Â鶹ŮÓÅ

A New Jersey lawmaker wants to offer tax credits to organ donors, but his no-strings approach is meeting opposition from groups who believe the practice runs afoul of federal law. While the National Organ Transplant Act makes it illegal for hospitals to pay for organs, 19 states provide either a tax credit or deduction for verifiable, unreimbursed expenses related to living organ donations, said Troy Zimmerman, of the National Kidney Foundation. In some states, the benefit also includes the donor's lost wages. (4/2)

The Florida House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would clear the way for doctors and patients to enter into "direct primary care" agreements. The bill (HB 161), which passed in a 107-6 vote, is backed by physician and small-business groups. Under direct primary-care agreements, patients would make regular payments to physicians to cover routine care, cutting out the role of insurers. (3/31)

Ironically, all of the universal health care buzz is coming after the GOP’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act with a bare-bones substitute plan collapsed. The Congressional Budget Office had estimated that the Republican plan would have decreased the federal deficit by more than $300 billion, but increased the ranks of uninsured Americans by 24 million by 2026. (Seipel, 4/2)

Dozens of families remained at a lead-contaminated public housing complex in northwest Indiana despite a Friday target date to move them out so the city could tear down the buildings. More than 270 families have left the housing development, West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, and officials hope to have the remaining 50 or so families out within a week. (4/1)

The initiative that became known as Proposition 106 passed in Colorado last November by roughly a 2-1 margin. An emotionally charged campaign weighed a terminally ill individual’s desire to end their own suffering against religious and ethical opposition as well as concerns about protecting the elderly and people with disabilities...When Herb first began to pursue the end-of-life option for his wife, he thought Kathy’s hospice care would be on board with providing a doctor. But that proved not to be the case. (Simpson, 4/2)

In the latest ruling in Florida's "certificate of need" battles, an administrative law judge said this week that the state should reject a proposal by Baptist Hospital of Miami to establish an inpatient bone-marrow transplant program. (4/2)

Students’ mental health, anxiety — and the drugs they take to cope — were up for discussion during a Burbank school board study session Thursday, nearly one year after the board established a mental health and wellness plan. Since the plan was approved last April, Burbank officials have opened a mental health and wellness office at John Burroughs High School, trained teachers in suicide prevention and hired John Costanzo to serve as a mental health and wellness coordinator to oversee districtwide efforts. (Corrigan, 3/31)

Currently, about 14 percent of Georgians are uninsured. And many of these people have problems — such as mental health issues — that need highly specific care. They often turn to charitable organizations for help. (Martin, 4/2)

His face flushed from the effort, Jered Chinnock straightened his back after a therapist helped position his feet on the floor of a Mayo Clinic hospital lab. He paused, concentrating, before he gently loosened his grip on the metal railing at his side. (Louwagie, 3/31)

Plunk down a pack of cigarettes at the cash register and be prepared to pay up, way up. As of April 1, Californians are forking over an extra $2 per pack. Some smokers this past week said they were stocking up on cartons, ahead of Saturday’s price hike. Others said it’s jolting them into finally snuffing out cigarettes for good. (Buck, 4/1)

California’s $2-per-pack cigarette tax increase, which goes into effect Saturday, is causing tension between the state’s Medicaid providers and Gov. Jerry Brown. (Colliver, 3/31)