Hospital gets approval to join MaineHealth system

A North Conway, N.H., hospital has received approval from New Hampshire regulators to join a health care system based in Portland, Maine.

Memorial Hospital is joining MaineHealth system, which currently includes Maine Medical Center and 10 other organizations in Maine and New Hampshire.

Memorial Hospital will retain its status as a New Hampshire nonprofit organization, but MaineHealth will have input into its budget, the services it provides and the selection of a chief executive officer. The hospital’s board of trustees will continue to control charitable assets, including buildings, equipment and endowments.

As part of the agreement, MaineHealth will invest $1.5 million over two years to implement a new electronic medical record system. Board Chairman Gene Bergoffen says the change will allow the hospital to improve health care while retaining local control.

Officials say average price for heating oil hits $3.61

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Maine officials say the average price for home heating oil rose 5 cents to $3.61 per gallon. The Governor’s Energy Office said Tuesday that its weekly survey found a high of $3.90 in southwest Maine and a low of $3.40 in three areas of the state including southwest, eastern and western Maine.

The average price of kerosene also increased to $4 a gallon, up 4 cents from last week. The survey says average propane prices were the same as last week at $2.77 per gallon.

Data show home prices have stabilized after gains

A measure of U.S. home prices rose only modestly in October, adding to signs that prices have stabilized after experiencing big gains earlier this year.

Real estate data provider CoreLogic said Tuesday that prices increased 0.2 percent in October from September. That’s up from a 0.1 percent gain in September. But it is down sharply from a 0.9 percent increase in August. One reason for the slowdown is that the figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal patterns.

Genetic testing company faces class action lawsuit

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Genetic testing company 23andMe is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that the Silicon Valley startup misled customers with advertising for its personalized DNA test kit. The test is marketed as a tool to help users predict their risk of developing various diseases.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. district court of California last week. It came days after the Food and Drug Administration ordered 23andMe to halt sales of its personalized test, saying the company has failed to show that the technology is supported by science.

 

– From news service reports


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