Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Rounds Up State of the State Addresses

The new year finds governors across the country facing difficult health care choices, as rising costs and increasing Medicaid expenditures combine with the recession to pressure state budgets. Throughout January and February, the governors will give their yearly state of the state addresses, highlighting prior accomplishments and outlining their goals and proposals for the next 12 months. In a series of periodic articles, the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is summarizing the health care issues discussed in these addresses. The following is a look at recent speeches:

• Illinois: In his speech, Gov. George Ryan (R) said that since he took office three years ago, the state has increased its funding for health care and human services to more than $10 billion per year. Ryan further noted that enrollment in KidCare, the state's CHIP program, has increased by 500%, while rates of teen births and infant mortality have improved. In addition, 400,000 low-income seniors now have prescription drug coverage through the state, and three million Illinois residents enrolled in HMOs now have a patients' bill of rights. However, Ryan said the state must "tighten [its] bel[t]" because of "less-than-robust" revenue collections. That "challenge" is particularly "difficult" because of a "large increase" in health care spending, especially in the Medicaid program. To offset continued increases in Medicaid spending that experts predict for fiscal year 2003, Ryan proposed cuts to the Department of Human Services and the closing of two mental health units (Ryan speech text, 2/20).
• Montana: In her speech, Gov. Judy Martz (R) said the state is "delivering" on its "pledg[e]" to "work for quality, affordable health care for every Montana family." Martz added that the state will transfer more funds to Montana's hospitals and she will convene a "blue-ribbon task force" to address "critical workforce shortages" in health care. In addition, Martz announced that she will hold a Summit on Healthcare in the spring, to examine "key issues" in health care, such as the "rising cost of health care coverage, service and prescriptions." Martz said, "[W]e recognize the critical importance of maintaining a safety net for needy families" (Martz speech text, 1/23).
• South Dakota: In his speech, Gov. William Janklow (R) noted that in the past two years, the state has administered the chicken pox vaccine to 30,740 children. In addition, between 1994 and 2000, South Dakota increased its overall rate of immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough and chicken pox from 62% to 79%. The state also has started a statewide hearing screening program for newborns. Further, South Dakota has implemented a statewide "diabetes checking period," under which more than 31,500 people were screened for the disease in the past year. According to Janklow, the state also tested 24,700 people for high blood pressure and directed more than one-third of individuals to a health care provider for treatment. The state also successfully started a loan repayment program for doctors who agree to work in rural areas, Janklow said (Janklow speech text, 1/8).
• Wyoming: In his speech, Gov. Jim Geringer (R) noted that "[h]ealth care costs continue to increase at an alarming rate," including rises in health plan premiums. Geringer said that he has convened an "insurance review task force" to address the issue. During the speech, Geringer "recommend[ed]" reinstating funding cuts in community mental health services. Geringer added that he would support additional state spending to insure more children. Further, the governor said that he supports "increasing our public health efforts to focus on prevention strategies that yield the greatest benefit for quality of life and budgetary investment" (Geringer speech text, 2/11).