• Coffee buzz: Study finds java drinkers live longer
    MILWAUKEE (AP) — One of life's simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer. Regular or decaf doesn't matter. The study of 400,000 people is the largest ever done on the issue, and the results should reassure any coffee lovers who think it's a guilty pleasure that may do harm.
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  • Scientists hunt ways to stall Alzheimer's earlier
    WASHINGTON (AP) — Look for a fundamental shift in how scientists hunt ways to ward off the devastation of Alzheimer's disease — by testing possible therapies in people who don't yet show many symptoms, before too much of the brain is destroyed. The most ambitious attempt: An international study announced Tuesday will track whether an experimental drug can stall the disease in people who appear healthy but are genetically destined to get a type of Alzheimer's that runs in the family. If so, it would be exciting evidence that maybe regular Alzheimer's is preventable too.
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  • Medicare clinics see patient shortage
    Medicare patients flooded two new clinics targeting the older population when they opened in Anchorage last year -- most other primary care doctors wouldn't take the federal insurance for seniors because they say Medicare pays too little.
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2000 APS became politically active and helped pass HB211, Alaska's Patient Bill of Rights.
2001 Promoted and helped pass Alaska's Prompt Pay Bill.
2002 APS helped pass the Alaska Physician Negotiation Bill.
2003-2004 APS added Personnel Plus employment agency to its long list of value-added vendors. Additionally, APS finished a three part HIPAA workshop series, and a payor contract seminar. APS was the primary proponent of HB260, the Retired Physician Immunity Bill, which passed and is now law.
2005 APS working as part of a large coalition helped pass meaningful medical liability reform in Alaska to drastically lower the caps on non-economic damages.
2006 APS helped sponsor and pass a modification to Advanced Healthcare Directive law, and signed an exclusive endorsement contract with Norcal Mutual Insurance Company.
2007 APS assisted with the passage of the WWAMI legislation expanding the number of Alaska medical school seats from 10 to 20. Added Advantage Mortgage to our list of endorsed APS vendors.
2008 APS is working on the Medicare access crisis in conjunction with a coalition of medical groups under the "Alaskans for Access to Healthcare" banner.
2009 APS Amerinet savings to members passed one million dollars. APS actively working on the creation of a Medicare clinic.
2010 Medicare Clinic funding approved by the Alaska State Legislature, and initial staffing and site placement started.