Health Headlines for Thursday, April 28

NY lawmakers consider tighter regulation of nurses

Syracuse Post Standard

State legislators are considering tightening regulation of nurses after a ProPublica investigation found New York does less than other states to check nurses’ criminal backgrounds and is often slow to discipline nurses for lapses in care.

Read the full article


State removes bars for hepatitis C patients needing expensive cures

Capital New York

The state handed an unexpected victory Wednesday to thousands of patients suffering from hepatitis C, removing guidelines that denied Medicaid patients access to expensive, lifesaving medications until they became very ill.

Read the full article


NY expands rules for gender surgery

Lohud/Journal News

Nurse practitioners in New York can now refer Medicaid patients for gender-reassignment surgery, provided they have a background in psychiatric care.

Read the full article


Valeant Pharmaceuticals to Make Sweeping Changes to Board

Wall Street Journal

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. is planning sweeping changes to its board of directors as it moves to set a new tone at the top of a company under fire from politicians and investors for its management and drug-pricing practices.

Read the full article


State legislation expands collaboration between ECMC, Kaleida and UB

Buffalo Business First

New state legislation will allow Erie County Medical Center to further expand its collaborations with Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo.

Read the full article


Vietnam Vets Push VA to Link Bladder Cancer to Agent Orange

Pro Publica

Alan Eller has spent more than a decade trying to convince the Department of Veterans Affairs that his bladder cancer was the result of exposure to Agent Orange almost 50 years ago in Vietnam.

Read the full article


1 Minute of All-Out Exercise May Have Benefits of 45 Minutes of Moderate Exertion

New York Times/Blog

For many of us, the most pressing question about exercise is: How little can I get away with? The answer, according to a sophisticated new study of interval training, may be very, very little.

Read the full article