In July 2003, Montana Governor Judy Martz appointed the state’s Public Health Care Advisory Council, kicking off a health care redesign process that could affect the health and well-being of all Montanans. The advisory council is working with the Montana Department of Health and Human Services on recommendations to the 2005 Legislature regarding Medicaid, theContinue reading “Setting the Tone for Health Care Cuts: Governor Martz and Montana’s Public Health Care Redesign”
Category Archives: health care
Not Even Pennywise: Premiums Will Harm Washington’s Children, Economy
Despite the enormous benefits Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide to Washington State’s families and economy, the Legislature is considering charging premiums to many children in these programs. The proposed premiums will wreck havoc on the lives of vulnerable children, cost the state more in the long run, and harm Washington’s economy.Continue reading “Not Even Pennywise: Premiums Will Harm Washington’s Children, Economy”
Not Our Job: Employers Abandon Health Care Coverage, Leaving Washington Families and the State with the Bill
As large businesses cut health benefits or shift costs to employees, more and more workers must forego coverage. Employment is losing its status as the gateway to health care for working families, who must use publicly funded coverage or go without entirely. When employers leave their workers – especially low-wage employees – without coverage, theyContinue reading “Not Our Job: Employers Abandon Health Care Coverage, Leaving Washington Families and the State with the Bill”
Don’t Lien on Me: Why the State’s Medical Indigency Care Program is Unhealthy for Idahoans
Health insurance is the most important vehicle for gaining access to health care services. It makes a substantial difference in the type of services people are able to obtain. The consequences for people without health insurance are serious: one study found that the uninsured are almost six times more likely than the insured to haveContinue reading “Don’t Lien on Me: Why the State’s Medical Indigency Care Program is Unhealthy for Idahoans”
Idaho Lags Behind Region and Nation in Prescription Drug Savings
With prescription drug prices on the rise, more and more states are pooling the purchases of their state agencies and are joining together with other states to negotiate large prescription drug discounts. As this report details, numerous states are already saving substantial sums using purchasing pools. But Idaho lags behind the Northwest and the nationContinue reading “Idaho Lags Behind Region and Nation in Prescription Drug Savings”
Medicaid Supports Idaho’s County Economics
This report provides an overview of the important contributions Medicaid makes to the economy of and quality of life in Idaho. Throughout the state, Medicaid spending directly purchases goods and services, and supports health care industry jobs for Idaho’s counties. These direct health care purchases trigger further cycles of earning and purchases that ripple throughoutContinue reading “Medicaid Supports Idaho’s County Economics”
Living Sicker, Dying Younger: Montana’s Indian People Suffer from Inadequate Health Care
Montana’s Indian people have poorer health, higher disease rates, lower life expectancy and greater difficulty obtaining health care than other Montanans. Nearly 40 percent of American Indians in Montana are uninsured. Many are ineligible for Indian Health Services (IHS) because they do not live on a reservation and/or are not a member of a federallyContinue reading “Living Sicker, Dying Younger: Montana’s Indian People Suffer from Inadequate Health Care”
New Mexico Considers Universal Health Care Coverage, But Will Universal Also Mean Quality and Affordable?
Governor Bill Richardson handily won his election in 2003, returning the state to Democratic rule after eight years under a Republican governor. Richardson campaigned on universal health care, promising health care coverage to every New Mexican within four years. While his health care task force continues to meet and a formal plan has not yetContinue reading “New Mexico Considers Universal Health Care Coverage, But Will Universal Also Mean Quality and Affordable?”
How Do the Democratic Presidential Candidates’ Health Care Plans Stack Up?
All the Democratic presidential candidates have made detail-laden speeches explaining how they would provide health coverage for uninsured Americans and revamp the Bush administration’s tax policies. Still, the proposals from the Democratic candidates represent an abandonment of the incremental steps in political favor since the Clinton plan was quashed in 1994 and promise to dramaticallyContinue reading “How Do the Democratic Presidential Candidates’ Health Care Plans Stack Up?”
Idaho’s Challenge: Is Something Always Better Than Nothing When it Comes to Health Care?
Since Idaho Governor Batt used CHIP funds to expand Medicaid for children up to 150 percent of poverty by executive order in 1997, Idaho Republicans have been looking for ways to gut the state’s already lean Medicaid program. By crafting an expansion program that promises to provide some health insurance to those who currently haveContinue reading “Idaho’s Challenge: Is Something Always Better Than Nothing When it Comes to Health Care?”