'Public Health Policy'
What the States Are Doing About Toxic Toys
California is a leader in this area, having enacted Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act as a ballot initiative in November1986. Groups like California’s Center for Environmental Health have used the law to win legal agreements to eliminate lead threats from diaper creams, children’s medicines, home water filters, vinyl lunch boxes, [...]
Seniors Who Can’t Get Health Care in Alaska
The following is an important message from our colleagues at AARP:
KTUU Channel 2 is developing a story (and possibly a two-part story) on individuals age 65 plus who are having problems finding an Alaskan physician who will accept Medicare. I am working with KTUU in developing this story, which won’t air until November. [...]
US Lags Behind in Parental Leave, Paid Sick Days, and More
This list is courtesy of McGill’s Institute for Health and Social Policy, summarizing some of the ways in which the US lags in leave, sick days and other worker protections . . .
Out of 173 countries studied, 168 guarantee paid maternal leave, with 98 of these countries offering 14 or more weeks of paid leave. [...]
Your Chance to Influence Health Insurance Policy in Alaska
The issue of affordable health insurance has assumed national importance. Several states are developing innovative strategies to provide health insurance to their uninsured residents. Now it’s Alaska’s turn.
The Health Planning and Systems Development Unit within the Department of Health and Social Services, through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, is holding a [...]
State Child Health Insurance Program: The End is Near
The State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the federal program that provides health insurance to children whose families can’t afford private coverage, ends it’s original ten year run on September 30, 2007. This has important implications for Alaskans because this funding is central to Denali KidCare’s ability to provide health insurance [...]
Innovative State Policies: How Would They Fare in Alaska?
Yes, it is an odd name–The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy–but the organization features some very innovative ideas. DMI describes itself in this way:
The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to challenging the tired orthodoxies of both the right and the left. The goal: progressive public policy [...]
Governor Appoints Alaska Health Care Strategies Planning Council
Earlier this month Governor Sarah Palin announced the appointment of 14 Alaskans to the Alaska Health Care Strategies Planning Council. The Alaska Health Care Strategies Planning Council was created under Administrative Order 232 by Governor Sarah Palin on February 15, 2007.
The purpose of the council is to develop a statewide plan to identify [...]
New Study: Children Without Health Insurance in Alaska
Highlights of the new study by FamiliesUSA on Alaskan children without health insurance…
Reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is likely to be the most important health care issue addressed on Capitol Hill this year. The highly successful program, which started in 1997, provides health coverage to millions of low-income children with family [...]