Science, Health and Technology

As Missouri's Medicaid awaits reform, health centers continue to serve uninsured

Harum Helmy — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:17:36 +0000

This week on KBIA’s talk show Intersection, host Ryan Famuliner sat down with State Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), Rep. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) and Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) to discuss the legislative session that ended on Friday. One of the main things on the show’s agenda was, of course, Medicaid expansion – or lack thereof.

Famuliner asked the panelists why the expansion failed to pass.

What most Missourians don't know about Hepatitis C, even when they're infected

Elana Gordon — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:21:20 +0000

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that only half of Americans identified as having had Hepatitis C ever follow-up with additional screening and treatment. But that’s only part of the problem, according to Bruce Burkett of the Missouri Hepatitis C Alliance. Nearly three in four people who have the disease don’t even know it.

Odors expected to worsen during Bridgeton Landfill construction

Véronique LaCapra — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:13:33 +0000

Updated Wednesday, May 22, 9:15 a.m.: After two days of rain delays, work to remove six unused underground concrete pipes at the landfill began today.

On April 23, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources started twice daily m

Health care reform put on hold as lawmakers wrap up session

Jennifer Davidson — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:30:31 +0000

Rain is drizzling on the roughly 40 people standing in line outside the Good Samaritan Care Clinic in rural Mountain View, Missouri. Some have been standing for hours. At 5:30 pm, the clinic doors swing open, and the patients flood into a clean, bare bones waiting room.

Missouri's Medicaid Director leaves

Elana Gordon — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:06 +0000

The director of Missouri’s Medicaid program, Dr. Ian McCaslin, has left.

Bill expands opportunities for physician assistants in Missouri

Elana Gordon — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:29:09 +0000

Physicians Assistants, or PAs, may soon have more opportunities to practice in Missouri. A bill headed to the Governor’s desk would provide more flexibility in how and where they provide care.Physicians Assistants are trained health workers who practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor. Their training is shorter than that of a doctor, but they do exams, prescribe drugs and diagnose and treat illnesses.

Interfaith leaders gather for last-minute support of Medicaid expansion [video]

Harum Helmy — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:53:33 +0000

With the Missouri legislative session ending on Friday and a Republican supermajority that still won't budge, the hope to expand Medicaid in Missouri is pretty much dead for FY 2014.

It's so dead that perhaps the only thing that could bring it back to life is, well, interfaith prayers for a miracle.

Agreement reached on Bridgeton landfill, but questions still remain

Véronique LaCapra — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:29:50 +0000

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a preliminary agreement on Tuesday with the owner of the Bridgeton Landfill.

Koster filed a lawsuit against Republic Serv

Commission asks Columbia to work toward 100 percent renewable electricity generation

Yuqing Pan — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:36:45 +0000

Columbia’s Environment and Energy Commission is asking the city to increase the percentage of power generated from renewable sources by two percent every year. The goal is to reach 100 percent by the middle of the century.

In 2012, 7.94 percent of electricity in Columbia was generated from renewable sources. The existing standard requires the use of renewable sources reach 10 percent by 2017, and 15 percent by the end of 2022.

Why Is The Saint Louis Zoo Tackling Camel Diseases In Kenya?

editor — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:13:32 +0000

Camels are known for their ability to travel long distances across the desert without water.

But they’re also becoming an increasingly important source of milk for people in drought-prone regions. That includes East African countries like Kenya, where camel numbers have skyrocketed over the past few decades.

But introducing camels — or any species — to a new region, could mean bringing in new diseases.

The St.