State Health Notes

State Health Notes
October 2003 Issues

Volume 24, Number 406: October 20, 2003

Cover Story - End-of-Life Care: Pain Management and Palliative Care Take Center Stage
Death is a difficult subject to discuss, but advances in two areas—palliative care and pain management—are helping bring end-of-life care into the medical mainstream. The goals: to relieve suffering and give dying patients more control in their final days.

Primary Care News - Happy Birthday: Action for Healthy Kids Turns One
In just one year, Action for Healthy Kids has coalesced national groups and state teams around a pressing issue: child and adolescent obesity.

Highlights
Census report on the uninsured, responses… CA employer mandate … IA, MN, MI initiatives on buying Rx drugs from Canada… Financial independence grant to DC women’s foundation… Women & smoking… IA domestic violence campaign… NIH roadmap for medical research … Geographic disparities in mental health… Teen substance abuse $$

Tracking Trends - Medicaid and Rx Drugs: Reining in Costs
In their quest to rein in Medicaid spending, states are zeroing in on prescription drugs. Some strategies.

FYI - Certifying Preparedness with Project Public Health Ready
Public Health Ready offers local health departments a tool to assess preparedness for disaster, natural or manmade, and a “seal of approval” for those certified as competent.

Download the Entire Newsletter

Volume 24, Number 405: October 6, 2003

Cover Story - The Next Frontier: States Respond to the Growing Problem of Elder Abuse
While economic and social issues affecting elderly Americans generally glow brightly on the nation’s radar screen, one does not: abuse and neglect. In fact, no one really knows the extent of the problem. The Senate Special Committee on Aging puts the number as high as 5 million.

Focus On - Nonemergency Medicaid Transportation: Broker Models
States are required to pay to transport Medicaid clients to nonemergency medical appoint-ments. To save money, many are looking at capitated broker systems.

Highlights
Medicaid, kids & managed care… Medicaid spending & cutbacks… CA employer mandate… Coverage for AL uninsured… FL task force on insurance availability, costs… Presidential candidates’ health plans… TX malpractice reforms… IL Rx drug reimportation initiative… WI coalition on discount drugs… KY AG suit on drug prices… Internet cig sales to minors… Prevention pitch

Tracking Trends - Medicaid: Requiring Recipients to Pay
Their budgets are under duress, so states are asking Medicaid clients to contribute more to the cost of care.

FYI - “Get Smart” Targets the Proper Use of Antibiotics
With flu season just around the corner, the CDC has launched a campaign to warn parents against inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Download the Entire Newsletter

Back to State Health Notes Main Page