Ex-Aetna chief criticizes insurance mandate

Chairman and CEO of Aetna, Ron Williams attends a meeting at the White House in Washington(Reuters) – The recently retired head of health insurer Aetna Inc criticized the component at the heart of the U.S. healthcare overhaul law, known as the individual mandate, and predicted it would not be upheld. The Supreme Court is expected to rule before the end of the month on the law, championed by U.S. President Barack Obama and designed to expand coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans. At the center of the case is the mandate, which requires people to buy insurance or pay a penalty. …

South African innovator takes water out of showering

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – With inspiration from a friend too lazy to take a shower and a few months of research on the Internet, South African university student Ludwick Marishane has won global recognition for an invention that takes the water out of bathing. Marishane, a 22-year-old student at the University of Cape Town invented a product called DryBath, a clear gel applied to skin that does the work of water and soap. …

Infinity halts drug trials, shares fall

(Reuters) – Infinity Pharmaceuticals stopped two mid-stage trials of its experimental drug to treat a rare bone marrow disorder and a type of bone cancer, sending its shares down as much as 21 percent. This is not the first time that Infinity is facing disappointment with the drug saridegib. In January, the company had stopped another trial in which the drug was being studied as a treatment for pancreatic cancer. …

Alcohol abuse up after weight loss surgery: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – For some obese people, drinking problems may become a new burden following weight loss surgery, according to a new study out Monday. Although the rate of alcohol abuse climbed only two percent after the procedures, researchers say this translates into more than 2,000 new cases of abuse every year in the U.S. Two years following their surgery, patients described more symptoms of dependence — such as needing a drink in the morning or failing to meet normal expectations — and more alcohol-related harms, such as black-outs, feelings of guilt or injuring someone. …

1 48 49 50 51 52 124