Cathy and Cesar Martinez noticed an abrupt change in their 20-month-old son, Jacob, in 2005. Within months, he lost all language skills. He would no longer make eye contact with others or respond when his name was called. He stopped playing. He spent most of his time sitting in the corner, banging his head against the wall. When Jacob was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism, his parents immediately began private speech and occupational therapy for Jacob. "We saw minimal progress, if any, at all, that first year," Cathy Martinez said. They sought out a local pediatric behavioral psychologist specializing in autism spectrum disorders, who recommended a treatment called Applied Behavioral Analysis, which is based on theories that behaviors can be taught through a system of rewards and consequences. It would cost $62,000 a year. "She warned us that insurance will not pay for autism treatment in the state of Nebraska," Martinez said. "We left feeling devastated, that a treatment existed that could help our child, but our insurance refuses to cover it." On Tuesday, the Legislature's Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee discussed a bill (LB505) that would require insurance companies to pay for autism diagnoses and treatment. Link: Bill … Continue reading →

U of U unveils state of the art stroke treatment rooms By: Noah Bond … Continue reading →

Published: Feb. 26, 2013 at 10:54 PM HONOLULU, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Taking B vitamins daily may not prevent cognitive decline in people who have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack, U.S. researchers say. Stroke is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and impairment, and the deterioration of cognitive functions such as memory or thought processing. Researchers studied whether treatment with B vitamins would help prevent cognitive decline following a stroke. More than 8,000 recent survivors of strokes or transient ischemic attacks, also called mini-strokes, were randomly assigned to take either a B vitamin pill consisting of 2 milligrams of folic acid, 25 milligrams of B6 and 500 micrograms of B12, or a placebo daily. About 2,200 patients took a mini-mental state test of their cognition at the study's start and every six months after for a median of 2.8 years. The study found no notable difference in the incidences of cognitive decline or impairment among participants taking B vitamins compared with the placebo. The findings were presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in Honolulu. Continued here: B vitamins may not help after stroke … Continue reading →

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --The latest findings from a landmark oral health study by United Concordia and Highmark Inc. show that annual medical costs are lower by $2,956 and $1,029 for individuals with heart disease or cerebrovascular disease (stroke), respectively, who are treated for gum disease. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130226/PH65641 ) "Once again, our UCWellnessSM study findings highlight the important role good oral health plays in overall health," said James Bramson, D.D.S., chief dental officer for United Concordia. "Treating chronic health conditions like heart disease and stroke comes with a very high health care cost; dental disease is preventable or treatable at a much lower cost and the beneficial effects through reduced health care costs are significant." Last March, United Concordia released the first round of study findings that showed annual reductions in medical costs, hospitalizations and physician visits are possible for individuals with diabetes who received treatment and ongoing maintenance for gum disease. In November, the dental carrier released a second round of findings that revealed individuals with diabetes, who are treated at least seven times for gum disease, can also realize reduced pharmaceutical costs. "Both sets of findings clearly demonstrate that treating an individual with diabetes who has … Continue reading →

Patient calls for specialist stroke treatment to stay in Basildon 12:00pm Monday 25th February 2013 in News By Luke Lambert A PATIENT wants to see specialist stroke treatment retained at Basildon Hospital after news it would be scaled back. It was announced yesterday that Basildon could see its stroke care reduced under plans to focus care at stroke units in Southend, Colchester and Chelmsford. These units would give all of Essex patients access to stroke specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week with patients taken to one of the three centres for critical care within the first three crucial days of having a stroke. However, Basildon Hospital bosses and now a former stroke patient have criticised the plans to scale back the service in Basildon. Frank Doyle suffered a stroke in June 2011 and believes he may not have survived if he hadnt first been taken Basildon Hospital. Mr Doyle, 68, from Middle Crockerford, Vange said: The hospital were terrific. They looked after me from the minute I arrived to the minute I left and to see the service leave the borough would be very sad." Yesterday a hospital spokesman said: "Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation … Continue reading →