HealthCare

Strong Threads Rebuild Lives

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:47:00 -0500

Michelle Ashford, on the left, who has lived, finally, without drugs or drinks since 2005 and Vivian Fripp-Elbert have formed a deep and powerful bond -- a bond made from thread. Click here for the story.

Medicare Supplemental Rate Increase Criticized

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:35:00 -0500

The state Insurance Department approved a 30 percent increase in Genworth's Medicare Supplemental plans for 2,049 customers in the state who use the plan to cover benefits not covered by traditional Medicare.

The Insurance Department's decision late Tuesday afternoon has State Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo and Judith Stein, director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, upset with the Insurance Department for its industry friendly decision.

Full story here.

"Overpaid, Fancy-Suited" Lawyers On The Run

Tue, 13 May 2008 09:03:00 -0500

Does Connecticut's current HMO standoff cast doubt on whether the private sector should be in charge of running HUSKY? Check out the latest coverage in the Wall Street Journal. (Earlier story here on the roots of the crusade led by legal aid's Sheldon Toubman, pictured).

Nursing Home Workers Picket

Tue, 13 May 2008 07:34:00 -0500

Employees at Bloomfield Health Care Center took their voices to the street Monday and let management know they mean business when it comes to wages, benefits, and negotiations. Full story here.

Women, Heart Disease, Stress -- & Racism

Mon, 12 May 2008 09:13:00 -0500

Women, stress, heart disease -- what's racism got to do with it? The woman pictured in the middle wanted to know.

Small Successes

Mon, 12 May 2008 07:37:00 -0500

The debate on universal health care was postponed last year because the 2007 General Assembly wanted to study the issue before passing legislation like its neighboring states.

In the absence of a major statewide policy on access to affordable health care, the 2008 General Assembly did pass five smaller health care bills being praised by health care advocates.

Full story here.

Skin-Deep Dangers Revealed

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:14:00 -0500

Could this hair product give you cancer?

House Buries Sick Day Bill Again

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:33:00 -0500

A bill that would allow workers to accumulate one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked died Wednesday night. Full story here.

Minority Health Office OK'd

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:49:00 -0500

The new Health Equity Commission would run out of the Office of the Healthcare Advocate. The state Senate passed a bill to create it. ""We have so far to go to eliminate disparities in health status. Putting together an Equity Commission that gathers a wide diversity of members is critical to solving this crisis," said the advocate, Kevin Lembo. Release here. The state NAACP had called for the office's creation: background story here.

Casino Smoking Ban Dies

Wed, 07 May 2008 07:53:00 -0500

Thousands of Foxwoods employees blast legislative leaders for failing to protect their health. Story here.

Some Good Capitol News

Wed, 07 May 2008 07:44:00 -0500

Health care pooling bill passes Senate (very) early Wednesday morning. Story here.

Pollan: What You Eat Makes You Sick

Wed, 07 May 2008 07:38:00 -0500

The modern American diet is the only one in human history that reliably makes us sick, leading to obesity, diabetes and heart ailments. So said a popular author on food and the politics and food. He looks to government policy as the culprit.

Mental Health Parity Bill Passes House

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:17:00 -0500

The House passed a bill along party lines that calls for mental illness to be treated the same as physical illness under Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's Charter Oak Health Plan for uninsured adults in the state. The Charter Oak Health Plan was passed last year by the legislature and is expected to be offered July 1 to any uninsured resident in the state. Full story here.

10% of Population, 40% of Uninsured

Sun, 04 May 2008 15:40:00 -0500

As with environmental initiatives, movement toward universal health care is coming from the states. That was demonstrated again on Saturday with a regional action summit called Latino Voices in Universal Health Care.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Sun, 04 May 2008 15:30:00 -0500

The good news: the number of young children in New Haven identified with lead poisoning keeps dropping. The bad news: last year there were still 260.