New York launches health initiative
April 12, 2004
The Big Apple rolls out an ambitious plan aimed to raise awareness of deadly diseases and cut the city's death rate by 2008.
Study Advises Against Drugs for Children in Depression
April 9, 2004
Pediatricians and family physicians should not prescribe antidepressants for depressed children and adolescents because the drugs barely work and their side effects are often significant, Australian researchers have concluded.
U.S. Adults Face 'Health Literacy' Crisis
April 8, 2004
Nearly half of American adults face higher risks of health problems because of trouble understanding medical terms and directions, experts said Thursday in a report that calls for a national effort to improve health literacy.
Nebraska Legislature Votes To Approve Mental Health Bill
April 8, 2004
By a voice vote on Tuesday, Nebraska legislators approved Gov. Mike Johanns' (R) mental health reform proposal (LB 1083), the Omaha World-Herald reports (Reed, Omaha World-Herald, 4/7).
Kennedy, Other Senate Democrats To Introduce Bill Trimming Benefits to Insurers in New Medicare Law
April 7, 2004
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and several other Senate Democrats on Wednesday will introduce a bill designed to eliminate some of the financial incentives for private insurers included in the new Medicare law, CongressDaily reports.
One-Fifth of U.S. Population Provides Unpaid Care to an Adult, Study Finds
April 6, 2004
One out of five U.S. residents provides unpaid caregiving services to an adult, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, USA Today reports.
More Employers Checking Eligibility of Dependents Receiving Health Coverage
April 6, 2004
USA Today on Tuesday examined how some companies increasingly are "using a mix of forgiveness and punishment to weed out" ineligible family members from their employee health insurance plans.
Monitored Care Decreases Gap in Depression Treatment Between Whites, Minorities
April 6, 2004
Increasing patient education and monitoring can decrease the gap in treatment outcomes among whites and minorities with depression, according to a study published in the April issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Legislators To Discuss Medicare Law While on Weeklong Recess
April 5, 2004
As Congress began its recess on Friday, leaders of both parties instructed members to focus on Medicare and the economy in meetings with constituents, Roll Call reports.
Louisiana Governor Considering Extending Coverage to Uninsured
April 2, 2004
Officials from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals on Wednesday met with state House and Senate health and insurance committees to outline Gov. Kathleen Blanco's (D) plan to extend health coverage to the state's more than 800,000 uninsured residents, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.
Tennessean Series Examines Issues Affecting Uninsured
April 2, 2004
The Tennessean on Sunday began a five-day special report titled "Prescription for Peril" that focuses on health, finance and family issues affecting adults without medical insurance.
Washington State Governor Signs Bill To Help Small Businesses With Health Costs
April 2, 2004
Although Washington state Gov. Gary Locke (D) recently signed a bill (HB 2460) that aims to help small businesses with their health costs, three small business groups on Wednesday said they are planning to draft a ballot initiative for the fall election to allow insurers to sell small companies "bare-bones" health plans, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.
Regulators Argue Against New Federal Oversight System for Insurance
April 1, 2004
State insurance regulators and consumer advocates on Wednesday criticized a proposal by House Committee on Financial Services Chair Michael Oxley (R-Ohio) that would eliminate state premium regulation and shift oversight of the industry to the federal government, the AP/Dallas Morning News reports (Werner, AP/Dallas Morning News, 3/31).
Maryland Delegates To Vote on Health Care Proposal
April 1, 2004
The Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee on Tuesday approved a "sweeping health care initiative," and the full state House was expected to consider the proposal on Wednesday, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Covering The Uninsured: What Is It Worth?
March 31, 2004
An attempt [by Health Affairs] to place a value on what it costs a person, and society,
when health insurance is lacking.
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