Health

Medicare: Cost-saving changes coming for diabetics (Q&A)

WASHINGTON — Medicare begins a major change next month that could save older diabetics money and time when they buy crucial supplies to test their blood sugar.

Fresh success: $5 match helps low-income shoppers at farmers markets

Grant-funded bonus of a $5 match helps low-income shoppers make the most of a stop at a local farmers market

A program designed to help stretch the value of food stamps at farmers markets is up and running again this year after a successful 2012 launch.

Kortum, CEO of PeaceHealth's Columbia Network, to retire

Joe Kortum, who led Southwest Washington Medical Center for eight years and who served as CEO of the Columbia Network of PeaceHealth for two years, announces he will retire

To ease shortage of organs, grow them in a lab?

NEW YORK — By the time 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan finally got a lung transplant last week, she'd been waiting for months, and her parents had sued to give her a better shot at surgery.

BioWatch faces congressional hearing this week

WASHINGTON — A decade ago, then-Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge oversaw the start of BioWatch, the nationwide system designed to detect airborne releases of anthrax or other biological weapons.

PeaceHealth, Regence sign new two-year contract

Agreement ensures Regence members can continue to receive care at hospital

PeaceHealth and Regence have reached an agreement on a new two-year contract.

Supreme Court rules for generic drugs, against 'pay for delay'

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that brand-name drugmakers can be sued for violating the antitrust laws if they make a deal that pays a potential competitor to put off selling a generic version.

Komen breast cancer charity names new CEO

DALLAS — Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced Monday that it has a new CEO.

West Nile virus found in Yakima mosquitoes

YAKIMA — West Nile virus has turned up in two samples of mosquitoes collected in Yakima County.

Hybrid yoga routine pairs each pose with toning moves

Want a physique as awesome as Jennifer Aniston's? You might not be able to see it in the mirror yet, but you already have one, says Mandy Ingber. And she'd know. The celebrity yoga and fitness instructor works out with the "Friends" star three days a week, using a plan she's broken down for wider audiences in her new book, "Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover" ($20, Seal).

Changing routine, environment may get you a better night's sleep

I woke up at 3:43 one morning. After an hour of lying awake in the dark, I moved to the sofa and read my book for an hour. Then I turned off the light and went back to sleep.

Social media helps patients share their news

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Medical updates are no longer hushed discussions held behind closed doors. They're going viral. And they're increasingly being shared with family, friends and, sometimes, digital strangers.

Are kids getting too much screen time? Parents aren't sweating it

LOS ANGELES — Among the zillions of decisions that moms and dads make about how to parent, it might seem that determining the appropriate amount of time young children can spend watching TV and playing on tablets and smartphones might be a big one.

Study: Soda size limit cuts calories most in kids, the overweight

WASHINGTON — A day after New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Health Department went to court to defend its proposed cap on the sale of super-sized sodas, a published study offered evidence that Bloomberg's plan would reduce average calorie intake among those most likely to buy large drinks, and would have its greatest effect on overweight and obese kids.

Go Greek with your yogurt?

Nutrition experts say they're not convinced it's more healthful

Greek yogurt is everywhere, and now represents nearly a third of the yogurt market. But how different is the Greek version from regular yogurt? That depends.