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Tissue Genesis awarded grant

Honolulu-based biotech company Tissue Genesis Inc. said it recently got a $3.7 million military grant to develop specialized tissue to replace ruptured ligaments in knees.

Work on the project with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command will last 18 months.

Formed in 2001, Tissue Genesis is developing tissue replacement products to improve survival rates among patients with trauma injuries, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and metabolic diseases.

Kaiser rates to go up 11.7%

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan said the state has approved its revised request to increase rates by an average of 11.7 percent for its basic plan in 2004.

Hawai'i's second largest health insurer initially asked for an average 14.5 percent increase for the basic plan plus vision and prescription drug coverage. Rate hikes for vision and drugs were approved, but not for the basic plan.

Since the higher rate increase was not approved, Kaiser said it plans to make cost cuts, most likely in patient care and administrative operations. It also said it would "do its best" not to lay off workers, but plans to make any cuts through attrition.

Kaiser already raised rates by 14.5 percent this year and thus will be issuing credits to members. For more information, call 432-5955 on O'ahu and (800) 966-5955 from the Neighbor Islands.