LINCOLN—After listening to supporters of a bill that would ban so-called telemedicine abortions—in which a doctor oversees administration of a drug to induce an abortion via a live video link—Senator Danielle Conrad of Lincoln had enough. On Wednesday, she assailed the legislation (LB 521) and "the tirade of other anti-woman, anti-science and anti-common-sense legislation that you continue to bring before this body." READ MORE»

— Lincoln Journal Star, May 18, 2011

 

LINCOLN—The Wolbach grocery co-op—First Rural Organic Grocery Store—could be the poster child for a bill given new life Wednesday in the Legislature. The bill (LB 200), introduced by Senator Brenda Council, would provide financial assistance to grocers, urban and rural farm stands, farmers markets and food cooperatives so people in underserved communities could have better access to health foods. READ MORE»

— Lincoln Journal Star, May 19, 2011

 

RICHMOND, Va.— House Republican leaders have spent a lot of time lately assuring Wall Street that they understand the calamitous consequences that would result from a default on the nation’s debt. But at an economic forum here in House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s hometown, “Main Street” business leaders didn’t seem to have much interest in the issue that preoccupies Washington, New York and other cities concerned with high finance. READ MORE»

— Politico, May 19, 2011

 

WASHINGTON—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has cut $48.5 million from the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Program for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. The cut would reduce FY 2011 funding for the program from about $316.8 million to $268.4 million. The continuing resolution funding federal programs through September 2011, which was approved by Congress in April, reduced HHS’ budget by 20 percent. While some program cuts were specified in the CR, HHS was given discretion to determine other reductions to meet the target. The CHGME cut was included in the plan for those reductions, released by the department yesterday.

“We are extremely disappointed that HHS is cutting a vital program that helps hospitals educate and train the next generation of pediatricians,” said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. “This decision is penny-wise and pound-foolish. As more children are insured because of coverage expansions in the health reform law, they will need access to primary and specialty care—but we already face a shortage of primary and specialty pediatricians. Cutting CHGME will exacerbate this shortage and undermines the Administration’s own goal of improving primary care for our nation’s children.”

The AHA supports legislation (H.R. 1852/ S. 958) introduced this month by Representatives Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) that would reauthorize the CHGME program for five years, providing $330 million each year to hospitals that train the nation's pediatric workforce.

— AHA News Now, May 18, 2011
 

For more information about health-related legislative bills or resolutions, contact: Bruce Rieker, Vice President, Advocacy, at (402) 742-8146 or brieker@nhanet.org or Nick Faustman, Health Policy Research & Advocacy Specialist, at (402) 742-8155 or nfaustman@nhanet.org  

NHA Rotunda Review is published by the Nebraska Hospital Association, 3255 Salt Creek Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504. Phone (402) 742-8140, Fax (402) 742-8191. Visit our Web site at www.nhanet.org. Kelley Porter, editor, at (402) 742-8151, or email, kporter@nhanet.org.

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