State Health Notes September 2004 Issue

State Health Notes
September 2004 Issues

Volume 25, Number 428: September 20, 2004

Cover Story - Wisconsin Transplant Law Takes off Like a Rocket
In an effort to increase organ donations, a growing number of states are considering legislation to reimburse living donors for part of their donation-related expenses. The legislation provides the donors with a tax deduction or credit. Wisconsin set the pace when it passed “Cody’s law.” That’s what happened with legislation that was proposed and guided into law by Wisconsin Rep. Steve Wieckert. The law allows living individuals to deduct up to $10,000 from their federal adjusted gross income tax if they donate part or all of their liver, pancreas, kidney, intestine, lung or bone marrow to another…

Focus On - States Lower Their Drug Costs By Comparing Efficacy
The Drug Effectiveness Review Project is helping states to lower their prescription drug costs without sacrificing quality. Based in Oregon, the Project compares drugs in the same class and reveals which drugs are effective.

Highlights
Access to care...Marijuana popular...SCHIP threatened...More tobacco funds...Clinical trials revealed...State pharmacy assistance programs.

Graphically Speaking - Disparities in Childhood Development: “Too Little, Too Late”
A new chartbook outlines the enormous disparities in children’s readiness for school. Children’s preparedness depends upon such factors as whether they’re read to, family income and whether the television is on most of the time in the home.

FYI - Bringing Dental Care to Kids in Southern Texas
A program in rural Texas provides badly needed oral health care to children, in their schools. Services are available to all children in the participating schools, based on a sliding fee scale.

Download the Entire Newsletter

Volume 25, Number 427: September 6, 2004

Cover Story - Medicaid Disease Management: Indiana Launches a "Grand Experiment"
A growing number of states are turning to disease management to both improve the quality of care provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and to reduce their costs. Most states hire vendors to develop disease management programs, or they build a new system from the ground up. Indiana has done neither, choosing a “third path.”

Focus On - States Distribute Condoms in Effort to Reduce HIV in Prison
In an effort to lower the transmission rates of HIV/AIDS in prison, some states are distributing condoms to inmates. Proponents say distribution makes perfect public health sense; opponents argue that it condones illicit sexual behavior.

Highlights
Idaho biomedical research...Long-term care for vulnerable adults...Rising costs and managed care...HIV organ donations...Vermont and the FDA...Free hospital care...Ten-state public health cooperative.

Graphically Speaking - States Help Workers Care for Family Members
States act to help families take care of chronically ill members.

Tracking Trends - States Weigh Increasing Oversight of PBMs
States move to contain costs by increasing their oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. Two states passed laws this year requiring PBMs to disclose their financial affairs.

FYI - Guardians Will Spread Anti-AIDS Message in Missouri
“Guardians” in St. Louis, Missouri, educate young gay men about the importance of “smarter” sex.

Download the Entire Newsletter

Back to State Health Notes Main Page