Health roundtable kicks off the Denver DNC By Leigh E. Rich Four hours before DNC Chairman Howard Deans banged the gavel and began the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, physicians, public health specialists, medical researchers and CEOs gathered at Boettcher Concert Hall for a Rocky Mountain Roundtable on “Health, Wellness and Prevention,” moderated by […]
08.28.2008
04.03.2006
Surgeon-turned-writer shares his ‘Mortal Lessons’ with Savannah By Leigh E. Rich Maimonides. Chekhov. Keats. Rabelais. William Carlos Williams. Richard Selzer chuckles while ticking off names of his predecessors as if seating arrangements for an Algonquin soiree. He is but one, he says, in a long line of physician-writers. “I’m the one that’s just alive,” the […]
04.01.2006
Former surgeon Richard Selzer dissects ‘The Doctor as Writer’ By Leigh E. Rich It’s taken him 37 years, but surgeon-turnedauthor Richard Selzer knows his worth—at least as a writer. “It’s not much, but it’s something,” the soon-to-be 78-year-old says with a wry smile and a wink. No politician or pop star, Selzer undersells himself. The […]
04.08.2005
Substance abuse treatment may be cost-savings prescription By Leigh E. Rich Colorado may soon be joining the 47 other states that offer outpatient substance abuse treatment to Medicaid recipients. Currently, Colorado, Nevada and Arkansas are the only three states that do not provide such coverage. With an estimated 4,500 Medicaid enrollees in Colorado who would […]
04.08.2005
Lawmakers weigh the right prescription for obesity By Leigh E. Rich Akin to the never-ending nature vs. nurture debate, buzz from the Capitol these days is pitting government involvement vs. personal responsibility. At the Colorado YMCA’s advocacy day on March 21, Colorado lawmakers and members of the Christian nonprofit group discussed a growing problem in […]
04.01.2005
Gov. Owens still silent on emergency contraception bill By Leigh E. Rich A majority can make all the difference. This rings all too true for Democratic Rep. Betty Boyd of Lakewood, whose House Bill 1042 that would require Colorado hospitals to provide information about emergency contraception to rape survivors has, after three years, landed squarely […]
03.11.2005
Health savings accounts a new vehicle or merely a concept car? By Leigh E. Rich There’s a windy mountain road in Colorado, and as cars speed down one particular curve of the hill, accidents frequently ensue. Night after night, cars crash, metal bends, human lives are at stake. The American solution to the problem? Build […]
03.11.2005
Categories: Health, Politics, Religion, Utrinque Paratus | Comments Off on Splitting babies or splitting hairs?
Colorado has yet to weigh in on stem cell debate By Leigh E. Rich “He tried to be Solomonic,” Deborah Price Nagler said last week of President George W. Bush’s 2001 policy limiting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to a handful of existing cell lines. But like the ancient king who threatened to […]
02.11.2005
Bill will next be weighed in Appropriations By Leigh E. Rich The House Health and Human Services Committee has weighed in: Obesity is a health risk, physically and fiscally. Though HHS members joked around a bit Monday while hearing House Majority Leader Alice Madden’s bill that would create a pilot project for Medicaid clients who […]
02.04.2005
Categories: Health, Politics, Utrinque Paratus | Comments Off on Medicaid measure session’s first law
HB 1086 reinstates medical services for legal immigrants By Leigh E. Rich Alternating between six different pens, Gov. Bill Owens signed House Bill 1086 into law Wednesday—the first of the 65th session, coming just three weeks after opening day. Sponsored by the six members of the Joint Budget Committee, the legislation reinstates Medicaid benefits to […]
12.03.2004
Categories: Health, Politics, Utrinque Paratus | Comments Off on America’s health system in a ‘death spiral’
The Duke serves up solutions for the underserved By Leigh E. Rich He knows he’s not the best person to ask about winning a presidential election. He admits he’s often been called “cheap” and even “Mandatory Mike.” And these days, his biggest public appearance seems to be as short-order cook for the 26 mouths in […]
