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Supplies of high-demand obesity treatments are improving, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier to get them. Many employers and insurers are scaling back coverage of Wegovy and Zepbound and a key government program, Medicare, doesn’t cover the drugs for obesity. Meanwhile, some big employers are adding coverage, but their commitment isn’t guaranteed. Treatment prices that can top hundreds of dollars monthly even after discounts make it hard for many people to afford these drugs on their own. That can make the life-changing weight loss that patients seek dependent on the coverage ...

UPMC support staff honored with BEE Award

WILLIAMSPORT — Gail Keen, CNA, Haven Place, part of UPMC Senior Communities; Kiersten Fairbank, CNA, Cole Place, part of UPMC Senior Communities; Hayfa Shakkour-Perez, respiratory therapist, UPMC Wellsboro; Angela Frear, office assistant, UPMC Primary Care in Montoursville; and Cody Funston, ...

Genetic hearing loss

This topic is not my area of expertise. I have many adult patients who began their hearing loss journey as infants, but I do not offer pediatric services. In Pennsylvania, when a child under 18 is seen for a hearing test, to move forward with hearing aids an ear, nose and throat doctor has to be involved in the process. While I have good relationships with ENTs throughout the region, there is not one in my practice, and I am not part of theirs. Typically, when a pediatric patient is referred out to an ENT, that doctor has staff audiologists, and the hearing aid process stays within ...

Protecting your heart during cancer treatment

Cancer treatment has advanced significantly, helping more people live longer, healthier lives. However, some of these life saving therapies—such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted treatments and radiation—can have unintended effects on the heart. This is known as cardiotoxicity, and it can lead to serious heart conditions both during and years after treatment. To help protect heart health during cancer care, cardiologists and oncologists work together as a team to prevent, diagnose and treat heart issues in cancer patients. How Cancer Treatment Affects the ...

New York sues vape distributors over Elf Bar and other fruit and candy e-cigarettes

New York on Thursday sued some of the country’s biggest distributors of electronic cigarettes, accusing the companies of violating state laws that prohibit the sale of vaping flavors and designs that appeal to children. Attorney General Letitia James announced the lawsuit targeting middlemen that distribute fruit- and candy-flavored e-cigarettes like Puff Bar and Elf Bar to hundreds of convenience stories and gas stations across the state. The approach differs from past litigation by New York and other states, which targeted vaping manufacturers, such as Juul Labs. Widely blamed ...

Penn College streamlines Master of Science in Nursing courses

WILLIAMSPORT — Pennsylvania College of Technology recently introduced a revision to its Master of Science in Nursing curriculum that will reduce the number of required courses, ultimately lowering the cost for students to complete the degree. “The goal of this change is to streamline ...