Featured West Virginia News and Editorials
from the State Journal by Thom Stevens...
WV Health Care Reform: Not Just Deja Vu All Over Again
by Thom Stevens | Thursday, August 14, 2008 ; 06:00 AM
I believe the new initiatives have the potential to be the most effective opportunity for major health reform in this state during the 34 years I have been involved with state government...
from the State Journal by Walt Williams...
Pharmaceutical 'Data Mining' Focus of Inquiry
WV State Lawmakers examine possibility that companies target certain populations
Walt Williams | Thursday, July 31, 2008 ; 06:00 AM
West Virginians take more prescription drugs on average than their counterparts in other states and the costs of those drugs are rising. Some people believe the reason for the latter is because drug companies are specifically targeting populations by purchasing databases showing what medications physicians are prescribing.
Marshall University Offers West Virginia Free E-Prescriptions
iHealthBeat A Service of the California HealthCare Foundation July 25, 2008
Marshall University is offering West Virginia physicians no-cost electronic prescribing software as part of a coalition to provide e-prescribing technology to physicians nationwide, the Huntington Herald-Dispatch reports.
from the Charleston Gazette...
July 9, 2008 [full editorial]
THE STATE Board of Medicine says 3,800 licensed physicians have offices in West Virginia, and 2,200 out-of-state doctors also are licensed to practice here. Meanwhile, 111 pharmaceutical firms were forced to disclose that they showered 14,933 "gifts, grants or payments" on West Virginia physicians during the last half of 2007 - with some payola exceeding $50,000.
from the Charleston Daily Mail...
The Drug Culture Hurts West Virginia
July 9, 2008 [full editorial]
Wyoming County's experience provides insight into the seriousness of a problem that affects every county in the state. Where are most of the drugs coming from? The government, say Wyoming County Prosecuting Attorney Houck and County Sheriff C.S. Parker. There aren't any "big dealers" - other than Medicare and Medicaid, for prescription drugs - obtained legally, sold illegally for a profit.