Health care

NJ Senator who led fight in Senate on behalf of state's strong program vows to continue standing up for children without health coverage

October 3, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – President Bush today vetoed the bill to improve the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a move that threatens health coverage for around 6 million children nationwide and 130,000 in New Jersey and that could deny an additional 4 million children coverage, including as many as 100,000 in New Jersey.    » read more »

04 October 2007 -- Experts say heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death among women throughout the world. Yet, a new study by Duke University in North Carolina shows, as in much of the world, women in the U.S. are not treated as aggressively as men for heart disease. The study compares how often doctors implant a life saving medical device in men and women. The results show that men are two to three times more likely to get this device than women are.    » read more »

Joined by General Assembly leaders and advocacy groups

October 4, 2007 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today called on Congress to override President Bush’s veto of the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Joining Governor Kaine were General Assembly leaders and members of children’s health advocacy and faith-based organizations.    » read more »

October 4, 2007 -- Montpelier, Vt. – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today highlighted health care career opportunities available to Vermonters and declared October as Health Care Career Awareness Month in Vermont.

Governor Douglas said career opportunities in health care provide excellent job opportunities.    » read more »

Litigation Commenced in Federal Court to Challenge Rules Imposed by the Bush Administration

October 4, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that New York, Illinois, Maryland and Washington filed a lawsuit against the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to challenge its unlawful action in imposing new rules governing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Arizona, California, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Mexico are submitting friend of the court briefs in support of the action, and New Jersey filed a similar lawsuit.    » read more »

Lawsuit Challenges Administration’s Effort to Limit State’s Flexibility

October 4, 2007 -- SANTA FE - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson joined in strong support of the state of New York’s lawsuit filed today to challenge the Bush Administration’s efforts to impede states’ ability to decide the best way to provide health care coverage for children.    » read more »

October 4, 2007 -- Private health insurance premiums in Minnesota grew by 7.2 percent per enrollee in 2006, up from 4.5 percent in 2005, according to a new report by the Health Economics Program at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Growth in health plans’ expenses per enrollee increased from 7.2 percent in 2005 to 8.9 percent in 2006, while enrollees’ average out-of-pocket cost grew by 15 percent.    » read more »

October 4, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi today announced that the State of Connecticut will be filing an amicus brief in connection with a lawsuit against the federal government’s plans to impose restrictions on the popular State Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as HUSKY B in Connecticut.

Governor Rell authorized Connecticut to join a coalition of states supporting litigation spearheaded by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer on behalf of New York and other states to challenge states’ flexibility to bring health coverage to moderate-income children.    » read more »

Statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), Executive Director, American Public Health Association

Washington, D.C., Oct. 3, 2007 – “APHA is deeply troubled that, despite overwhelming support from the general public and congressional leadership of both parties, President Bush today vetoed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which would have provided 10 million children access to health care.

“We are dismayed by the president’s misguided spending priorities, which fail to invest in protecting the health of our children.    » read more »

Millions of low-income kids counting on Congress to override the veto

Oct. 3, 2007 -- Statement of Edward Langston, MD, AMA Board Chair:

"The American Medical Association is deeply disappointed in the president's veto of bipartisan legislation to protect the health of America's low-income children. The program is vital to protect low-income children whose parents work hard, but aren't able to afford health insurance.    » read more »

Seniors’ Care Most Negatively Impacted in IL, NJ, WI, MN, VT, NH, MO, DE, WA and MA; Researchers Warn Medicaid Shortfall Undermines Medicare Stability

October 3, 2007 -- Washington, DC – “A new independent analysis of the nation’s Medicaid program by the accounting firms BDO Seidman/Eljay,LLC estimates states are underfunding the actual cost of providing seniors’ critical nursing home care by at least $4.4 billion annually, or, $13.15 per patient day – representing a dramatic 45% increase from 1999 ($9.05) through 2007.    » read more »

October 3, 2007 -- Washington, DC - While President Bush is vetoing the bipartisan plan that would provide 10 million children health care, Rudy Giuliani will be defending Bush's move as he campaigns in the Granite State this morning. Even though it would cost more than 8,700 kids in New Hampshire needed health care coverage, Giuliani has stubbornly backed Bush's veto threat for months. [CNBC Interview, July 2007, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgnOhJtJ6_E; AP, 9/26/07, Families USA, 9/25/07]    » read more »

October 3, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement after President Bush vetoed a bipartisan plan supported overwhelmingly by the American people and 43 governors to extend and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program to cover 10 million low-income kids:    » read more »

October 03, 2007 -- Des Moines, IA -- Barack Obama spoke out today against President Bush's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007. The bill, which passed the Senate but not the House with a veto proof margin, would have enabled Iowa to cover an additional 26,400 children currently without health insurance. The veto will also cut children from health insurance plans in states where the funding is currently at a higher level than the Federal law allows.    » read more »

10/03/2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC-- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issued the following statement today regarding President Bush's veto of the SCHIP legislation passed by Congress:

"The Grinch came three months early this year and stole children's health care. Unfortunately, this is no fairy tale, and unless Congress overrides the President's veto, it will not have a happy ending.    » read more »