Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Editor's Note
Please note that no new postings will be added the rest of this week. Postings will resume on Monday, September 27. ......Bill Davis, Editor  
  

Independent Comparison of the Bush and Kerry Health Proposals
"The Lewin Group presented an independent comparative analysis of the proposed health plans of President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry on September 21, 2004, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The Lewin analysis entitled, Bush and Kerry Health Care Proposals: Cost and Coverage Compared, centered on two key questions: How many people who currently lack health insurance would become covered under each candidate's program? How much money would each program cost the federal and state governments, consumers and other financial contributors over the 10-year span following implementation in 2006...?"  
  

Budget math deflating many Bush initiatives
USA Today story - "A number of spending initiatives promoted by President Bush as he seeks re-election are set to get less money than he wants from the Republicans who control Congress. With nine days remaining before the start of the 2005 fiscal year, lawmakers are struggling to limit spending on education and the environment, health care and homelessness, foreign aid and space exploration — all to help pay for the war in Iraq, the fight against terrorism and homeland security..."  
  

Nova Scotia to establish database to fight prescription abuse
Canadian Press story - "Buoyed by promises of new health dollars from Ottawa, Nova Scotia plans to set up an electronic monitoring program that would help curtail the growing abuse of highly addictive prescription drugs in the province. Premier John Hamm said Wednesday he will introduce a bill when the legislature opens Thursday to establish an electronic database of prescriptions written by doctors in the province..."  
  

Mending mental health care (Wisconsin)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story - " In a move aimed at easing a crisis in emergency care of the mentally ill, Milwaukee County and four hospital systems have agreed to fund two new group homes next year, officials said Tuesday. Health officials hope the $750,000 plan will at least end the troubling treatment delays that this year have periodically plagued the county's overcrowded Mental Health Complex and backed up patients in private hospital emergency rooms ill-equipped to handle acute mental problems..."