The Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority “is about to raise its rates on people who are living on limited incomes,” but costs for coverage “should not be so high … that they are a burden for people with chronic conditions or discourage them from getting necessary care,” according to a
The Stockton Record on Thursday looked at mental health among Hispanics. According to a study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, fewer than one in 11 Hispanic immigrants seek care from mental health specialists, and fewer than one in five use services from general health care providers.
The “only major disagreement” between the health care proposals of Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) “appears to be whether to require uninsured people to buy coverage,” Dow Jones reports. The Clinton proposal would require all U.S.
Humana last month launched a program, called “Healthy Returns,” that provides its Medicare plan beneficiaries with gift cards to Macy’s, CVS, Lowe’s and Borders as an incentive to adopt healthier lifestyles, Florida Health News reports. The program involves three pilot projects.
Summaries of recent news about health care and the budgets of Maryland and New Jersey appear below.Maryland: Lawmakers are looking to cut at least $200 million from Gov. Martin O’Malley’s (D) proposed fiscal year 2009 budget to compensate for an economic downturn, the Baltimore Sun reports.
While there is an inexpensive, generic medication that can stop severe pain and the need for blood transfusions associated with sickle cell disease, few patients receive the treatment, Reuters reports. An NIH consensus panel discussed the issue on Wednesday. Members of consensus panels discuss “controversial medical subjects to give unbiased, impartial guidance,” Reuters reports.
Private Medicare Advantage plans can cost beneficiaries more than traditional Medicare for home health care, nursing homes and certain hospital stays, according to a report released on Thursday by the Government Accountability Office, the New York Times reports.
Siriwat Thiptharadon, head of Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration and an engineer of the former government’s compulsory license program, has been removed from his post, Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.
The Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules on Tuesday voted 8-2 to reject, for the second time, an emergency order by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) to expand the state’s FamilyCare program, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The following highlights recent state news about women’s health-related legislation.