Health News
- Smokers Shouldn't Get Medicaid Or Medicare, Says Freshman Republican Lawmaker Who Grows Tobacco
State Rep. Jonathan Shell of Lancaster, a young Republican who grows tobacco, is against a statewide smoking ban. No surprise there, but how about this: He also says people who use tobacco should't be able to get Medicaid benefits. ?As I don?t think...
- Legislature Likely To Tweak, Clarify And Limit Last Year's 'pill Mill Bill'
State lawmakers could narrow the focus of last year's "pill mill bill" during the legislative session that begins tomorrow, to concentrate on adults with long-term prescriptions for frequently abused painkillers, John Cheves of the Lexington Herald-Leader...
- Smoking Ban Can't Get A Vote Due To Republican Boycott Over Chairman's Block Of Measure For Drug Tests For Welfare Recipients
There could have been a vote Thursday on a bill for a statewide smoking ban, but a Republican boycott of the Democratic-controlled House Health and Welfare Committee over another bill prevented that. "Republicans were upset over the committee chairman's...
- No Vote Taken On Bill For Drug Tests For Recipients Of Public Aid
Despite motions to do so Thursday, the House Health and Welfare Committee did not vote on a bill that would require Kentuckians who receive public assistance to submit to random drug testing. The bill did not receive a vote because there is no money to...
- Sinai-er Offers Rapid Hiv Testing
Sinai Hospital?s Rapid HIV program is helping more Baltimore citizens learn their status. The program, which allows those in Sinai ER-7 to have a quick free test to learn whether they are HIV positive, recently received funding to continue for another...
Health News
Idaho study: Drug testing for state-aid recipients inefficient
As discussion continues among Kentucky lawmakers over whether public-assistance recipients should undergo mandatory drug testing, an Idaho study has concluded such an undertaking is not cost-effective.
"The costs of legal action alone during the first year could exceed the costs of the drug testing and treatment program," says the study, as reported by The Associated Press. "To fund the costs of the program, (Idaho) would need to either appropriate additional funding for a drug-testing program, or divert funds from current programs for the screening, testing and treatment activities."
The study was conducted by Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare. It found that testing for federal welfare programs like Medicaid and food stamps is forbidden. For child-care assistance and temporary cash assistance for families, programs that cover about 10,500 Idahoans, the study showed the "costs of testing and related treatment would wipe out prospective savings achieved by removing offenders."
On Jan. 7, state Rep. Lonnie Napier, R-Lancaster, filed House Bill 208, which would requie random drug and urine testing for any Kentucky resident over 17 who gets Medicaid, food stamps or welfare benefits. Those failing the test would lose their benefits until they passed drug testing at a later date. The cost of the proposal was unknown, though Napier, right, said there are more than 600,000 Kentucky adults on welfare, and a drug test costs about $30. Those numbers result in a $18 million price tag, plus the costs of expanding drug treatment programs.
The House's Health and Welfare Committee has had the bill since Feb. 1 and does not appear likely to approve it.
Missouri, Virginia and Nebraska legislators are considering similar proposals. New Mexico lawmakers are debating whether to test for drugs as a condition to receive unemployment benefits. Minnesota and Wisconsin test convicted felons who receive some form of public assistance. Arizona "requires about 12,500 people in one federal program to complete a drug-screening questionnaire, with some then undergoing drug screens," AP reports.
The proposals have not been met without controversy. In 1999, Michigan's effort to drug test members of needy families who received temporary federal assistance lasted just five weeks before it was ruled unconstitutional, AP reports. (Read more)
- Smokers Shouldn't Get Medicaid Or Medicare, Says Freshman Republican Lawmaker Who Grows Tobacco
State Rep. Jonathan Shell of Lancaster, a young Republican who grows tobacco, is against a statewide smoking ban. No surprise there, but how about this: He also says people who use tobacco should't be able to get Medicaid benefits. ?As I don?t think...
- Legislature Likely To Tweak, Clarify And Limit Last Year's 'pill Mill Bill'
State lawmakers could narrow the focus of last year's "pill mill bill" during the legislative session that begins tomorrow, to concentrate on adults with long-term prescriptions for frequently abused painkillers, John Cheves of the Lexington Herald-Leader...
- Smoking Ban Can't Get A Vote Due To Republican Boycott Over Chairman's Block Of Measure For Drug Tests For Welfare Recipients
There could have been a vote Thursday on a bill for a statewide smoking ban, but a Republican boycott of the Democratic-controlled House Health and Welfare Committee over another bill prevented that. "Republicans were upset over the committee chairman's...
- No Vote Taken On Bill For Drug Tests For Recipients Of Public Aid
Despite motions to do so Thursday, the House Health and Welfare Committee did not vote on a bill that would require Kentuckians who receive public assistance to submit to random drug testing. The bill did not receive a vote because there is no money to...
- Sinai-er Offers Rapid Hiv Testing
Sinai Hospital?s Rapid HIV program is helping more Baltimore citizens learn their status. The program, which allows those in Sinai ER-7 to have a quick free test to learn whether they are HIV positive, recently received funding to continue for another...