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Northeast States Combat West Nile Virus
Wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants, staying indoors as much as possible–these are not habits usually associated with the dog days of August. They might be something to get used to, however. Along with wearing bug spray, these suggestions are often-mentioned precautions to ward off the West Nile virus. As the summer winds down and […]
States Experiment With CHIP Outreach Methods
Since Congress created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 1997, states have been trying to provide health insurance to kids whose parents earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy private insurance. It has not been easy. Of the estimated 11 million children without health insurance in the United […]
On The Record: California State Senator Jim Costa
California state Sen. Jim Costa takes over today as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Costa, a Democrat, succeeds Indiana House Republican Leader Paul Mannweiler in the post. A farmer from Fresno in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Costa has served in the California Legislature 21 years, 16 in the Assembly and five in […]
States Step Up Spending To Fight Tobacco
Ever wonder how states are spending the millions of dollars pouring into their coffers from the $206 billion tobacco settlement? According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a lot of the money is funding programs to discourage smoking. In a new report, NCSL says spending on these programs increased more than 400 percent […]
Fed ‘Control’ of States Needs To Change, Bush Tells NCSL
Speaking to nearly 5,000 state officials at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) convention Tuesday, Texas Gov. George W. Bush called for a change in the relationship between state and federal government. “I want to move beyond the command and control attitude in Washington, D.C.” he said. Bush suggested that Washington use Texas as […]
Legislators Set For NCSL Meeting
More than 6,000 people, including 1,200 legislators expected from all 50 states, will be at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 2000 annual meeting in Chicago to discuss such issues as e-commerce, prescription drug price relief, sprawl and redistricting. Attendees are in for more than just a steady drone of wonk talk, though. Tom […]
Mississippi Leads In Creating Service Industry Jobs
Mississippi led the way in increasing jobs and revenue in the service sector between 1992 and 1997, a new Census Bureau report shows. Service industry jobs, in hotels, restaurants, computer rental firms, technical training schools, temp agencies and other similar enterprises, accounted for more than half of all new jobs created nationwide in the non-farm […]
Many States Set For Influx Of Genetic Data
In an enormous breakthrough for biological research, scientists have announced completion of a rough draft of a complete map of the human genetic code. Questions about the use of such information are bound to follow. Are states ready to safeguard the privacy of an individual’s genetic information? Will it be treated as part of a […]
Americans Concerned About Link Between Health And Environment: Survey
A survey released Sunday shows that Americans believe the government should be monitoring chronic diseases and their links to environmental hazards. The survey was released by Health-Track, a national public health organization funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts. When asked what priority the government should give to reducing illnesses that may be caused by environmental […]
Preparations For West Nile Virus Spread West
Earlier this year, Stateline.org reported that 17 states along the Eastern Seaboard were drawing up plans to monitor and combat mosquitoes that might carry the potentially deadly West Nile virus. Since then, these preparations have spread west, and more money has been allotted to states for their efforts. States as far west as New Mexico […]
States Inch Forward On Patients’ Bill Of Rights
While patients’ bill of rights legislation is stalled in a Congressional conference committee, state legislatures are creeping toward passing healthcare protection legislation with some bite. Thirty-three state legislatures had some form of insurer liability legislation — bills that would allow patients to sue their HMOs — on the 2000 agenda. Typically, these bills grant the […]
States Get New Funds To Care For Poor With HIV-AIDS
More financial help is on the way for poor and uninsured Americans with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. As of this month, states are eligible for $794 million in new federal grants to improve primary care and access to medicine for low-income, underinsured and uninsured HIV-positive people. The grants, announced by Health and Human […]