National: Care for Aging May Cost Less Than Anticipated
The health care costs of aging baby boomers as they reach their 80s and 90s will not cost as much as experts originally forecasted, according to the January issue of The Journal of Gerontology.

Researchers found that medical costs for seniors who died relatively young were considerably higher near the end than the costs for people who died at age 85 and older.

The National Institute on Aging sponsored the research, which analyzed 25,954 elderly people enrolled in Medicare between 1982 and 1998. The average monthly health care expenditure per person in the group was $720 in 1998 dollars, of which Medicare paid $429.

Among those who died, the cost was about $3,170 monthly, while those who survived incurred about $590 a month in health expenses. In the month before death, the cost for people ages 65 to 74 averaged about $7,580, while the cost for those 85 and older was $5,254.

Visit http://psychsoc.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/58/1/S2 to view the report.

Maryland: Conference Held in Bethesda on Dietary Supplement Use in Elderly
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements and the National Institute on Aging will host a conference Jan. 14-15 to present current research about dietary supplement use by the elderly in United States with the goal of developing a focused research program in this area. The conference will be held at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD.

Dietary supplements encompass a wide range of products, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and other botanicals, as well as substances used to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake.

The quality of scientific data available on safety and efficacy of dietary supplements varies enormously, ranging from folklore to facts. For some supplements, recommended levels for the elderly have been established through extensive research and published reports, but for others, serious negative health consequences can occur, especially in relation to interactions with prescription medications.

Information regarding the conference agenda and registration are available at www.scgcorp.com/dsuse/background.asp. Pre-registration is required and there is a fee to attend.

Minnesota: New Vaccine Requirements Proposed for Children
The Minnesota Department of Health recently proposed changes to immunization requirements for children. The suggested modifications would require Minnesota children attending school or in childcare to show proof they are vaccinated against chickenpox.

Children in childcare younger than 2 years old would need to show proof they are immunized against pneumococcol disease. Parents who choose not to have their child immunized need to show proof they have chosen to decline the new immunizations.

The department will hold a hearing before an administrative law judge at 9 a.m. on Feb. 28, in the Mississippi Room at the Snelling Office Park building, 1645 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul. Following the hearing, the judge will set a period for taking written comments, ranging from about 2 weeks to a month.

After reviewing all comments, the judge will then recommend whether the department should adopt the rules. If approved, the changes would not take effect until the 2004-'05 school year.

Texas: Vanguard Health Systems Completes Purchase of Baptist Health System
Vanguard Health Systems Inc. announced Jan. 3 that it has completed the acquisition of the Baptist Health System (BHS) in San Antonio. In acquiring BHS, Vanguard has purchased five acute-care hospitals totaling 1,537 licensed beds, as well as related health care businesses in San Antonio and surrounding areas of south Texas.

Vanguard's purchase price for the assets was $295 million, payable $247 million in cash and $48 million in Vanguard equity and convertible subordinated debt securities.

Vanguard will maintain the faith-based nature of the system, providing for an expanded pastoral care and chaplain program. Vanguard is also committed to maintaining current charity care levels and to invest a minimum of $200 million in capital over a 6-year period.

The Baptist Health System includes five acute-care hospitals: Baptist Medical Center, North Central Baptist Hospital, Northeast Baptist Hospital, Southeast Baptist Hospital and St. Luke's Baptist Hospital. Also included in the purchase were Baptist Regional Children's Center, Baptist Cancer Center, Baptist Women's Health Center, and other health-related services and affiliations.

As a result of its acquisition of the Baptist Health System, Vanguard currently owns and operates 15 acute-care hospitals and complementary ancillary services and facilities in Chicago; Orange County, CA; Phoenix, AZ; and San Antonio.

Washington: Hospital Refuses to Vaccinate Employees Against Smallpox
An acute-care hospital in Washington state has decided not to allow its health care workers to be vaccinated for smallpox in accordance with President George Bush's federal plan, according to the The Seattle Times.

The newspaper reported Jan. 3 that the state Department of Health would not identify which hospital had decided against participating.

On Dec. 13 President Bush announced a plan to start the vaccination of thousands of health care workers and first responders in order to be prepared in case of a bioterrorist attack. Concern about a smallpox attack has grown out of heightened post-Sept. 11 fears that terrorists may have access to the virus and may attempt to use it against Americans.

The government and other health care agencies have warned that the smallpox vaccine can cause death and severe side effects in rare instances.

President Bush has already been vaccinated with no reported effect on his health and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said he will be vaccinated as well since some personnel in the departments of Defense and State are part of the vaccination plan.

The government is not recommending that the public be vaccinated at this time.

Washington: Health Department Releases Birth and Death Statistics
On an average day in 2001, 218 Washingtonians had a baby, 122 people died, 114 got married and 72 got a divorce. These figures are among the highlights in Washington State Vital Statistics 2001, a report released Jan. 3 by the state department of health.

Of the 218 babies born on an average day, 6 were born to women aged 40 and older, 27 were born to women who smoked during pregnancy, 49 were delivered by Cesarean section and 13 had low birth weight (less than 5-1/2 pounds).

Of the 122 people who died on an average day, 31 died of heart disease, 30 died of cancer, 6 died as a result of accidents and two committed suicide.

The top 10 leading causes of death in 2001 were: (1) heart disease, (2) cancer, (3) stroke, (4) chronic lower respiratory diseases, (5) accident, (6) Alzheimer's disease, (7) diabetes, (8) influenza and pneumonia, (9) suicide, and (10) chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

To receive a complete copy of the report, call 360-236-4300.