July 31, 1998

New York Yankees may acquire Seattle Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson in trade; photo (M)

Elderly and disabled residents in 19 rural Ohio counties are dismayed by anouncement by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield that its Medicare health maintenance orgn is being discontinued as of Dec 31, just year and half after it started; decision affects 18,235 elderly and disabled clients; Anthem provided kind of aggressive prevention-oriented care that Congress and other health planners envisioned when they opened up 33-year-old Medicare program to HMO's and other forms of managed care; Anthem officials say they their company, which successfully operated a Medicare HMO around Cincinnati, about 75 miles south, for three years, had found itself over-extended, over-subscribed and under-paid by Federal Govt; Anthem's retreat, like those of other HMO's recently, casts shadow over decision by Congress and Clinton Administration to steer more of nation's retirees into managed care; photo; map (M)

Acamprosate, drug widely available in Europe that may reduce urge to drink, is being tested in US, which has estimated 13.7 million alcoholics; Lipha SA, unit of German drug maker Merck KGaA, hopes to have it on American market in 2000; doctors say they can prescribe drug to help alcoholics remain sober, possibly saving thousands of people from painful relapses while reducing cost of rehabilitation, which was $5 billion in 1997; expected arrival of drug has ignited controversy in health care community, pitting specialists who argue that alcoholics should be treated with counseling alone against doctors who insist that drugs are crucial tools; chart; photo (M)

Autos on Friday column on Toyota's plan to give Americans chance to drive new Prius, hybrid vehicle that has been success in Japan since it went on sale last December; Prius combines gasoline engine with electric motor, thereby promising lower pollution levels and practicality of conventional car; photos (M)

Marketspan officials say that Dr William J Catacosinos, embattled chairman of newly formed company, is negotiating terms of his resignation, amid mounting pressure from stockholders, public officials and board members; one official says that Catacosinos's resignation could be announced as early as July 31, when company's board meets in Manhattan to discuss, among other things, growing controversy over Catacosinos's executive compensation; photo (M)