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Millions Potentially Affected By Medicaid Cuts
States are shrinking their healthcare programs for the poor to save money by eliminating services offered during the economically robust 1990s. So if you’re an adult on Medicaid in Florida and you want dentures, you may soon be out of luck. Ditto if you get publicly financed home-based health care in Colorado and the state […]
Budget Clouds Loom At State Lawmakers’ Meeting
Nearly 5,000 state policymakers gather this week (7/23 – 7/27) in Denver, Colorado for the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) annual meeting. Lawmakers and other officials will discuss and debate anti-terrorism, welfare reform, prescription drug programs, federal education mandates and political ethics. But the over-arching issue is the states’ budget crisis. “When you look […]
Universal Health Foes Linked To Drug Industry
In a twist on a publicity stunt popularized by proponents of health care reform, a Canadian doctor and 12 of his patients recently traveled from New Brunswick to Maine, warning Americans not to adopt a Canadian-style universal health system. But a closer look at the group reveals ties to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. Chris Ward, […]
Govs’ Gaffes Sometimes Overshadow Policies
When Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican, recently (6/18) told a small group of high school girls “it’s about time a woman became governor” of the Sunshine State, he apparently forgot about Janet Reno, a leading contender for the Florida Democratic gubernatorial nomination. It’s not the first time a governor has put a proverbial foot […]
Health Advocates Fight For Tobacco Dollars
Health advocates cheered in 1998 when 46 states agreed to a $246 billion settlement of a lawsuit against tobacco manufacturers designed to recover public health costs of tobacco-related illnesses. They believed the money would be used to fund anti-smoking programs and help achieve broader health care goals. Four years later, the promise of the settlement […]
HMO Ruling Leaves Many Without Right of Appeal
Experts say tens of millions of Americans will be unaffected by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding an Illinois law that gives patients a right to seek independent review of an HMO’s refusal to pay for treatment. Forty one other states also permit some form of review. The reason is a 1974 federal law called […]
Pharmacist Politicians Mix In Drug Debate
Washington State Sen. Linda Evans Parlette is a pharmacist. “When I talk to people, I always say I’m wearing five different hatshealth care consumer, health care provider, business owner, legislator and taxpayer,” she says. At least 36 others across the country join Parlette as pharmacist-legislators, the American Pharmaceutical Association reports. There’s also a pharmacist-governor, Illinois […]
States Continue Rx Onslaught
Vermont is poised to enact a landmark prescription drug law within the next few weeks, a move that adds fuel to state battles against rising prescription drug costs. Lawmakers borrowed parts of at least five different state programs – Maine, Florida, Michigan, West Virginia and Illinois – to come up with a plan that is […]
On The Record: Vermont Senate President Peter Shumlin
Vermont Senate President Peter Shumlin is on the run these days, literally. Besides running for lieutenant governor, he is leading a coalition of northeastern lawmakers trying to control prescription drug prices. Despite his busy agenda, Democrat Shumlin found time to talk to Stateline.org about healthcare, education and other issues during a recent visit to Washington, […]
Deficit-Plagued States Dole Out Medicaid Cuts
Medicaid isn’t a four-letter word, but mention it around state lawmakers these days and you’ll probably see a cringe, hear a sigh, and perhaps even cause a headache. The 37-year old state-federal program geared to help the poor and needy is the cause of much tension, worry and debate across the country. Roughly 40 states, […]
States Fret About Child Care Needs
A.J. is two years old. He’s not old enough to go to school, so every weekday his mom drops him off at the GAP Community Child Care Center in Washington D.C., about 20 minutes away from the White House by bus. At the center, A.J. learns how to read, count and play nice with the […]
Rx Experts Discuss Rising Costs
What’s breaking state Medicaid budgets? Ask a prescription drug industry representative, a consumer advocate, a federal prosecutor and a lawyer who’s argued cases for drug companies, and you’ll get sharply differing answers. Wayne Pines, a consultant to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Sidney Wolfe, president of the Health Research Group at Public […]