Newspapers recently reported on health care developments in several states. Summaries appear below.
Colorado: The Colorado Democratic majority and Gov.-elect Bill Ritter (D) in 2007 plan to work to expand health care coverage in the state and reduce health costs, but they said sweeping changes are not likely, the Denver Post reports. Priorities for Democratic leaders in the state Legislature include joining a multi-state drug purchasing pool to buy prescription drugs in bulk, increasing the use of Medicaid managed care and increasing funding for the SCHIP program. Previous proposals for bulk-drug purchasing failed to become law after pharmaceutical industry officials argued that the prescription drug lists developed under the program would limit the types of drugs low-income residents could use. State Rep. Bernie Buescher (D) is drafting legislation that could create a Medicaid managed care system that would provide incentives for quality-of-care improvements and preventive care. In addition, the state House and Senate health committee chairs are considering legislation that would require the state to acquire or create a Medicaid managed care organization, increase privacy protections for electronic health records, streamline mental health funding and improve long-term care. Lawmakers also are monitoring a health care commission created this year that is responsible for recommending ways to expand health care access and reduce costs (Frates, Denver Post, 12/18).

Pennsylvania: Gov. Ed Rendell (D) is finalizing a proposal to restructure the state's health care system and plans to announce it next month, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. A document outlining the plan states that it is intended to provide "access to affordable, quality health care coverage for every citizen in Pennsylvania." Rendell wants to develop a program that is similar to the SCHIP program expansion, called Cover All Kids, that he signed into law earlier this year. The program subsidizes coverage for children from low-income families and makes coverage available for other children on a sliding payment scale based on family income. Rendell has said he also favors measures to reduce hospital infections, improve access to care and lift certain restrictions on nurse practitioners (Fahy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12/18).

Virginia: Gov. Timothy Kaine (D) on Friday proposed a two-year budget for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 that includes $100 million in new funding for health care, mental health care and other human service programs, the Washington Post reports. Kaine's proposal, which must be approved by the General Assembly to become law, also would establish pay-for-performance standards for skilled nursing facilities and raise the state Medicaid personal needs allowance by $10 per month (Craig, Washington Post, 12/16).


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