HEALTH CARE

Red tape hinders care for neediest

Those who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid face inflated expenditures and gaps in treatment

LOS ANGELES – M.C. Kim had four heart attacks in as many years. Each time, he left the hospital not knowing why his heart had failed. When he tried to enter a cardiac rehabilitation program to learn how to reduce the odds of having more heart trouble, the Medicare office told him to call Medicaid. The Medicaid office told him to call Medicare. In the end, he said, both denied coverage.

By McClatchy Newspapers , November 19, 2011

Ahlin: If religion stymies medicine, there will be consequences

Legislation is best understood by its consequences.

By Jane Ahlin , February 13, 2011

Health law repeal fails in Senate

WASHINGTON – A Republican drive to repeal the year-old health care law ended in party-line defeat in the Senate on Wednesday, leaving the Supreme Court to render a final, unpredictable verdict on an issue steeped in political and constitutional controversy.

By David Espo / AP Special Correspondent , February 03, 2011

UPDATED: Boy struck by car after exiting Fargo school bus leaves hospital

FARGO – The 6-year-old boy who was struck Friday by a car is recovering following surgery to repair a broken leg and left the hospital this afternoon.
Isaiah Northington was getting off his school bus at a stop near the Kmart in south Fargo when he was struck by a driver who failed to stop for the bus.

By Patrick Springer , February 02, 2011

Federal judge strikes down Obama health care overhaul

North Dakota among 26 states in suit
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge ruled Monday that the Obama administration's health care overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states that sued to block it.

By Associated Press , January 31, 2011

Sanford Health Plan open to North Dakota residents

The Sanford Health Plan has been given approval to sell individual coverage in North Dakota.

January 29, 2011

Forum editorial: North Dakota Blues prepare for future

The new health care law’s biggest flaw (among many) is that it does little to address the heart of the looming health care crisis: rising costs.

January 28, 2011

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, health providers join forces to rein in rising health care costs

North Dakota’s largest health insurance company and some leading health providers pledged today to work together to trim medical inflation. The initiative seeks to reduce the annual rate of medical inflation, now averaging 8 percent, to 6.5 percent in three years.

By Patrick Springer , January 27, 2011

GOP invokes 1700s nullication doctrine to fight health care reform

Concept draws skepticism from scholars
BOISE, Idaho – Republican lawmakers in nearly a dozen states are reaching into the dusty annals of American history to fight President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

By John Miller, Associated Press , January 27, 2011

Berg enrolls in federal health care

Representative voted to repeal reform law
GRAND FORKS – Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., has accepted the government-sponsored health care benefits offered to members of Congress – despite co-sponsoring a bill that would repeal the year-old health care reform legislation that he said represents a “government takeover of health care.”

By Ryan Johnson, Forum Communications Co. , January 26, 2011

Chief executive of Bismarck hospital resigns

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — One of the two hospitals in Bismarck will be looking for a new leader.

By Associated Press , January 25, 2011

Sanford Health to get breast cancer center

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Philanthropist Denny Sanford’s recently announced $100 million donation to Sanford Health will be used for a national breast cancer initiative.

January 25, 2011

Bachmann blasts health care order

ST. PAUL – Gov. Mark Dayton claims presidential politics are behind U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s request that he rescind an executive order issued during his first week in office.

By Don Davis, Forum News Service , January 25, 2011

Minnesota Medicaid expansion pushed up

Dayton says broader coverage under program set to begin March 1
ST. PAUL – Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday pushed up a Medicaid health care expansion he sought under the federal health care overhaul, saying broader coverage for 95,000 vulnerable adults will start March 1, seven months sooner than previously predicted.

By Martiga Lohn, Associated Press , January 21, 2011

House repeals Obama’s health care law

WASHINGTON – Swiftly honoring a campaign pledge, newly empowered Republicans pushed legislation to repeal the nation’s year-old health care overhaul through the House on Wednesday night, brushing aside implacable opposition in the Senate and a veto threat from President Barack Obama.

By David Espo / AP Special Correspondent , January 20, 2011