Lawsuit Against Native Program Dismissed
A Superior Court Judge in Alaska threw out a lawsuit against an Alaska Native-run dental therapist program. The lawsuit, filed by the American Dental Association and the Alaska Dental Society, sought to stop dental health aide therapists (DHATs) from being able to practice without first obtaining state licensure. The therapists provide a variety of services in rural Alaska Native villages that lack regular dentists, including oral health education and preventative services such as cleanings and sealants. DHATs also fill cavities and perform uncomplicated extractions to address pain and infections. The suit claimed that DHATs must obtain a state license to perform these procedures. But the court ruled that as long as DHATs are certified as health aides by the federal Community Health Aide Certification Board, they do not need state licensure. DHATs began practicing in rural Alaska in 2005. Native villages select their own candidates for the program, who then undergo two years of training at the Otago School of Dentistry in New Zealand, as there is no equivalent training program yet in the United States.
No Federal Minimum Wage
The Supreme Court ruled on June 11 that home health-care workers are exempt from federal minimum wage and overtime laws. Supporters of the ruling argue that as agencies provide an increasing amount of care, there is a growing need to reduce costs. Opponents feel that the opinion will further worsen the developing shortage of home health workers. The ruling reinforces 1974 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which exempted babysitters and companions for the elderly and those with illnesses. Details of the ruling can be found at http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/06-593.pdf.
Identifying At-Risk Patients
In an effort to stem higher-than-average substance abuse rates, twenty health clinics in Wisconsin are taking part in the Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles. This program, established by a $12.5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will help these clinics establish Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment services for its patients. Doctors will seek to determine whether any patients have a substance abuse problem by asking them four key questions as part of any routine health-care visit. At-risk patients will be encouraged to meet with an on-site counselor to discuss their problem and develop a course for change. The initiative is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and coordinated by the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine. Substance abuse is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the Badger State.
The world’s drug problem is being “contained,” according to a new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. “For almost every kind of illicit drug—cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamine-type stimulants—there are signs of overall stability, whether we speak of cultivation, production or abuse,” said UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa in a statement. The report was released on June 26, which is International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Costa noted that many problems still exist, such as increased poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, increased trafficking through Africa and a lack of data on drug abuse in a number of large and growing countries. “Nevertheless, from a global perspective, the problem seems to be contained,” said Costa, adding that the highest priority should be on prevention of drug use.
© Copyright 2007, State Health Notes
|
