Housing

• Bill Linking Welfare to Grades Passes Tennessee House
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 5, 2013
• After a lengthy and passionate debate, a House committee approved legislation that would reduce welfare benefits for families whose children are failing school.

• 6 Ways States Are Addressing the Doctor Shortage
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   April 3, 2013
• States are trying to ensure there will be enough health professionals to provide care to the millions of people expected to get insurance next year under Obamacare.
• 1 Comments

• Controversial Abortion Restrictions Sent to Alabama Governor
• Source: Montgomery Advertiser   |   Alabama   |   April 3, 2013
• Abortion rights groups have already threatened to sue to block the bill if it becomes law.

• Teen Birth Rate Plunges in Colorado
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   April 3, 2013
• The state got a special shout-out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for cutting "repeat" teen pregnancies.

• Welfare Drug-Testing Bill on Kansas Governor's Desk
• Source: Wichita Eagle   |   Kansas   |   April 3, 2013
• The bill allows the state to require drug tests whenever there is a reasonable suspicion that someone getting welfare or unemployment benefits is using drugs.

• Health Impact Assessments Take on Broader Role in Cities and States
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Nation   |   April 2, 2013
• Cities and states have exponentially increased their use of the new policymaking tool in the last five years, and the trend shows no signs of stopping.

• Washington State's Abortion Debate Counters the Conservative Trend
• Source: New York Times   |   Washington state   |   April 2, 2013
• The state is is now debating a law that would require health insurers to pay for an elective abortion.

• 13 States Seek Contraceptive Exemption to Obamacare
• Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer   |   Nation   |   April 2, 2013
• Thirteen attorneys general believe any employer who says he or she objects to contraception should not have to provide contraceptive coverage.
• 11 Comments

• New Jersey is 3rd State to Ban Teens from Tanning Beds
• Source: NorthJersey.com   |   New Jersey   |   April 2, 2013
• California and Vermont both ban the use of tanning beds for children under the age of 18.

• Marijuana Accidents Spur Calls for Childproof Packaging in Colorado
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   April 2, 2013
• When medical marijuana became legal in Colorado and federal officials backed off prosecution, Children's Hospital Colorado had 14 emergency-room visits by kids who had ingested marijuana.

• Oregon Explores Treadmill Desks for State Workers
• BY: Stateline   |   Oregon   |   April 1, 2013
• The legislature is exploring the use of the desks to decrease the health risks associated with sitting at a desk too long.
• 1 Comments

• Gov. Pence Pushes Controversial Healthy Indiana Plan to Expand Medicaid
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   April 1, 2013
• If Washington doesn’t agree to allow the state to alter Medicaid to fit the Healthy Indiana Plan — which could happen — Medicaid would not be expanded and the state would forgo $10.5 billion in federal aid through 202

• 'Gabby's Bill' to Protect Mentally Ill in Jeopardy in Arizona
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   April 1, 2013
• Legislation to protect the mentally ill and the public, including a bill — unofficially called Gabby’s Law — to better identify and respond to people in crisis, could be in trouble as state lawmakers enter final deliberations on non-budget-related bills.

• States Choose Managed Care for Medicare, Medicaid
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   April 1, 2013
• California is the latest state to join a national movement to coordinate care for people who qualify for both public health insurance programs.
• 1 Comments