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Archive of Health Care on Thursday May 08, 2008
Ban on same-sex health coverage upheld
Tom Patrick is worried about what will happen to the health care benefits he and his partner, Dennis, and their four children have as a result of a ruling Wednesday by the Michigan Supreme Court. Read More
Perdue signs high-deductible insurance plan bill
Insurance companies gained millions of reasons on Wednesday to offer high-deductible health insurance plans as Gov. Sonny Perdue signed legislation aimed at making the plans more affordable and more widely available. Read More
Senate supports plan to raise cigarette tax
The S.C. Senate on Wednesday approved a 50-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase that would help a quarter of the state?s uninsured find or buy medical coverage. Read More
Legislators hear benefits of statewide trauma system
A statewide trauma system would save the lives of 200 to 600 Arkansans who die each year because they can't get needed emergency care fast enough, health officials told legislators Wednesday. Read More
Gubernatorial candidates? positions on key issues
With Hoosiers paying record prices at the gas pump and oil prices climbing, what would you do as governor to provide some short- and long-term relief? Read More
Minn. panel drops booster seat rule after Pawlenty objects
The sponsors of a transportation policy bill have dropped a booster seat requirement for children ages 4 to 8 to accommodate Governor Tim Pawlenty. Read More
Legislative committee approves proposed Alabama-wide smoking ban
People could not smoke in restaurants, stores, malls, convention halls, theaters, sports arenas and many other public indoor places under a bill that took a big step toward becoming law Wednesday. Read More
Alabama teens' use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana down; other drugs on the rise
Rates of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use among Alabama students have declined in recent years, but the use of other drugs such as cocaine, hallucinogens and the prescription painkiller OxyContin is on the rise, according to a report by the state Department of Education. Read More
Ark. first lady urges better mental health care for children
Ginger Beebe doesn't like public speaking but will put aside her nervousness to speak on behalf of children with mental-health problems. Read More
Time runs out on sick day legislation
The House of Representatives appeared to have scuttled an effort to require businesses to provide paid sick days to all their workers, refusing to call the bill for a vote as time ran out on the legislative session Wednesday night. Read More
Rell cool to expansion of state worker insurance pool
Gov. M. Jodi Rell expressed strong reservations Wednesday about a Democratic bill that would permit municipalities, nonprofits and small businesses to join the state employee health insurance pool. Read More
Perdue OKs health bills
Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday signed a pair of bills aimed at making high-deductible health insurance plans more accessible to Georgians. Read More
If pols' tax on smokes passes, prices may fall
As smokers statewide face another tax hike on cigarettes, a controversial new amendment would allow retailers to slash the cost of butts as a way to lure customers into their stores. Read More
Plans to end hunger advance
Activists who want to end childhood hunger decided Tuesday night at a Blaine House dinner to move forward with plans for a summit to focus on the issue. Read More
Maine bread company bashes U.S. fuel policy
A Maine bread company executive testifying before a Senate committee in Washington on Wednesday said the federal government?s renewable fuel policy has encouraged skyrocketing food prices. Read More
Maine plays role in debate over ethanol funding
WASHINGTON - Higher food prices have led some lawmakers to re-examine a federal mandate passed last year that requires refiners to nearly double the amount of corn ethanol used in gasoline. Read More
Mich. high court says gay partners can't get health benefits
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a 2004 ban against gay marriage also blocks governments and state universities from offering health insurance to the partners of gay workers. Read More
House supports psych hospital
A proposed child psychiatric hospital in Woodbury gained overwhelming support Wednesday from the Minnesota House, with lawmakers lamenting the children who must be transported out of state for mental health care as well as those lost to suicide. Read More
Feds issue new guidelines for treating tobacco dependence
Federal health officials issued new guidelines today for how medical practitioners should treat tobacco use and dependence. Read More
Minnesota PCA to anglers: Please get the lead out
With the Minnesota fishing opener fast approaching, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is encouraging anglers to switch to lead-free tackle. Read More
House approves stem cell measure
A bill clarifying that the University of Minnesota can use state taxpayer funds for embryonic stem cell research gained House approval Wednesday. Read More
Missouri Senate sends $22.4 billion spending plan to Blunt
The Missouri Senate on Wednesday put the final touches on a $22.4 billion spending plan that includes more funding for public schools, college scholarships, life sciences research and low-income health care. Read More
Workers' comp rates to drop next year
The Montana State Fund is trimming workers' compensation insurance rates next year by an average of 3 percent, the agency's board announced this week. Read More
Budget cuts vex black legislators
TRENTON, N.J. -- A group of legislators with enough sway to hold up the state budget expressed worry yesterday that proposed cuts could make it harder for poor minorities to get health care and attend college. Read More
Richardson talks health, education in Mexico
Gov. Bill Richardson and several Mexican officials signed various international agreements Wednesday, on topics dealing with rail crossings to border health projects. Read More
Nevada's legal firm changes lawyers in Yucca Mountain fight
LAS VEGAS - Nevada's lead lawyer in the fight against the federal government's Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project is reducing his role as he battles stomach cancer. Read More
Board chief fires back, backs off
The executive director of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners unleashed a tirade against a county prosecutor Wednesday before saying the board would comply with a request to turn over to investigators any complaints in its files about Dr. Dipak Desai, whose clinic was the source of the largest hepatitis C scare in the nation. Read More
Health Alliance shrinking staff
The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati has not filled open positions at its main offices for more than a year as it prepared for three of its hospitals to withdraw. Read More
State, county help keep mental health care provider going
PORTLAND, Ore. -- A timely loan will allow Oregon?s largest mental health care provider to continue operating until at least midsummer. Read More
Smoking ban taking shape
Casinos, private clubs and smaller bars and taverns appear to be winning their fights for exceptions from a bill to ban smoking from most indoor facilities in Pennsylvania. Sources close to talks said all three groups might escape the statewide ban. Read More
Carcieri removes MHRH director
Governor Carcieri has removed Ellen R. Nelson as director of the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals, and appointed her his special adviser on hospital acquisitions and mergers, a newly created position that the governor described as temporary. Read More
S.C. Senate advances 50-cent cigarette tax increase
The South Carolina Senate gave key approval Wednesday to a 50-cent per pack increase to the state's cigarette tax, setting aside much of the new money for health care for low income residents. Read More
City, state take aim at Bexar's high teen pregnancy rate
City and state officials on Wednesday - the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy - announced their intentions to come up with a comprehensive plan to combat Bexar County's persistently high teen birth rate. Read More
Prescription drugs a top Utah killer
PROVO, Utah -- Prescription drug overdoses caused more deaths in Utah in 2006 than automobile accidents and illegal drug overdoses, according to the Utah Department of Health. Read More
Graduating students urged to get health insurance now
Vermont health officials have a message to students graduating from college this year: Get health insurance. Read More
Mentally ill children's long wait for treatment
Imagine having a young child who beats you up -- physically, violently. A child who doesn't just throw the occasional temper tantrum, but rages out of control daily. This has been Janet Friedberg's agony for the past seven years. Read More
State high in seniors' fatal falls
An independent organization says more Wisconsin residents over 65 die from accidental falls than do seniors in almost any other state. Read More
Communities get "clean sweep" funding
A new state grant program will help communities across the state get rid of some bad medicine. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure. Read More
More states offer choice in long-term care
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes. Read More
Medicaid: Biggest insurer is a budget buster
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