Health Headlines for Friday, February 19

Most small businesses down on Obamacare, see health care as big election issue

Albany Business Review

Most small business owners think the Affordable Care Act has hurt them, not helped them, and many want presidential candidates to pay more attention to health care in their campaigns.

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Independence Health Group Explores Strategic Options

Wall Street Journal

Independence Health Group Inc. is examining its strategic options, as the Philadelphia nonprofit insurer and others weigh mergers or other steps amid a wave of consolidation spurred by the federal health-care overhaul.

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Syracuse hospital brings portable dental care to children on Near West Side

Syracuse Post Standard

St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center is working to improve access to dental services for children on the city’s Near West Side with a new portable dental care program.

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NY to start rapid response for water quality

Democrat and Chronicle

New York will boost its groundwater assessments and create a rapid response team to address any immediate water contamination issues that arise, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

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Abortion ban linked to dangerous miscarriages at Catholic hospital, report claims

The Guardian

The woman inside the ambulance was miscarrying. That was clear from the foul-smelling fluid leaving her body.

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Deaths from ‘Benzo’ Sedatives Quietly Increasing

Live Science

Prescription opioids have made headlines for skyrocketing rates of deaths from overdoses, but a new report shows that overdose deaths from another group of medications — sedatives called benzodiazepines — are also increasing.

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