Qysmia Diet Drug, West Nile Cases rise, Autism coverage
Qysmia Diet Drug
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| Updated: 9/20/2012 5:44 pm |
Published: 9/20/2012 4:55 pm |
The diet drug Qsymia is now available for purchase.
Qsymia is a combination of two medications that have been available for a while in weight management.
One is an appetite suppressant the other reduces cravings for food.
An advisory panel voted - 20 to 2 - to approve the drug last February.
It's the first time the FDA voted to approve a weight-loss drug in more than thirteen years.
West Nile Cases rise
West Nile Virus infections and deaths continue to rise.
Federal health officials report a total of 3,142 cases - and 134 deaths this season.
It's makes this year one of the worst outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease - ever to hit the U.S.
The CDC says every state except Alaska and Hawaii have reported infections.
In Arkansas, there have been five deaths and 41 cases related to the virus.
Autism coverage
Insurance companies are beginning to realize how important behavioral therapy is for families with kids who have autism.
Hayden Neuman's parents fought for years to have their child's therapy covered by insurance.
The therapy is called applied behavior analysis, or ABA.
It's the most widely used behavioral intervention used to treat autism.
Insurance companies were hesitant to cover it because some do not consider it a medical treatment like you would rehab for a disability.
Hayden's parents credit ABA with giving them their boy back.
Health care professionals say they hope to see more coverage for this type of therapy in the future.
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