| Making the list: Preferred drug list for Medicaid would contain costs
The Utah Senate came close to allowing the Department of Health to create a preferred prescription drug list for Medicaid. Then it gutted the bill and passed it. Then it moved to reconsider.
Here's hoping the Senate, and the full Legislature, pass the original version.
The biggest reason is cost containment. If a panel of experts writes a list of the most effective medications, including generic drugs, for people insured by Medicaid, it could help to reduce the state's overall spending for those drugs. The drugs on the list would become the standard that doctors would be expected to prescribe.
Medicaid is the health-care program for low-income people that is jointly financed by the federal and state governments, so a preferred drug list could save both the federal and state governments money.
Nothing's Wrong With The Offside Law...
A little health warning to begin this latest installment of refereeing analysis: West Ham fans, you may wish to read on, but do so with caution. Reading this week's Ref365 involves reliving a painful weekend moment, when the referee in the game at St. James' Park cost you points. This may lead to indigestion, but whatever you do, do not resort to usual methods of curing indigestion, heartburn and trapped wind. Rennie will not help. I visited the Rennie website to check what symptoms one would expect to have if suffering an ailment which said medication can relieve and I found one such symptom is 'acid taste in the mouth'. I would suggest that Newcastle v West Ham on Saturday would certainly have left a bitter taste in the mouth of all Hammers this weekend. Funnily enough, 'pain in the side' is also listed as a symptom, which I suppose is what supporters of the Toon may have developed, shortly before those sides indeed split through the general mirth and enjoyment Mr Rennie's performance may have invoked from a Geordie perspective.
Bill would require birth date and signature for referendum
A proposal to add a birth date requirement to referendum petitions gave some House lawmakers heartburn during floor debate Thursday. Rep. Neal B. Hendrickson, D-West Valley City, has proposed legislation that attempts to better identify and validate signatures on referendum petitions. Such petitions are designed to bring a vote to repeal a law, and suspend that law until a vote is taken. For example, Draper residents have submitted a referendum petition to move a proposed TRAX line there. According to Hendrickson, it is currently very difficult to show that a person who has signed a petition is a registered voter -- making it a valid on the petition. Hendrickson's bill, HB 63 would require that birth dates be gathered on petitions and used by county clerks to determine the validity of the signature.
ORLive Presents: A Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding for ...
A laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure for obesity will be performed live over the Internet from Tampa General Hospital on March 6, 2007 at 4 PM EST on www.OR-Live.com. The LAP-BAND(R) System procedure involves placing an adjustable band around the connection between the food pipe and stomach to restrict the amount of food an individual can consume at one time. Since it is adjustable, the band can gradually be tightened by the physician during office visits, allowing individuals to use it as a tool to change their eating behaviors and lose weight. The procedure is intended to help patients reach a healthier weight in order to lead more mobile and active lives. Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than 60 million Americans over the age of 20. It affects every organ system in the body and can cause major illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, acid reflux disease and degenerative joint disease.
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