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Archive of Health Care on Tuesday June 30, 2009
US: Obama steers health debate out of capital
WASHINGTON — With Democrats deeply divided over health legislation, President Obama is trying to enlist the nation's governors and his own army of grass-roots supporters in a bid to increase pressure on lawmakers without getting himself mired in the messy battle playing out on Capitol Hill. Read More
AZ: State services uncertain if government shuts down
The Legislature's fractured Republican majority struggled Monday to reach a budget agreement, bringing Arizona within hours of a nearly total government shutdown. Read More
AL: New state laws to start Wednesday
New laws taking effect Wednesday in Alabama will provide more care for women with cancer, coordinate services for Alabamians with autism and use state buildings to honor American military missing in action. Read More
CA: Schwarzenegger calls for two-tier state pension system
California public employee unions already reeling from pay cuts have been dealt a new blow by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger – a push to lower pension and retiree health care benefits for state workers hired after today. Read More
CO: Federal stimulus funds go to Colorado health care
Colorado will receive nearly $17 million in federal stimulus funds to repair and renovate 15 health-care centers across the state. Read More
CT: Sixth swine flu death recorded in state
A New Haven County man with swine flu has died, the state's sixth death linked to the H1N1 virus. Read More
LA: First 'one-stop shop' agency opens in La.
The first "one-stop shop" that will give residents a central location for assistance offered by several separate state agencies opened Monday. Read More
MA: Pol unveils elderly driver plan
The state motor vehicle registry could start flagging dangerous elderly drivers, force seniors to re-take road tests and make it easier for families to intervene under a sweeping new crackdown a Beacon Hill leader is vowing to push today, the Herald has learned. Read More
MA: Mass. reports second swine flu death
State health officials say an elderly Boston man died from complications of the swine flu, the second death tied to the H1N1 virus in Massachusetts. Read More
MA: Study - Weak economy bad for public health
A new study is calling for a large-scale public health campaign in Massachusetts to stop unhealthy behaviors that appear to be caused by the weak economy. Read More
MA: Firefighters on disability race to retire
Nearly 30 Boston firefighters with pending disability claims filed for retirement yesterday, just two days before a new state law ends a controversial benefit that allows them to significantly enhance their pensions if they claim career-ending injuries occurred while filling in for a superior at a higher pay grade. Read More
MO: Mo. employers seeking health care workers
A report by the Missouri Department of Economic Development says employers are working hard to fill jobs in health care and social assistance. Read More
MS: Medicaid agreement reached
Late Monday night, House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, announced that an agreement had been reached on funding for Medicaid that if passed today would fund the agency for the fiscal year beginning Wednesday. Read More
MS: House, Senate OK new cig tax
State lawmakers in a special legislative session are trying to finish budget work today to prevent some government services from stopping when the new fiscal year begins Wednesday. Read More
MT: Flu fears hurt pork industry
RAPELJE, Mont. -- The sign at the end of Hog Farm Road warns outsiders to come no further, which is pig man Don Herzog's way of shielding his swine from human pathogens. Read More
ND: N.D. does well in study of air toxins
A state health official says North Dakota's flat landscape and its relatively small population help hold down air pollution. Read More
NE: HHS leader promises openness
The Omaha attorney named as the new chief executive officer of Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services promised Monday to promote openness and responsibility within the agency. Read More
NH: High court won't touch privacy law
New Hampshire survived the strongest legal test to a law making doctors' prescription-writing habits confidential. Read More
NH: Group wants Lynch to veto medical pot bill
A conservative watchdog group called upon Gov. John Lynch on Monday to veto a bill legalizing medical use of marijuana on financial grounds. Read More
NH: Prescription privacy law appeal stymied
The U.S. Supreme Court won't stop the state of New Hampshire from making doctors' prescription-writing habits confidential over the objection of companies that analyze and sell that information. Read More
NJ: No freeze on family health program
Gov. Jon Corzine is scrapping plans to freeze parent enrollment in the NJ FamilyCare health insurance program for working poor families. Corzine had hoped to save $9 million by postponing plans to expand the eligibility for the free and low-cost managed care health plan. Read More
NM: Pared-down Health Policy Commission gets new head
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has named a state Department of Health official to oversee the Health Policy Commission, which faces deep cuts in the budget year that begins Wednesday. Read More
NM: NM health centers to get federal funds
New Mexico will receive more than $12.8 million in federal stimulus funds to help increase access to health care for New Mexicans. Read More
OK: 17 Oklahoma health centers to share funding
WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama announced Monday that 17 community health center organizations in Oklahoma will share nearly $8 million in federal stimulus money for repairs, renovations or new equipment for health clinics. Read More
PA: Pennsylvania House expands health insurance to low-income adults
Over Republican objections, state House Democrats voted yesterday to expand the state's adultBasic health insurance program to cover more than 130,000 low-income adults. Read More
RI: Primary care focus of grants
One program will make it easier for people to get fast medical care on evenings and weekends. Another will help doctors push their patients toward healthy living. Still another will tell Spanish-speaking people where to find care when they have no health insurance. Read More
TX: Governor says session's task is set in stone
Gov. Rick Perry is being pressed to add issues ranging from children's health care to voter identification to the agenda of the special session that begins Wednesday, but his answer is still no. Read More
TX: Three issues, and lots of other bills
Gov. Perry has made it clear he has no plans to add anything more to the Legislature's special session agenda, besides the three issues already identified. Read More
UT: Utah schools promote free lunches
New federal guidelines and a struggling economy mean more Utah schoolchildren likely will be eligible for free or reduced-price lunches next year. Utah education officials urge families living "on the edge" to take advantage of the program, even if they think they earn too much to qualify. Read More
UT: Health clinics get a share of federal recovery money
Patients at certain Utah community health centers will see holes patched in carpets and buildings renovated, receive home phone calls through new electronic record-keeping systems, and in a few cases see more fellow patients making appointments. Read More
UT: Utah Department of Health -- Hospital errors up
To make sure doctors didn't operate on the wrong side of a patient, they asked the teenage patient to write "yes" on the leg that needed surgery. He got bored. He had a marker. The surgeon came back to find doodles all over both legs. Read More
VA: Swine-flu cases increase in Virginia
Virginia has more than 240 laboratory-confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu, but the true number of those sickened by the virus is probably many times that. Read More
VT: Eight health centers receive federal funds
PLAINFIELD, Vt. – Eight community health centers in Vermont will receive almost $4.9 million in economic stimulus funds to address immediate and pressing facility and equipment needs. Read More
WA: Agencies don't need merger, says director
The state Department of Retirement Systems and the Health Care Authority don't need to merge, said Steve Hill, who has been the director of both agencies for four months. Read More
WA: $26.5 million boost for health centers
WASHINGTON -- Washington state will receive $26.5 million in federal funds to boost services at community health centers, first lady Michelle Obama announced Monday. Read More
WV: Speakers blast proposed cut to state retiree benefits
West Virginia will have trouble recruiting and retaining teachers, State Police troopers and other public employees if the Public Employees Insurance Agency cuts a subsidy for retiree health insurance, speakers told the agency's Finance Board Monday evening. Read More
Tracking the recession: Budget deadline looms
Unlike the federal government, states have to balance their budgets. But several states still have not completed spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Read More
Ga. hotline aims to cut mental health costs
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New section follows stimulus spending
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Recession ushers in more tobacco taxes
In a double-whammy for smokers, the federal government and seven states raised taxes on cigarettes this year. But the new taxes plus President Obama's vow to sign a bill imposing sweeping regulation of the tobacco industry threaten to shrink cigarette sales — and revenues for state coffers. Read More |
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