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Archive of Health Care on Monday November 02, 2009
US: States likely to shape health reform
The debate over whether to let states opt out of any government-run health insurance plan overlooks a key facet of the health-care measures being assembled in Congress: When Washington is done, the shape of any new health-care system is likely to be finalized in Lansing and Boise and Baton Rouge. Read More
MI: Granholm -- Signed budget painful
Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed more than 70 items Friday while signing the final six bills for a 2009-10 budget, but did not find enough funding to restore cuts to college scholarships, local government and Medicaid. (Also see: MI: 2010 budget reforms tougher) Read More
AK: Alcohol runners face stiff penalties
Weeks after two hub cities in rural Alaska voted to remove bans on local liquor sales, the state is launching a campaign warning bootleggers they face big fines and mandatory jail time if caught. Read More
AL: Rep. Lea Fite 'will be missed'
Friends, colleagues and family of state Rep. Lea Fite, D-Jacksonville, gathered Thursday in Anniston to mourn the unexpected death of the respected lawmaker. Read More
CA: Governor may get to pick No. 2
If Democratic Lt. Gov. John Garamendi wins a special congressional election Tuesday in the Democrat-leaning 10th Congressional District, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has the power to appoint Garamendi's replacement. Read More
CO: Hundreds in Denver, Colorado Springs still need hepatitis C testing
Four months after a terrorizing and high- profile hepatitis C outbreak linked to hospital drug theft, hundreds of patients who might have been exposed to the liver disease still may not have been tested. Read More
CT: More H1N1 vaccine soon to arrive in state
U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., said 100,000 more doses of H1N1 flu vaccine will come to Connecticut this week, bringing it closer to the amount promised by government officials. Read More
DE: State schedule of swine flu vaccinations at schools
State officials have released the schedule of H1N1 vaccinations at schools that will begin today. The H1N1 (swine flu) nasal spray vaccine will be given to elementary pupils with parental permission. Those forms had to be returned last month. Read More
FL: Miami-Dade pilot court program for mentally ill allows treatment
At 18, Keith Zapata's mind plunged into chaos. Suffering from schizophrenia and addicted to crack cocaine, he heard voices warning of impending doom and saw visions of Jesus in the sky. Then he landed in jail, for punching out a car window near the Miami River last December. Read More
FL: Fla. lawmakers propose banning felons owning pain clinics
MIAMI -- Lawmakers announced Friday that they will be filing a bill that would require the state to revoke or deny operating licenses for pain clinics operated by convicted felons. Read More
GA: New mental health director faces difficult task, critics
Dr. Frank Shelp, commissioner of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, inherited services that had been buried in the state's sprawling bureaucracy, and which were loaded with problems. Read More
GA: Georgia governor candidates mixed on opt-out
The opt-out idea drew a mixed response from the cast of candidates for Georgia governor. Read More
IA: Glenwood urged to limit reports
A consultant at a state-run home for the disabled recently proposed that the facility limit reporting resident-care problems to state and federal regulators. Read More
IA: Names of fired caregivers withheld
The state of Iowa is again keeping secret the names of some Iowans fired from care facilities because of criminal activity or abuse. Read More
IA: State sends prosecutor its findings on Atalissa
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has completed its investigation into Henry's Turkey Service and its alleged exploitation of mentally retarded processing-plant workers. Read More
IA: Carlson -- Present-day budget cuts reach into Iowa's past
Nobody is paying much attention to the part of government that educates Iowans about our heritage and preserves tens of thousands of artifacts, some dating back hundreds of years before Iowa became a state on Dec. 28, 1846. Read More
IA: Group holds summit on job options, health care
The summit, which was attended by church congregations, U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, state legislators and area business leaders, was held after AMOS member institutions held more than 300 small-group meetings this fall that asked people: "What pressures do you face in your family or household that you wish were different?" Read More
ID: Doors slam on Idaho renters with companion animals
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Many Idaho landlords are breaking federal housing laws that involve renters with doctor-prescribed companion animals, an official with the Intermountain Fair Housing Council says. Read More
IL: Illinois parental notification law goes into effect Tuesday
Physicians in Illinois this week must begin notifying a parent or guardian when a girl 17 or younger seeks an abortion -- a rule abortion opponents long have sought, but which critics say could keep minors from seeking safe procedures. Read More
IL: State funding back in the red, Senior Services cuts staff again
Officials of Senior Services of Central Illinois thought the agency's finances might be back on track in August, when Senior Services, after numerous phone calls to legislators and state agencies, got a large payment from the state of Illinois. Read More
IL: Health insurance bill awaits governor's signature
A bill awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn's signature would give most policyholders the right to an external appeal of claim denials by their insurance company. Read More
IL: Quinn's disputed appointment to Africa backs out
A former chief of the state human services agency has decided not to accept a new job offered by Gov. Pat Quinn to head an expanded trade office in Africa. Read More
IL: Swine flu -- Worst-case outbreak could severely strain hospitals
For a mere peek into the potential difficulties of managing a worst-case outbreak of swine flu, one need only look back at a few weeks in May at Children's Memorial Hospital on Chicago's North Side. Read More
IN: Schools slowly raise health costs for top staff
GREENWOOD, IND -- A struggling economy, rising costs and concerns about fairness have prompted Indiana school districts to slowly begin abandoning a long-held policy of offering administrators health insurance for $1 or less a year. Read More
KY: New estimate cuts pension shortfall by $1.1 billion
A recently released report on the Kentucky Retirement Systems contains a speck of good news: the multi-billion dollar shortfall facing the state employee pension plan is $1.1 billion less than originally forecast. Read More
MA: State cuts put holes in dental program
CAPE COD, Mass. -- Program organizers hope ... patients served by Cape Cod Dentist Care never find out. But they say the program is running out of money since the state ceased funding it as of June 30. Read More
MD: Council panel to vote on pregnancy clinics bill
BALTIMORE, Md. -- A Baltimore City Council panel is set to take a key vote today on controversial legislation that would require pregnancy clinics that don't perform abortions or distribute birth control to post signs stating just that. Read More
MD: County hospitals took financial hits
Anne Arundel County's two hospitals lost more than $36 million in the last fiscal year, a figure that administrators at both facilities attribute to stock market fluctuations. Read More
ME: Ground beef recall linked to illness in Maine
PORTLAND, Maine -- A New York-based manufacturer is recalling about 456,00 pounds of ground beef products after people become ill in Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts, according to the federal Food Safety and Inspection Service. Read More
MI: Medical pot creates workplace dilemma
Employers are facing tough issues as they try to navigate the state's fledgling medical marijuana law, such as the difference between "smoke" and "ingest." Read More
MI: State investigates workers in woman's neglect death
The state's Department of Human Services is investigating why its workers failed to help a struggling Southfield woman take care of her bedridden mother, who eventually died of neglect, despite repeated pleas for help and multiple visits to her home that documented the mother's perilous condition. Read More
MN: Empty desks, offices -- Cities plan for H1N1
Communities across the Twin Cities area are ready for a full-blown emergency, or anything short of it. Read More
MS: Swine flu vaccine available in Miss. today
Health officials say swine flu vaccine will be available today at all Mississippi's county health clinics and in some schools. Read More
NC: New flu drug to be tested at UNC
About 6 patients will participate in trial of drug showing promise in severe cases. Read More
ND: Health care merger is today
FARGO -- The merger of the two largest health systems in the Dakotas will lead to more bus trips, officials say. Read More
NE: What might $335.5 million in state budget cuts look like?
Just how big is $335.5 million, the shortfall that state senators face in a special session this week? Shut down the state prison system for the next two years, and you'll be close to covering the shortfall. Read More
NJ: As H1N1 spreads across N.J., here are some ways to thwart it
Swine flu activity in New Jersey moved from regional to widespread this past week, meaning the H1N1 flu is present in a majority of counties throughout the state. Read More
NM: Legislative leaders urge Guv to not cut Medicaid
Acknowledging the Governor's opinion that their budget fix may not protect the state's medicaid program from cuts "may very well be correct," New Mexico legislative leaders delivered a letter to Gov. Bill Richardson today, urging him not to make cuts to Medicaid, the program that provides health care funding for at least 450,000 low-income New Mexicans. Read More
NM: Firm faces big fine, possible loss of contract
A firm that took over management of the state's behavioral health care system July 1 has not paid millions of dollars to nonprofits and other companies for work they have completed, the state said Friday. Read More
OH: Convicted ex-union leader gets state post
Michael Billirakis, the former Ohio teachers-union chief convicted of ethics violations while on the State Teachers Retirement System board, has a new state job. Read More
OH: Workers' insurance premiums estimated to rise 12%
Not only are health premiums expected to increase an average of 12 percent next year in Ohio, but employers are shifting more of these costs to their workers. Read More
OK: Officials seek incentives to bring grocers to Oklahoma
Studies show nearly half the state lacks convenient access to nutritious foods. While grocery stores and supermarkets — stores with 50 or more employees — have decreased in the state in the past 10 years, convenience stores, which offer fast foods and snacks, have increased. Read More
OK: Oklahoma tag agents differ in donations
Some Oklahoma tag agents are breaking a law that requires they ask their customers to consider giving $1 for organ donation education, records show. Read More
PA: Seasonal flu shots tricky to find, but officials say shortage will end
Production delays and high demand are causing shortages of the seasonal flu shots, in addition to vaccines for the swine flu, health officials said Friday. Read More
PA: PennDOT ramping up efforts on curb cuts
Lawsuits have prompted the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to budget $820 million over the next decade to replace 117,000 handicapped curb ramps along state roads -- a program that attorneys say would be unnecessary had the agency installed the ramps properly the first time. Read More
PA: Eligibility for LIHEAP slashed; 20,000 families may be left out
With Pennsylvania's unemployment rate at its highest in more than 20 years, fewer low-income residents will be able to receive help paying their heating bills this winter. Read More
RI: Vaccinations begin at schools
The first school-based clinics to vaccinate children against swine flu begin Monday at 10 elementary schools. The clinics, which are free and voluntary, will be held in the afternoon or evening for grade-schoolers. Read More
SD: Merger of largest Dakotas health systems set
The merger of the two largest health systems in the Dakotas will lead to more bus trips, officials say. Read More
TX: Texas lags in getting swine flu vaccine, but more is on the way
Almost a month after distribution of H1N1 vaccine began, federal statistics released Friday show a significant difference state to state in the per capita shipments of the still-scarce doses. As has been true for several weeks, Texas lagged behind most other states. Read More
TX: Proposition 8 would let Texas contribute money, property toward building VA hospitals
McALLEN, Texas -- With more than 1.7 million military veterans in Texas and just nine Veterans Affairs hospitals, long drives are not uncommon in some parts of the state with large veteran populations. Read More
UT: More than 100 arrested in Halloween DUI blitz
State troopers made 124 DUI-related arrests during a Halloween blitz, according to numbers released Sunday by the Utah Highway Patrol. Read More
UT: Funds dwindling to oversee Utah's hazardous waste
Businesses that handle some of Utah's most dangerous materials are being inspected less often because of dwindling funds to pay for the work. Read More
UT: Poll shows most Utahns don't intend to get H1N1 vaccine
Most Utahns don't intend to get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 influenza, according to a new Deseret News/KSL-TV poll. Read More
VA: With highest rate of cases, Navy sees HIV infections rise
PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- The good news: The virus that causes AIDS is more treatable than ever -- and with treatment, individuals infected with HIV can live into old age. The bad news: The Navy's HIV infection rate has been rising for a decade and is significantly higher than any other military branch. Read More
WA: State expects new supply of Tamiflu for children soon
The state is still awaiting more H1N1 vaccine, but it soon will receive additional supplies of antiviral medications from national stockpiles to help children fight flu symptoms. Read More
WA: State expects new supply of Tamiflu for children soon
The state is still awaiting more H1N1 vaccine, but it soon will receive additional supplies of antiviral medications from national stockpiles to help children fight flu symptoms Read More
WI: Wis. Corrections Dept. defends vaccine for inmates
Responding to a state lawmaker's complaints about inmates receiving swine-flu vaccine while other citizens wait, Wisconsin Department of Corrections officials said most of the vaccine was going to staff, not inmates. Read More
WI: Expanded health coverage won't include companies that self-insure
The expansion of health coverage for young adults under family plans in Wisconsin potentially will change the insurance picture for many state residents, but far from all. Read More
WV: Manchin gets involved with swine flu efforts
Gov. Joe Manchin is getting involved with the fight against swine flu. Manchin is due to brief the media about H1N1 with state Chief Health Officer Dr. Cathy Slemp on Monday morning at the Capitol. Read More
WY: Study finds west is best for sleep
If you're feeling well rested this morning, it might be because you live out West. Read More
Poll -- Economy colors Florida voters' top concerns
A poll of Florida voters shows healthcare as the top issue, followed by unemployment -- with concerns for the economy a common link. Read More |
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