State Health Watch 2000 Index
December 1, 2000
State Health Watch 2000 Index
TOPIC Index
Children; Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Ambitious Maryland officials lay out blueprint for employer-based coverage under CHIP, Jan:10
Require CHIP reporting by race and income, say 130 consumer advocacy organizations, Feb:7
Blood lead poisoning in children: An old challenge with new solutions, Apr:1
States search for ways to keep children in CHIP programs, Sep:5
North Carolina program reduces rates of children's use of EDs, Oct:6
CHIP enrollment doubles, Oct:7
While more children are now insured, more money goes unspent, Nov:1
More upper-income children insured, census says, but no so for the poor, Nov:1
Every state has its way to reach special needs children, Nov:4
Percentage of uninsured children dropping in some communities, Dec:11
Counties
Minnesota seeks waiver approval from HCFA for five-county Medicaid purchasing project, Jan:7
Data
Two-visit counseling law delays timing of abortions, Mississippi data show, Apr:10
Modify computer systems to reduce eligibility errors, Jun:8
Finding good help in health care continues to be a tough chore, Sep:4
Disabled
The feds' new Olmstead guidelines are looking like much ado about something, say advocates, Mar:7
Could high court strike down ADA protections? Aug:1
Settlement near in Massachusetts retardation case, Dec:5
Fraud and abuse
Federal officials give doctors detailed fraud and abuse guidance, Aug:9
Final OIG compliance eases small-practice concerns, Nov:9
HIV/AIDS
States expand Medicaid coverage for HIV-positive patients, Jan:1
What are various states offering in HIV coverage from Medicaid? Jan:3
Impact of name-based HIV reporting is 'exaggerated,' suggests new study, Jan: 4
Florida program offers disease management for HIV, Jan:5
Maine tries early intervention for HIV-positive individuals, Apr:4
Home and community-based services
Home health agencies want in on self-directed care, Sep:10
Special project funds California community groups to help neighbors receive needed care, Sept:11
Hospitals
Already considered a business-friendly state, Florida seems ready to cut CON regulation, Apr:9
Efficiency at the heart of quest to ensure hospitals are funded, May:1
Winners in the scramble for DSH dollars are hospitals that are owned by the states, May:1
Medicaid, Medicare funding are at heart of Utah hospital's troubles, director says, July:6
Immigration
Language barrier may prevent Medicaid enrollment, Aug:8
When designing materials, go to the source, Sep:6
Insurance; managed care
Managed care liability, uninsured, and tobacco top list of priorities in 2000 state legislative sessions, Feb:9
Missouri Blue Cross health care foundation is held as national model for conversion, Mar:4
New York businesses skeptical of state plan to boost health coverage, Mar:10
Patients may get right to sue HMOs in Washington state, Apr:6
State insurance programs separate families seeking mental health services for their kids, May:8
State health insurance reforms have plateaued, May:10
Fewer poor parents are offered health insurance, Jun:6
Supreme Court ruling leads battle from federal court to state, Aug:1
NYC Medicaid managed care contractor gets extension despite advocate concern, Sep:8
Helping hand of employers offering access to health care pulls back to its own pocket, Oct:1
Eliminating administrative burdens is goal of changes to Salud! Oct:11
Medicaid
Georgia cuts costs in state employee health plan; hospital payments slashed, PPO on deck, Jan:1
Not yet singing the Blues — TennCare officials say plan's departure won't kill the program, Feb:1
Growing a successful TennCare takes time, money, realistic expectations, Feb:3
States ready to take advantage of federal incentives to cover disabled workers through Medicaid, Feb:4
Florida clash over Medicaid cost-shifting leads to rate increase, Mar:8
New York tries to cover 1 million residents in ambitious public and private initiatives, Mar:9
Medicaid MCOs gather to find best practices for birth outcomes, Apr:1
Advocates oppose CA mental health waiver, Apr:7
Feds tell states to restore improperly cut Medicaid benefits, May:3
Medicaid enrollment increases as states work with welfare reform, Jun:1
Families USA says welfare reform stripped 675,000 people of their Medicaid coverage, Jun:3
Medicaid will help pay medical expenses for improperly terminated beneficiaries, Jun:7
Washington state using technology to go after improper payments, Jul:11
Complex Medicaid system is unclear to beneficiaries, Aug:4
Negative treatment of Medicaid recipients is barrier to enrollment, according to new study, Oct:4
Feds changing rules to encourage states' Medicaid expansion, Dec:1
Capitation boosts Oregon Medicaid access to substance abuse treatment, Dec:9
Medical errors
New report confirms medication errors are most common, Dec:6
States not prepared to deal with medical errors, Jul:4
IOM report on medical errors: A wake-up call? Sep:3
IOM report on medical errors challenged as exaggerated, inaccurate, and overstated, Oct:8
Cumbersome workloads increase errors, Nov:7
Whether the estimated number of medical errors is high or low, forum searches for new answers, Nov:8
Medicare
Future DSH payment cuts seem likely, but feds won't take back funds, says acting HCFA director, Jan:9
HCFA won't recoup contested DSH payments, but says it will tighten funding going forward, Feb:8
New York, Tennessee score big in HCFA turnabout on DSH, Mar:1
Teaching hospitals turn to legislators for help in coping with funding cuts, Mar:1
Medicare dropping supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists, May:7
Anesthesiologists say states oppose Medicare nurse anesthetist proposal, Sep:9
Mental health
Colorado will tinker with success in RFP for managed mental health, Feb:6
States attempt to rein in use of new antipsychotics, Apr:8
New Mexico's managed mental health care program under attack by Bazelon Center, Jun:1
Mental health programs need outcomes measures, Jun:9
OIG's Recommendations for State Medicaid Mental Health Programs, Jun:9
Innovative Arkansas mental health managed care program cancelled abruptly, July:1
States taking more responsibility for managed mental health care, Jul:9
Contractor pulls out of Texas pilot mental health program — NorthSTAR, Sep:1
Massachusetts seeks a delay in court-ordered community services for mentally retarded, Oct:1
HCFA discontinues support for New Mexico's mental health managed care program, Dec:11
Public health
Manual guides state policy-makers on health regulation under ERISA, Apr:6
States struggle to measure success of health coverage, May:4
States vary widely in percentage and composition of uninsured, Jun:5
New TennCare director faces many challenges, a troubling history, Jul:1
Rural areas have greater health needs than urban poor, Jul:7
Special strategies may advance rural health, Jul:8
Profiles point out gaps in health care access, Aug:3
Congress passes public health funding measure, Dec:12
Technology
Finger imaging given a thumbs down, Oct:3
Internet program speeds eligibility check, Nov:6
Tobacco
How long will the tobacco industry be the goose that lays the golden egg? Feb:1
STATE INDEX
Arkansas
Innovative Arkansas mental health managed care program cancelled abruptly, Jul:1
California
Advocates oppose CA mental health waiver, Apr:7
New York and California forge new coalitions in fight to insure their states, Dec:1
Colorado
Colorado will tinker with success in RFP for managed mental health, Feb:6
Florida
Florida program offers disease management for HIV, Jan:5
Florida clash over Medicaid cost-shifting leads to rate increase, Mar:8
Georgia
Georgia cuts costs in state employee health plan; hospital payments slashed, PPO on deck, Jan:1
Maine
Maine tries early intervention for HIV-positive individuals, Apr:4
Maryland
Ambitious Maryland officials lay out blueprint for employer-based coverage under CHIP, Jan:10
Massachusetts
Massachusetts seeks a delay in court-ordered community services for mentally retarded, Oct:1
Settlement near in Massachusetts retardation case, Dec:5
Minnesota
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota says its coverage review decisions are appropriate, DEC:4
Minnesota seeks waiver approval from HCFA for five-county Medicaid purchasing project, Jan:7
Mississippi
Two-visit counseling law delays timing of abortions, Mississippi data show, Apr:10
Missouri
Missouri Blue Cross health care foundation is held as national model for conversions, Mar:4
New Mexico
New Mexico's managed mental health care program under attack by Bazelon Center, Jun:1
Eliminating administrative burdens is goal of changes to Salud! Oct:11
HCFA discontinues support for New Mexico's mental health managed care program, Dec:11
New York
How long will the tobacco industry be the goose that lays the golden egg? Feb:1
New York, Tennessee score big in HCFA turnabout on DSH, Mar:1
New York tries to cover 1 million residents in ambitious public and private initiatives, Mar:9
New York businesses skeptical of state plan to boost health coverage, Mar:10
NYC Medicaid managed care contractor gets extension despite advocate concern, Sep:8
New York and California forge new coalitions in fight to insure their states, Dec:1
North Carolina
North Carolina program reduces rates of children's use of EDs, Oct:6
Oregon
Capitation boosts Oregon Medicaid access to substance abuse treatment, Dec:9
Tennessee
Not yet singing the Blues — TennCare officials say plan's departure won't kill the program, Feb:1
Growing a successful TennCare takes time, money, realistic expectations, Feb:3
New York, Tennessee score big in HCFA turnabout on DSH, Mar:1
New TennCare director faces many challenges, a troubling history, Jul:1
Texas
Contractor pulls out of Texas pilot mental health program — NorthSTAR, Sep:1
Utah
Medicaid, Medicare funding are at heart of Utah hospital's troubles, director says, Jul:6
Washington
Patients may get right to sue HMOs in Washington state, Apr:6
Washington state using technology to go after improper payments, Jul:11