California Bill Requiring Medicaid Coverage Of Smoking Cessation Aids Would Benefit Asian-American Community, Editorial Says
California lawmakers can help reduce smoking rates in the state, particularly among the Asian-American population, “by ensuring that Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for the elderly, disabled and poor, covers the full range of smoking cessation services,” a Capitol Weekly editorial states. Medi-Cal is the state’s
California Bill Requiring Medicaid Coverage Of Smoking Cessation Aids Would Benefit Asian-American Community, Editorial Says...

Louisiana Senate Panel Criticizes Insurance Voucher Proposal For New Orleans’ Low-Income, Uninsured Adults
The Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday gave a “chilly reception” to a proposal by the Coalition of Leaders for Louisiana Healthcare that would have used funds for charity care in the New Orleans area to purchase managed care plans for low-income, uninsured adults, the
Louisiana Senate Panel Criticizes Insurance Voucher Proposal For New Orleans’ Low-Income, Uninsured Adults...

State school superintendent leaving
Austin State School Superintendent Ross Robinson submitted his resignation last week and will take a job at the Department of State Health Services.
State school superintendent leaving...

Consumer-Directed Health Plans: A New Trend In Controlling Small Business Health Care Cost - Extensis Releases Article
Extensis Group LLC., New Jersey’s largest Professional Employer Organization (PEO), has released an article on the growing trend of businesses using Consumer-Directed Health Plans to control their rising healthcare costs. Nationally, healthcare costs have continued to rise at rates greater than inflation. More: continued here
Consumer-Directed Health Plans: A New Trend In Controlling Small Business Health Care Cost - Extensis Releases Article...

Connecticut Gov. Rell’s Budget Proposal Would Eliminate Office Of The Healthcare Advocate
The Connecticut Office of the Healthcare Advocate, an independent agency that advocates for consumers regarding health coverage issues, would be eliminated under Gov. Jodi Rell’s (R) proposed budget for the next fiscal year, the Hartford Courant reports. More: continued here
Connecticut Gov. Rell’s Budget Proposal Would Eliminate Office Of The Healthcare Advocate...

APHA Urges Congress To Pass CHIP Legislation
The American Public Health Association (APHA) urges all members of the House and Senate to vote in favor of pending legislation to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).The CHIP legislation that is up for vote in Congress is the result of intense negotiations and represents a bipartisan
APHA Urges Congress To Pass CHIP Legislation...

Mich. Should Pass Law Requiring Birth Control Coverage For Insurance Plans Covering Prescription Drugs, Editorial Says
Michigan is one of about 25 U.S. states that do not have laws requiring insurance plans that cover prescription drugs to cover birth control, and that “should change,” a Lansing State Journal editorial says.According to the State Journal, a group of state House Democrats in February introduced a
Mich. Should Pass Law Requiring Birth Control Coverage For Insurance Plans Covering Prescription Drugs, Editorial Says...

Many States Experience Increases In Medicaid Enrollment As Tax Revenues Fall Below Projections
The AP/San Francisco Chronicle on Monday examined how “[s]ince the recession began a year ago, many states have seen increases in the Medicaid rolls just as tax revenues are falling below projections.” According to the AP/Chronicle, the unemployment rate has increased to 6.7% from 4.7% at
Many States Experience Increases In Medicaid Enrollment As Tax Revenues Fall Below Projections...