An article published in the Sept. 8, 2005 New England Journal of Medicine sheds new light on the $130 billion smoking cessation plan proposed in the Department of Justice suit against the tobacco com
In a first study of its kind, researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health assessed the ability and willingness of healthcare workers to report to work in the event of disasters invo
Nutrition scientists with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) have conducted a nationwide survey to determine if hospital cafeterias and restaurants are meeting the need for low-fat,
Today for the first time, GPs in Wales are able to demonstrate tangibly that they are providing a very high standard of care for their patients. Publication of first year achievement scores in the new GP contract's Quality and Outcomes Framework shows
Many hospitals have adopted more generous charity-care guidelines for uninsured patients after a barrage of publicity about aggressive hospital billing and collection practices and a spate of lawsuits alleging hospitals overcharged uninsured patients,
Liver services in the United Kingdom need better funding and better staffing, argues a senior doctor in this week's British Medical Journal. Mortality from liver disease is increasing in the UK. I
More doubts are cast over the cost effectiveness of complementary medicine in this week's British Medical Journal. The cost-effectiveness of using complementary treatments in the United Kingdom ha
Academics who have developed a tool to help vulnerable people to manage their medicines have received an award from the NHS. Dr Karen Rosenbloom from the School of Pharmacy at the University of He
Medical staff in hospitals and health clinics in Glasgow, Scotland, have been given the power to refuse to treat patients who submit them to physical or verbal attacks. The health authorities in Glasgow say the step was a deterrent intended onl
Plenty of promising strategies exist to control antibiotic-prescribing practices, but no single method emerges as the best for hospital patients, according to a new review of studies. Antibiotics combat bacterial infections, like strep throat.
Date: Monday, 12-Feb-2007
Maryland House leaders on Wednesday proposed a $1-per-pack cigarette tax increase to extend health insurance coverage to at least 250,000 uninsured state residents, the Washington Post reports.The proposal would use an estimated $212 million annually from the cigarette tax increase to expand Medicaid eligibility (Rein, Washington Post, 2/8).
Under the proposal, income limits for adults would increase from 40% of the federal poverty level to 116% of the poverty level.
Medicaid eligibility for children would be expanded to those in families with incomes of up to 400% of the poverty level, and families with incomes greater than 200% of the poverty level would pay for Medicaid coverage based on a sliding scale.
The proposal would require state residents whose incomes are greater than 400% of the poverty level to purchase insurance or pay state penalties of up to $2,000 (Smitherman, Baltimore Sun, 2/8).
The plan also would provide $140 million in subsidies for health benefits to employers with fewer than 50 workers (Wyatt, AP/Washington Times, 2/8).
In addition, private insurers would be required to allow adults up to age 25 to remain covered by their parents' plan.
The proposal also would provide $40 million for substance abuse treatment and smoking cessation programs (Baltimore Sun, 2/8).
The plan would cost an estimated $603 million and would be funded by the cigarette tax increase, federal matching funds and savings from other programs (Washington Post, 2/8).
Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), said the governor was "not inclined" to support the tax increase (AP/Washington Times, 2/8).
State Senate leaders also oppose increasing the cigarette tax to fund health programs (Washington Post, 2/8).
This article is republished with kind permission from our friends at the The Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery of in-depth coverage of health policy developments, debates and discussions. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for Kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Copyright 2007 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.