Retail Clinics

HOUSTON — Retail-based clinic operator RediClinic, which has about 30 clinics inside select H-E-B grocery stores, is offering patients a $10 savings on school physicals if they "like" RediClinic on Facebook.

As of last count, RediClinic had 854 "likes." Physicals at RediClinic are usually priced at $59.

SAN DIEGO — Vitamin D deficiency may increase the chance of muscle injuries in elite athletes, specifically NFL football players, suggested a recent study presented last week at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s annual meeting.

“Eighty percent of the football team we studied had vitamin D insufficiency. African-American players and players who suffered muscle injuries had significantly lower levels,” stated Michael Shindle, lead researcher and member of Summit Medical Group. 

WASHINGTON — Four legislators on Thursday introduced legislation that would restore over-the-counter medicines as qualified reimbursements under health spending accounts and flexible spending accounts without a prescription. A provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted in January had created a prescription requirement in order for OTC medicines to qualify for pre-tax reimbursements. 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Is this the nutritional Twilight Zone?

Despite the common perception that kids are always reluctant to eat their greens, a new survey by Midwest retailer Meijer found that almost 6-in-10 adults don’t think they’re eating enough fruits and vegetables, while kids seem to be eating enough.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday proposed a framework to assist states in building Affordable Insurance Exchanges, state-based competitive marketplaces where individuals and small businesses will be able to purchase affordable private health insurance.

WASHINGTON — The rate of obesity among adults has increased across 16 states, with no states seeing a drop, according to a new report released by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The report also found that 12 states now have obesity rates above 30%, versus four years ago when just one state had a 30% obesity rate, TFAH and RWJF said.

HOUSTON — Physician’s Preference, Vitamins and Supplements wellness experts on Wednesday announced an initiative to educate Americans on the importance of obtaining optimal vitamin D status — as the “sunshine vitamin” is coupled with numerous health benefits — by setting the facts straight about sunscreen use and offering quick tips for increasing one’s vitamin D level.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Preventive health care may be signficiantly less costly than previously thought because of the expanded use of cost-effective generic medications for the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases, according to researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.