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Today's Globe: BMC suit, flu drug stockpile, cigarette ban, demand for mental health services, bypass technique, Vytorin settlement

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Elizabeth Cooney July 16, 2009 06:56 AM

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Boston Medical Center filed suit yesterday against the state, accusing officials of illegally cutting payments made to the hospital for treating thousands of poor patients, a decision executives said could financially unravel the urban hospital’s key services.

Massachusetts will have enough flu medication in its emergency stockpile to treat nearly 350,000 feverish, coughing patients by the time the fall influenza season arrives - an autumn that could deliver a potent and lethal brew of flu strains.

The Needham Board of Health voted 2 to 0 Tuesday to ban cigarette sales in pharmacies and other local healthcare institutions, saying that the sale of tobacco products conflicts with their mission to promote health (fifth item)

More people are seeking low-cost mental health services as the recession drags on, according to directors of clinics in the region.

A common method used in heart bypass surgery spares patients pain and problems upfront but seems to raise their risk of dying or suffering a heart attack over the next three years, a worrisome study finds.

Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. have agreed to pay $5.4 million to 35 states to settle allegations that they delayed releasing negative findings from a study of their cholesterol fighter Vytorin, the drug makers said yesterday.

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About white coat notes

White Coat Notes covers the latest from the health care industry, hospitals, doctors offices, labs, insurers, and the corridors of government. Chelsea Conaboy previously covered health care for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write her at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cconaboy.

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