kansas
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KU Researcher Finds Racial Disparity In NIH Grants
When researchers submit proposals to the National Institutes of Health to get funding, they don’t indicate their race or ethnicity. But black researchers
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Full Council To Take Up Health Levy Today
Kansas City’s health levy has long funded ambulance services and other care for residents without insurance or a means to pay. A portion of that levy is
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Teens And Date Rape
Teens and young adults are in their peak years socially; out with friends and learning about love and sexuality. Often that includes an energetic, even raucous party scene.But there’s a darker side that young people don’t often acknowledge or sometimes even recognize--sexual assault.It’s a situationno one wants to imaginecan happen. But for many teens,date rapehas become anunfortunate realityin their lives.On Tuesday'sUp to Date, we’re talking with psychologistWes Crenshawabout date rape and...
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Area Businesses Challenge Federal Birth Control Mandate
A federal court is scheduled today, to take up one Missouri business’ challenge to a recently enacted provision of the federal health law. The provision requires that most employee-health plans include no-cost coverage of contraceptives, but the rule has faced backlash from several businesses and lawmakers around the region. Private Businesses File SuitSharpe Holdings is a dairy company near St. Louis that last month, got a restraining order against the so called contraceptive mandate. The...
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Hypnotism
What do Franz Mesmer, James Braid, and The Professor from Gilligan's Island have in common?They're all historically famous hypnotists, of course.On the first part of Tuesday's Central Standard, we'll look at the art of mesmerism with Theresa Hubbard, a Marriage and Family Health Therapist, who will share her experience in overcoming Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), through the use of hypnosis. She also explain how the exercise is used in her practice today.Do you have first-hand...
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Diet Can Fix 'Milk And Cookie' Disease
Kids take medicine for all kinds of chronic conditions these days, like constipation and acid reflux, but are medicines really necessary?On the first half of Tuesday'sUp to Date, we’ll talk with Julie Wei, M.D.,a University of Kansas Medical Center pediatric ear-nose-throat doctor about the so-called “milk and cookies disease” and her solution of changing kids’ diets to chase away these disorders.Julie L. Wei, M.D., pediatric otolaryngologist, is an associate professor in the department of...
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Novel Virus Discovered Near St. Joe
This past year brought some unexpected attention to the St. Joseph, Missouri area. That’s where a team of researchers identified a new virus, believed to be transmitted by ticks.The discovery marks the first new human virus out of North America in nearly two decades, but scientists are just beginning to piece together what this means._____Transcript soon to be posted._____
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Transformation In The New Year
With each new year, comes the inevitable setting of lofty personal improvement goals.Be it for better physical, mental, or environmental health, millions of Americans make (and subsequently drop), New Year's resolutions every year.On Monday's Central Standard, we'll be joined by resident authority on all things mental health, psychologist Dr. Bruce Liese. He'll discuss the rationale behind the specific human condition of the New Year's resolution, and explore ways to stick to goals set.
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Genetic Sequencing Advances Help Identify & Treat Rare...
Recent advances in genome sequencing, includinga technology developed at Children’s Mercy Hospitalknown as "fast sequencing,"are helping medical professionals diagnose often-fatal diseases.Fast sequencing is a way to speed up the diagnosis of critically ill infants with genetic diseases. In the past, such diagnosis, using genome sequencing, has taken a lot of time, and it's been too costly and complex to have much real-world application.Monday on Up to Date, Steve Kraske welcomes Dr. Stephen...
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Looking For A Doc? Local Group Compiles Physician Data
Kansas City will soon know more about the quality of primary care in the region.It’s one of just three places nationwide that will be getting additional Medicare information on what kind of care patients receive at area physician offices.A local group of health experts began assessing and comparing the quality of primary care physician practices involving more than 1,000 area doctors in 2010, examining measures like the percentage of diabetes patients that got annual eye-exams. The group,...
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Parents, Teens, Sexuality & The Holidays
No one ever said it was easy to raise a teenager, but what do you do when Plan B becomes Plan A?On Wednesday's Up to Date, psychologist Wes Crenshaw returns to talk about teen sexuality and how parents can handle the accompanying issues, like the morning after pill, gracefully.We’ll also look at different ways to have a harmonious home when your kids return from college for the holidays.Dr. Wes Crenshaw is a Kansas Licensed Psychologist and Board Certified in Couples and Family Psychology...
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Kansas Medicaid Overhaul Begins Next Month
KanCare is arguably the biggest change in the history of Medicaid in Kansas. The proposal would privatize the entire program.Federal officials recently gave the state the green light on the plan, solidifying a start-date of January first.The announcement that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—or CMS—will allow KanCare to begin came last Friday afternoon. Lieutenant-Governor Jeff Colyer, the Brownback administration’s point man on KanCare, participated by speaker...
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Stressed For The Holidays?
The holidays are a time of good cheer, celebration and togetherness. So what do you do if your family has just gone through a divorce or other domestic clash?On Thursday's Up to Date, we’ll talk with psychologist Harriet Lerner about how to handle holiday stress when all the relatives come to share food, festivities and familial guilt-trips.
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How Your Neighborhood Affects CPR Survival
We've all heard the CPR checklist: Check the airway, start chest compressions, tilt the head back, and breathe.But here’s something that’s not taught at your CPR class: People who fall ill in a higher income neighborhood are more likely to survive.On Tuesday's Up to Date, we’ll look at the economic divide and how it relates to this emergency medical intervention with Dr. Paul Chan from St. Luke's Health System. Also, we'll talk about the newest developments for the resuscitation method with...
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A Look At What Triggers Murder-Suicides
Murder suicide is rare, but on the rise across the country. Missouri is in the top ten for women killed by intimate partners, and murder-suicide has increased in Kansas.When murder-suicide occurs, it leaves loved ones and friends with many unanswered questions. Amid the shock, anger and grief, people ask themselves, “Why?” They wonder, “What did we miss?” Or, “What could we have done?” For answers, we turned to Overland Park Forensic Psychologist Dan Claiborn.In addition to working as a...
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Dealing With Domestic Violence
This weekend's news about the murder-suicide involvingJovanBelcher of the Kansas City Chiefs is bringing the ongoing discussion about domestic violence to the forefront.In the second part of Wednesday's Up to Date we'll talk withMarie T.Dispenzafrom the Rose Brooks Center, a local domestic violence shelter, and Liz Donnelly, whose daughter was a victim of domestic violence, about the signs of domestic abuse and what to do about it.This year, at least 14 people have died from incidents of...
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Flu Vaccine
Every year, approximately 36,000 people die from influenza. This flu season is the worst in the last decade and yet the flu vaccine is readily available. What's getting in the way of improving public health.December 2-8 will mark National Influenza Week, an observance which serves to highlight the importance of getting vaccinated and year-round preventative care.On Wednesday's Central Standard, we'll be joined by Dr. Thad Wilson, PhD, RN, FAAN, who will explain the history of the flu...
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New Report Projects Costs, Enrollment Under Kansas...
An optional Medicaid expansion in Kansas would result in about 75,000 previously uninsured residents gaining health coverage and cost the state about half a billion dollars in the first seven years.That’s according to a new analysis from the Kansas Health Institute (KHI).Under the federal health law, states have the option of expanding their Medicaid programs. The federal government would fully pay for the expansion for three years, starting in 2014, with states then kicking in about 10...
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Addiction
The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family in cheer. The holidays also are a time of high stress and anxiety which can lead to addictive behaviors.Dr. Bruce Liese joins us to discuss smoking, drinking, sex, drugs, excessive internet use and every kind of addiction in between.The World Health Organization estimates that harmful alcohol consumption results in over 2.5 million deaths world wide every year. Smoking kills another 443,000 American's annually. Other addictions, like...
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Missouri Governor Backs Medicaid Expansion
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon wants the state to expand its Medicaid program, marking the strongest stance the democratic governor has taken as of yet on the state’s pending decision.Nixon has previously said he was evaluating the issue to see what’s best for Missouri.Speaking to a packed crowd of hospital and clinic leaders in Kansas City, Nixon said an expansion is the right thing to do, and it makes fiscal sense. The federal government would fully subsidize an expansion during the first...
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Coalition Emphasizes Economic Benefits Of Opting Into...
Expanding Medicaid to more adults in Missouri would have a positive impact on the state’s economy and residents, according to a new report.Medicaid is a public health insurance program for the poor and disabled. Eligibility levels vary by state. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling last June upholding the federal health law gives states an option, as opposed to a requirement, of raising the adult eligibility into the program. So Missouri, whose eligibility level dropped significantly in 2005, must...
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Lonely In KC
Ever wonder what it would be like to live in Kansas City and not know anyone?Loneliness is a feeling that we have all experienced at one time or another in our lives, but for some it can be a chronic condition that affects their physical and emotional well-being.On Tuesday's Central Standard, we'll talk to resident psychologist Dr. Bruce Liese, and sociologist Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson from Washington State University, about the causes and treatment of this strictly human condition.We'll...
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Feds To Take Lead On Health Exchanges In Kansas, Missouri
Immediately after the presidential election, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced the state would not be setting up its own health insurance exchange.Next door in Kansas, Governor Sam Brownback made a similar announcement. Exchanges are online market places where people will soon go, to compare and shop for health insurance. The federal health law requires all states have them up and running by January first of 2014, as part of the law’s attempt to make health insurance moreaccessible....
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Parents, Teens & Eating Disorders: How To Handle A...
A plump roast turkey, creamy mountains of mashed potatoes and thick wedges of pumpkin pie are what many people look forward to during the holiday season. For teens who suffer from an eating disorder, it's the opposite of holiday cheer.On Monday's Up to Date, we’ll talk with psychologist Wes Crenshaw about how teens develop problems with body image and how these disorders affect their health.We'll also discuss what you can do to help when you suspect a teenager in your life has a problem.
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Mayor Challenges Friend And City To Lose Weight
A rather public weight loss competition among two prominent city leaders came to a close today, but organizers say the efforts are just beginning.Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Kansas City Chamber of Commerce CEO, Jim Heeter, have spent the last five months watching what they eat and trying to get in better shape. In June, they challenged each other publicly to see who could lose more weight and body fat.The winner?Jim Heeter.He won by a small margin, but James now owes him dinner. Even so,...
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Hospital Mergers, Alliances Hit Kansas City Region
In recent months, local officials have been exploring the sale of North Kansas City Hospital, HCA Midwest announced plans to acquire St. Joseph and St. Mary’s hospitals, and just last week, St. Luke’s said it’s joining an alliance of sorts with three other non-profit health systems in the Midwest.But Arif Ahmed, professor of health administration at UMKC’s Bloch School of Management, is not at all shocked by the recent developments. In fact, Ahmed recently told KCUR's Elana Gordon that...
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Expanding Food Access One Market, One Plot At A Time
In recent years, there’s been a concerted push at the local and national levelsto expand access to healthy food, particularly in low-income areas.This is one focus of national Food Day, which local food groups and advocates are celebrating across the U.S today. But while programs and systems are gradually putting fresh food front and center, changing eating habits can be even more complicated.Over the last few years, leaders around Kansas City, Kan., have been opening farmers markets, urban...
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Back In The Swing After Breast Cancer
You weathered the diagnosis, underwent surgery, and made it through multiple rounds of chemotherapy. In short, you've survived breast cancer.Now how do you safely and smartly get back to everyday life? On Wednesday's Central Standard, Jabulani Leffall talks with the creators of The Back in the Swing Cookbook: Recipes for Eating and Living Well Every Day After Breast Cancer to find out how. They emphasize the need to nurture your mind, body, and spirit and look at the influence genetics,...
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Dressed-Up Doggies & Costumed Kitties
It may be cute, but is it safe to dress up your dog and bring him on your trick-or-treating adventure?Wednesday on Up to Date, our resident veterinarian Dr. Wayne Hunthausen is back to talk about how you can keep your pet safe from Halloween hazards and healthy during the chilly winter months.Questions or comments for the vet? Give us a call during the show (11 a.m. to Noon) at 816 235 2888 or email us at uptodate@kcur.org and let us know. You can also leave comments on KCUR's Facebook page...
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HCA Midwest Looks To Buy St. Joseph And St. Mary's...
HCA Midwest may soon be the new owner of Carondelet Health, which runs St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Hospitals. The two groups have announced they’re in negotiations for a merger.In June, Carondelet said it had wanted to find a buyer for its two hospitals - St. Joseph in South Kansas City and St. Mary’s in Blue Springs. The hospitals are the 10th and 19th largest in the region. Carondelet said they needed to find a way to stay competitive and grow, especially amid changes happening the federal...
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Teenage Sexuality: Casual Or Committed?
Radical monogamy or casual hookup— what do teenagers choose when they start dating?Psychologist Wes Crenshaw returns on Wednesday’s Up to Date to discuss what’s healthy in teenage dating and how parents should broach the subject with their kids.Three teenage (and former teenage) women join us for the younger perspective on sexuality, the social scene and what works for them.Dr. Wes Crenshaw is a Kansas Licensed Psychologist and Board Certified in Couples and Family Psychology (ABPP). He has...
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Middle Aged White Males Drive Up Suicide Rate In Johnson...
Mention Johnson County, Kansas and locals think wealth, privilege and the pursuit of happiness. But disturbing trends in Johnson County suicide rates challenge us to think beyond this stereotype.According to the Kansas Bureau of Vital Statistics, there was a 70 percent increase in suicides in Johnson County from the years 2006 to 2010, from 47 to 80. In Kansas, suicides outnumbered homicides by nearly a 4-to-1., and Johnson County was no exception. These local findings track with national...
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Boosting Brain Fitness
It’s not just your abs that need a regular workout— it’s essential for your brain too. But how do you pump iron with your noodle?On Tuesday’s Up to Date, we’ll talk with Marilyn Rymer, M.D., director of Saint Luke’s Neuroscience Institute and John Corbaley, Director Saint Luke’s Brain Fitness Centerabout how you can stay sharp as you age.We’ll give you the run-down on how you can exercise your noggin, delay the possibility of Alzheimer’s disease and reduce stress.Dr. Marilyn M. Rymer is the...
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Health Insurance & Cigarette Tax On Missouri Ballot
Health insurance, one of the major issues of the presidential election, is making a bigger impact on Missouri’s state ballot.In the second half of Monday's Up to Date, KCUR health reporter Elana Gordon tells us about the proposed cigarette tax increase called Proposition B as well as Proposition E, which seeks to require the state legislature or voter approval before Gov. Jay Nixon or other state agencies create a health insurance exchange.Monday’s Up to Date has all the details to explain...
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Area Hospitals Soon To Be Penalized For High...
Starting October 1, hospitals that fail to meet certain quality measures will get less funding from Medicare. Specifically, places that have worse-than-average readmission rates for certain medical conditions will receive lower reimbursements for services. Several area hospitals will be affected, including some that one might not expect. They’ve been keeping close watch on the upcoming changes, though many disagree with them.“I would venture to say this is probably the biggest and certainly...
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Blue Cross Plan To Be The Benchmark In Kansas
The Kansas Insurance Department says a Blue Cross plan should set the standard for essential health benefits for all individual and small group health plans sold on the coming exchange in Kansas. The decision is up to Governor Sam Brownback. He vows to take no action to implement the Affordable Care Act until after the November election. However, the plan recommended by the Insurance Department is the same one federal officials will choose if Brownback refuses to choose. But Insurance...
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New Rule Requires Simple Explanation Of Health Coverage
Insurers are now required to provide consumers a summary, in plain English, of the coverage and costs in their health plans. It’s one provision of the Affordable Care Act taking effect this week. Specifically, the law requires insurance companies to give consumers a summary of benefits and coverage, or SBC, plus a glossary that explains the terms commonly used in health insurance.Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas spokeswoman Mary Beth Chambers says even in simplified terms, the new SBC is...
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Making Divorce Better For Children
Even with rates falling, divorce is still a common occurrence in the United States, yet have we gotten any better at putting ourselves, and our children, through the process?On Tuesday's Up to Date, psychologist Dr. Wes Crenshaw joins Steve Kraske for a look at the common pitfalls parents encounter when it comes to telling the kids that mommy and daddy aren't staying together. We’ll also talk with attorney Ron Nelson who specializes in divorce and child custody cases for a look at what can...
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KU Study: Role Of Rural Living In Obesity
A common picture of the country life includes living in open spaces and eating food fresh from the farm.It just may be those are two reasons why a recent study reveals that rural residents are more likely to be obese than urbanites.In the second part of Monday's Up to Date, Steve Kraske talks with Christie Befort, Ph.D. of the University of Kansas Medical Center. She led the study published in the Fall 2012 Journal of Rural Health which analyzed data collected by the National Center for...
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Study Shows Health Care Disparities In Missouri LGBT...
If you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered Missourian your chances of finding and getting the same level of health care as the rest of the state are significantly reduced.According to a new study by the Missouri Foundation for Health, if you’re LGBT, you’re more likely to face conditions including heart disease, asthma, obesity, smoking-related illness, substance abuse and depression.Wednesday on Up to Date, guest host Suzanne Hogan welcomes Ryan Barker of the Missouri Foundation...
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Death & Dying
I know it’s a beautiful summer day outside, and you’re busy thinking of a million things you have planned for the coming week, but sometimes, we have to step outside the day to day for a deeper discussion about what it means to be human, to be alive.On this Monday's Central Standard, our guest Dr. Bruce Liese will discuss with us the ultimate unknown – death – the permanent cessation of biological functioning. It sounds so simple, but it’s not. For example, did you know that people with...
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Interactive Map: Region Continues To Battle Whooping...
Area health officials are cautioning that whooping cough, which notably broke out in Johnson County this past spring, continues to be a problem throughout the Kansas City region.The situation has spurred ten area health departments to issue a joint call urging people, especially pregnant women and adults who are around infants, to get a booster shot for the disease. Health officials are also encouraging parents and caretakers to make sure kids are up to date on their vaccine schedule.Dr....
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Six Things To Know About Medicaid In Kansas And Missouri
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the federal health law, well be hearing a lot more about one of its key aspects: Medicaid.In light of this, and in the first of an occasional series breaking down the regions complex health system, below are six essential things to know about Medicaid in Kansas and Missouri.The U.S. court ruling gave states the option whether or not to expand the income eligibility for the program. In Kansas, Governor Sam Brownback doesnt want to implement any...
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The Cultural History Of Flab
We crave its taste but not its look. Whats up with our love-hate relationship with fat?Friday on Up to Date we unravel the twisted history of flab. From a sign of richness to a signal of rot and ruin, societys interpretation of fat has included racism, status, beauty and health. We cant live without it, but have we learned how to live with it?Steve Kraske talks with University of Kansas history professor Christopher Forth about the cultural history of flab.Whats your perception of fat? Does...
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KanCare: Ready Or Not?
Less than five months from now, the Kansas Medicaid program is scheduled to convert to a privatized system.In January, three for-profit, managed-care organizations will take over the federal/state program that pays for health care for low-income children, seniors and people with disabilities. The new Medicaid system is called KanCare. State officials have been conducting meetings across the state to help people prepare for the change.The informational meetings about KanCare took place in...
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'Dog Days' Community Workout Heats Up In Lawrence
Its the "Dog Days" of summer, and an unseasonably hot one at that.But for thousands of people in Lawrence, Kan., the time of year still means one thing: meeting up for Don Red-Dog Gardners daily workouts inside or next to KUs Memorial Stadium.Gardner, a former police officer and Lawrence High School security guard, has led the year-round community gatherings for 29 years.On Monday, KCURs Elana Gordon stopped by the 6 a.m. workout and brought back this audio postcard.-------------------Find...
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Parents, Teens & The Transition To High School
Going back to school after a long summer is tough for many students, but even more difficult for those moving from middle to high school.School buildings change, attitudes change, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood begins.Tuesday on Up to Date Steve Kraske welcomes psychologist Wes Crenshaw to discuss how parents can make the transition easier, and offers advice to help make relationships between parent and child stronger.Do you have advice for parents of children transitioning...
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The Secret Lives Of Secrets
On this Mondays Central Standard, a look at the psychological implications of the secrets we keep. Are all secrets created equal?Our guest Dr. Bruce Liese says our problems are only as big as our secrets. Hell speak with guest host Bill Anderson about the private lives that dangerous people keep concealed, and the origins of secret-keeping in childhood and adolescence.GUEST:Dr. Bruce Liese, KU Family MedicineTELL US:Whats the biggest secret youve ever kept or been asked to keep? What has...
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World Moves Forward In Battle Against HIV & AIDS
The world has reached a defining moment in the battle against HIV and AIDS. The battle cry coming from the just-completed 19th International Aids Conference : We now have the potential to end the epidemic.But the potential can become the reality only if the many stakeholders play their roles related to public policy, money, science and medicine and the people affected by HIV - and their families.Thursday on Up to Date, guest host Bill Anderson talks with Kathleen Goggin, Ph.D., Curators...
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Adjusting To Life In Kansas City With HIV
Between July 22 and 27, thousands of people from around the world convened in Washington D.C. to study the global HIV/AIDS crisis. But in the Kansas City region, more than 6,000 people are living with HIV. That includes Bester Seemani, who says an AIDS diagnosis twelve years ago completely changed her life and her journey back home. Seemani, joined by her daughter Sue, recently told KCURs Elana Gordon that one of the biggest struggles, and paths to healing, has been dealing with the stigma...
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Hospitals Serving Up More Than Green Jell-O
Hospital food doesnt tend to conjure images of gourmet cuisine or down-home victuals. In fact, most people tend to turn up their nose at the very thought of the bland meals that hospitals are known for serving.However, this stereotype may be soon thrown out like last weeks leftovers. Thursday on Up to Date, KCUR health reporter Elana Gordon talks about one hospitals struggle with McDonalds in their lobby. Plus, dietician Bill Barkley explains how Childrens Mercy Hospital strives to...
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Unique Grocery Store Rolls Into Kansas City
People living in parts of Kansas City that arent near a big grocery store now have another food option. But its not your typical grocery store, and its not run by your typical vendor.Truman Medical Centers, Kansas Citys main safety net hospital, has launched a mobile market. The space itself is a refurbished city bus that will be making weekly stops, year round, at the following sites:The Jackson County Courthouse, 415 East 12th StreetLucile Bluford Branch of the Kansas City Public Library,...
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KU Med's Future As A Cancer Center
Millions of dollars and years of dedicated effort finally paid off for KU Med Center. On Thursday, July 12, it achieved designation as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer center.Monday on Up to Date, Dr. Roy Jensen returns to the program to talk about what this designation means for the future of KU Med, as well as for those who are currently or who have battled the disease.If youre wondering how this new designation will affect KU Med, or what this might mean for cancer research and...
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Report: More Kansas Citians Surviving Cardiac Arrest
People in Kansas City, Mo. are more likely to survive cardiac arrest and have better long-term outcomes compared to many other cities. Thats according to new data from the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department.---------Cardiac arrest occurs about once a day in Kansas City. Its serious.Youre clinically dead during that time, explains Dr. Joseph Salomone, Kansas Citys EMS medical director.Your heart quits functioning. Blood no longer circulates.Salomone says early intervention is critical to...
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University Of Kansas Gets 'Select' Cancer Institute...
KU Cancer Center has obtained a National Cancer Institute designation. Officially.The news leaked two weeks ago, when Senator Pat Roberts posted a note about it on Facebook. But yesterday health and civic officials from around the region and state gathered to mark KU formally receiving the federal stamp of approval.Over the last seven years, KU leaders have raised more than $350 million in public and private funds, built labs and treatment centers, and hired scientists. The effort culminated...
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ReShonda Tate Billingsley: The Secret She Kept
Tia Giles is pregnant, shes also suffering from a mental illness and her husband Lance must make the difficult decision of committing her to a mental institution to save the baby, his wife and their marriage.This is the compelling plot of the new book The Secret She Kept by ReShonda Tate Billingsley, our guest for the second half of this Wednesdays Central Standard. Well discuss attitudes towards mental illness in the African American community, and her experiences talking about these issues...
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The Birds, The Bees, & The Teens
Unless one possesses a vast reservoir of undaunted cool, undertaking the sex talk with teens can be a challenge.
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Uncertainty Surrounds Health Law Implementation In...
Thursdays U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal health law has provided more clarity to the region and country.
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On Being Mindful
On this Mondays Central Standard, the one thing youll need to get everything you want out of life: mindfulness. Learn how cutting back on multitasking, and learning how to focus your mind, can change everything.
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Local Reactions: Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care...
On Thursday morning the Supreme Court largely upheld the Affordable Care Act.
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Much At Stake With Upcoming Supreme Court Ruling
As the nation awaits a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the federal health law, regional health leaders say much is at stake for the areas health system and residents.
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Family Fun And Health Fair At Troost Lake
For the first half of todays program, we discussed the needs of children and families in the Philippines. For the second half of this Tuesdays Central Standard, we turn to our own backyard: Troost Lake, at 29th and Paseo.
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Possible Health Care 'Storm' Cited In Floating Of...
Questions surrounding disputed search for a buyer of North Kansas Citys only hospital may be clarified by mid week.
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