Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Highlights: Va.'s Immunization Rates Plateau; Ga. Senate OKs Family Sick Leave Bill
After working with the Virginia Department of Health since 1983, James Farrell is preparing to retire from his position as vaccination director — but he leaves with concerns. Vaccination rates in Virginia have plateaued. (Demeria, 3/19)
The Georgia Senate passed SB 201 that would require employers to let workers use their sick days to take care of a child, parent, or any dependent listed on tax returns. State Rep. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) is sponsoring the bill in the House. (Bandlamudi, 3/17)
Less than three months into Philadelphia's new tax on sweetened drinks, the stakes have escalated: Beverage makers say the measure is hurting sales so much they need to cut jobs, while city officials say the moves are a ploy to get the tax struck down. (3/17)
[Barbara] Sales’ situation goes to the heart of problems that have plagued the Social Security Administration for years: Underfunded and overwhelmed, it operates with a workforce that has remained all but flat for more than 20 years in the face of a rising population and an explosion of disability applications... Some good news came this month when union officials representing federal workers were told that despite a federal hiring freeze, the Social Security Administration would be allowed to hire 100 extra workers to authorize benefits. (Adler, 3/19)
The new program, called ABLEnow, significantly increases the amount of money people receiving certain federal and state benefits may save without jeopardizing those benefits, said Mary Morris, CEO of ABLEnow and Virginia529. Account holders can save up to $100,000 before losing any of their Social Security housing benefits and up to $500,000 total. (Kleiner, 3/19)
The organization [Khmer Health Advocates] provides health care and counseling, and runs a treatment program for torture survivors. It has used a variety of innovative techniques to provide care, including a videoconferencing program that allowed people across the state to communicate with – and receive care from – those in the West Hartford office without having to travel. Another program paired the organization’s community health worker with a pharmacist who helped patients manage their medications. (Levin Becker, 3/19)
