Bigger not Better in Texas
Students in the Lone Star State have one more standardized test to take: the subject is physical fitness. Texas has become the first state to institute a comprehensive examination of student fitness as part of a new law (SB 530) that aims to keep kids in shape. The requirement applies to all public school students in grades 3-12. Specifically, schools will test aerobic endurance, body fat, flexibility and muscle strength. The Texas Education Agency expects to spend $2.5 million to equip schools with the necessary testing equipment. The law also increases the amount of required physical education classes for elementary school students to 30 minutes per day, and requires middle school students to take physical education classes for at least four of six semesters.
Lawsuit to Improve Children’s Access
A federal judge has approved an almost $1.8 billion, two-year plan to improve health care access for children in Texas. Part of the settlement of a class-action lawsuit filed in 1992, the suit claims that the state’s care for children enrolled in Medicaid was not adequate. According to the AP, the settlement calls for increasing doctors’ and dentists’ Medicaid reimbursement rates in order to entice more providers to participate in Medicaid. State legislators reduced the reimbursement rates in 2003 when faced with severe budget shortfalls. The settlement also calls for providing more preventative and primary care for children, an increase in family outreach initiatives and the hiring of more Medicaid case workers. The state of Texas will pay $700 million of the overall settlement amount, and the rest of the $1.8 billion will be paid by the federal government.
Congress Eyes Nursing Shortage
States facing severe nursing shortages could get some help from Congress. A bill (HR 2794) recently introduced by U.S. Representative Ed Pastor (D-AZ) would provide additional funds to colleges and universities to hire more faculty for their nursing programs. “Many nursing education programs are full, and qualified students must wait to get into them,” said Representative Pastor. The legislation would authorize $20 million annually from 2008 until 2012 for state grants of at least $2 million each. To qualify for funds, a state must demonstrate that it is experiencing explosive population growth, anticipates substantial future nursing shortages and sponsors state-based programs to increase nursing education faculty. The federal legislation builds on a bill enacted by the Arizona Legislature in 2005 which provides $20 million over five years to expand the state’s nursing education programs. Since enactment, Arizona has seen its nursing faculty increase; the state expects the number of registered nurse graduates to grow by approximately 1,000 by 2009.
© Copyright 2007, State Health Notes
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