Medicaid battle escalates, 12-8-11, The News and Observer

Staff Writer Lynn Bonner reports on how a $139 million NC Medicaid budget shortfall could impact health care programs for children and poor people.

Budget shortfall could mean catastrophic Medicaid cuts after all, 12-5-11, WRAL.com

Reporter Bruce Mildwurf finds state legislators may be forced to consider making catastrophic cuts to the NC Medicaid program to fill a projected $139 million Medicaid budget shortfall.

Area health notes – Wilmington doctor to lead state medical society, 11-30-11, Star-News, Wilmington

Wilmington emergency physician Michael P. Moulton, MD, is recognized for becoming President-Elect of the NCMS during the Society’s Annual Meeting in October. The article is based on a news release from the NCMS.

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center at risk of losing Medicare funding, 12-6-11, NBC-17 (WNCN) Raleigh

Reporter Kim Genardo examines the impact of an “immediate jeopardy status” imposed by state health investigators on a Fayetteville hospital.

Work on Campbell med school begins, 12-8-11, The News and Observer

Article about a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction of the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, which expects to open in 2013.

Committee advises S.C. wait for a federal health care exchange, 12-3-11, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach

McClatchy Newspapers writer Joey Holleman reports on a recommendation by state health experts that South Carolina not create a health insurance exchange because federal rules for such exchanges remain uncertain.

Bill would make drug price gouging a federal crime, 12-6-11, The News and Observer/Associated Press

AP Business Writer Linda A. Johnson writes about new legislation that would make it a federal crime to price gouge on prescription drugs.

How would candidates really hold health care costs down? 12-2-11, DesMoinesRegister.com/caucuses

Gannett Company writer Tony Leys (Caucus Insider) examines how the GOP presidential candidates would address the issue of controlling health care costs.

2 Governors Asking U.S. to Ease Rules on Marijuana to Allow for Its Medical Use, 11-30-11, The New York Times

Writer Michael Cooper reports on a petition submitted by the governors of Washington and Rhode Island seeking to reclassify marijuana as a drug with accepted medical use.

UK’s free health care under threat, 12-8-11, The News and Observer/Associated Press

AP writer Maria Cheng reports on how budget cuts are impacting the British health care system.