| Access For Poor, Underinsured Patients To Weight Loss Surgeries Limited By Government Restrictions
Thresholds limiting bariatric surgeries to high-volume centers disproportionately restrict access for poor and underinsured patients, populations which are among the most in need of them, an analysis led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows.
Government-imposed restrictions currently mandate a 125-case annual threshold for facilities permitted to perform bariatric surgeries under Medicare and Medicaid because some studies have identified better outcomes for centers performing large volumes of bariatric surgeries. But most bariatric surgeries for the poor -- about 60 percent -- are performed in low-volume centers.
"Restricting surgeries to high-volume centers has the effect of limiting bariatric surgery as an option for many poor and underinsured who rely on Medicare and Medicaid," said Dr.
NFL reinstates Williams from drug ban
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Ricky Williams' suspension ended after more than 18 months when he was reinstated Wednesday by the NFL, and the winless Miami Dolphins might welcome him back. The 2002 league rushing champion was scheduled to fly to South Florida for a physical Thursday and meet with coach Cam Cameron, said Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg. .
Doctors Sideline Meat Loaf
Doctors have diagnosed Meat Loaf with an inter-vocal cord cyst. As a result, the following remaining dates on Meat Loaf's Three Bats Tour -- which was to offer fans in upcoming arenas a rare chance to see their favorite singer live for the third time this year -- have been cancelled
While most cysts of this type require surgery, voice therapy is usually conducted first to determine if it is necessary. It will be known in approximately four to six weeks what further course of action may be required.
Said Meat Loaf, "It really breaks my heart not to be able to perform these shows. I was really looking forward to capping off a great year and celebrating the start of the holidays with the fans. But I have to do what the doctors tell me so I can look forward to healing and coming back strong in 2008.
Former Tigers star ready for supporting role
Brian Haak isn't used to fighting for playing time or trying to find his role within a team. A multi-sport standout for Spencer, and one of the best all-around basketball talents the Tigers have seen in the past decade, Haak was used to being the centerpiece of his prep teams. As 3-year starter during his high school days, Haak made his mark with the Tigers as the first player in school history to record 1,000 points and 500 assists in a career. A first team All-State player after averaging 20.4 points, 9.8 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists as a senior, Haak graduated from Spencer in 2005 as the all-time leader in steals and assists, and as the school's third all-time leading scorer. With his natural ability and all-around skills, there was never any question whether Haak would be on the court when December rolled around.
Events
FUNDRAISING RIDE: Ride Without Limits, a national fundraising campaign to benefit United Cerebral Palsy, will take place in the Tampa Bay area today and Sunday. The two-day, 200-mile ride requires a minimum donation of $500 for riders and a $35 registration fee. Visit www.ridewithoutlimits.org or call 1-888-547-3239. SLED HOCKEY: The Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and Fan Development Department offer bi-monthly sled hockey clinics for people with disabilities. All equipment is provided. The next sessions will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 25 at the St. Pete Times Forum. For information, contact David Cole at (813) 301-6822 or send an e-mail to dcole@sptimesforum.com. ANGER MANAGEMENT: Family Service Association, 407 N. Parsons Ave., Suite 104A, Brandon, will begin a five-week program on Anger Management on Wednesday.
Price of Friday Night Football
The roar of the crowd is all they hear because it's game day and the last thing players are concerned about is life long injuries. Every Friday night in the fall somewhere in Texas high school athletes are playing football but what price do those young athletes pay for Friday night fame? Benjamin Rambo, says an injury ended his high school football career, "I hurt during the off season and I didn't take care of it I didn't go get it checked out like I should have and it turned into a lot worse that it should have been." Mr. Rambo was sidelined when he had major back surgery for a herniated disk. So how safe is high school football? According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, four out of every 1,000 high school football exposures resulted in an injury.
Young making most of rehab sessions
When Kordell Young had two healthy knees, he could run the length of the football field in 11 seconds. Who knows how fast he could walk to class? But in the weeks after Young's surgery to repair a torn ligament in his knee, Rutgers' sophomore tailback apparently aged quite a bit as he treked around campus. "The most frustrating part was seeing everybody else walking," he said, "and it was taking me 10 years to get to class." Exaggeration aside, Young summed up the first few weeks of his rehabilitation process like this: "It was hard because I had one strong leg and one leg that's not that strong, so I kept pushing myself to get it (the weaker leg) stronger." Now, two months since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the Sept.
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