In ‘Stealth Move,’ Mich. Refines Vaccine Waivers, Improves Rate Among Kids
A whooping cough and measles outbreak prompted lawmakers to require parents to personally meet with health officials before a waiver can be granted.
The Last Decade’s Culture Wars Drove Some States To Fund Stem Cell Research
When the Bush administration choked federal funding for research involving cells taken from human embryos, some states opted to start their own programs.
Researchers Say Their Path To Better Health Starts With Patients’ Input
A federal institute created by the health law is seeding research projects around the U.S. that connect medical professionals with patients to find better treatments.
Rural Hospitals, One Of The Cornerstones Of Small Town Life, Face Increasing Pressure
For people in Mount Vernon, Texas, the loss of their hospital means longer trips for treatment and uncertainty when a medical crisis hits.
Medicaid Expansion To Cover Many Former Prisoners
The Department of Justice estimates former inmates and detainees will comprise about 35 percent of the people who will qualify for Medicaid coverage in the states expanding their programs.
VA Drive To Hire 1,600 Mental Health Professionals Hits Community Clinics’ Supply
Some experts say the pool of psychologists, psychiatrists and others is too small and the federal effort could jeopardize understaffed local centers.
Health Law’s Promise Of Coverage Not Resonating With Miami’s Uninsured
Miami-Dade has one of the country’s highest rates of uninsured residents, but the issue is not rising to the top of the bitter campaign in Florida.
Missouri Ballot Referendum Makes Health Law A Hot Issue
The health care law isn’t the first issue on most voters’ minds, but in Missouri there’s a high-profile battle over whether to establish a state insurance exchange.
Tennessee Cuts Medicaid Benefit Funding For Some Long-Term Care Patients
The program, designed to save the state money, is the first of its kind because it creates a new category for patients who don’t qualify for nursing home care.
Despite Deep Opposition To Health Law, Ga. Contemplates Exchange
Georgia is not alone. A number of Republican states, including some in the South, are hedging their bets and planning health insurance marketplaces to avoid a version designed by Washington.
Some States Seeking Health Care Compact
The interstate compact, which has been adopted by four states, would replace federal programs – including Medicare and Medicaid – with block grants. It cannot be implemented without congressional approval.
Panel Formed To Give Consumers Reliable Treatment Information
The group, mandated in the federal health law, is expected to provide research that can empower patients to make informed choices and steer clear of unnecessary options.
Minnesota GOP Between A Rock And Hard Place on Health Exchange Options
GOP lawmakers generally oppose efforts to set up the insurance marketplaces called for in the health law – but they aren’t crazy about the alternatives either.
