Latest news with #HouseBill1310
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce bill to combat nursing home crisis
(WHTM) — Two Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a bill to help combat the state's nursing home crisis. House Bill 1310 aims to help end the financial crisis that many of the state's nursing homes are facing by providing predictable funding. The bill, introduced by State Representatives Ryan Bizzarro (D) and Maureen Madden (D), would set predictable funding by using a formula to determine the minimum reimbursement rate. According to the memo, this would allow aging services facilities to set their budgets, making it easier to address staffing concerns. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to Rep. Bizzarro, over 30 nursing homes and long-term care facilities have closed in Pennsylvania since the Pandemic. Additionally, Pennsylvania has a lower reimbursement rate than its neighboring states. 'Pennsylvania ranks in the top five in the nation when it comes to our older population,' said Rep. Madden, who is the majority chair on the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee. 'This bill is desperately needed to replace legislation that was intended to be a one-year fix to escalating nursing home costs 20 years ago.' Bizzarro says the bill would improve care for seniors at all government-run, nonprofit, and for-profit nursing homes. He added that the bill would help operators properly address budgets and other issues. Butler Street Senior Living in Harrisburg closed in early 2024 due to 'shifting healthcare dynamics and industry challenges.' The closure impacted 40 of the facility's residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Critical health initiatives come to the Statehouse
AEDs are now a common sight in many public places. (Stock photo) The American Heart Association (AHA) supports critical health initiatives in Indiana, focusing on the implementation of Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs), the establishment of a statewide stroke registry, and the increase of tobacco taxes. These efforts aim to significantly improve public health outcomes and save lives. AEDs are now a common sight in many public places, but the education and training to use them effectively have not kept pace. With 20% of all cardiac arrests occurring in public places, translating to 365,000 incidents outside of hospitals annually, and a 90% fatality rate, immediate intervention is crucial. The primary reason for this high fatality rate is that only about 40% of individuals receive the necessary help before Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrive. For every minute that CPR is delayed, the chances of survival decrease by 10%. Given that EMS response times can range from 4 to over 10 minutes, timely intervention is vital. Approximately 23,000 children under 18 experience sudden cardiac arrest each year, with nearly 40% of these incidents being sports related. The AHA recognizes that while schools' primary responsibility is education, they also serve as community gathering places. Therefore, it is essential for schools to provide a safe environment for children, staff, and visitors. Implementing and practicing CERPs can increase a child's survival rate to 70%. Senate Bill 350 wants schools to collaborate with local EMS to strategically place AEDs within 1-3 minutes of any event or venue, the ideal timeframe for effectiveness and survival. Schools are already equipped for this, as staff are trained in CPR and AED use, and they regularly practice preparedness for fires, tornadoes, and other potential mass-casualty events. A sudden cardiac arrest can be devastating to families, witnesses, and the community. Each child deserves a chance to go home. Adding a CERP enhances their emergency response plans and educates children on how to respond in a sudden cardiac emergency, creating a Nation of Lifesavers. In addition to CERPs, the AHA is focusing on improving stroke care through House Bill 1310, which aims to establish a statewide stroke registry. This legislation is a crucial step forward in enhancing stroke care and outcomes for all Hoosiers. Strokes are the sixth-leading cause of death in Indiana, and timely, accurate data is essential in reducing stroke-related morbidity and mortality. HB1310 will ensure that Indiana's health care providers can collect and report comprehensive stroke data, enabling the creation of a robust statewide stroke registry. Primary stroke and thrombectomy centers already use databases to track patient outcomes, with 46 out of 58 utilizing the AHA's 'Get With The Guidelines®' program. By leveraging this existing framework, the statewide registry will provide invaluable insights into stroke trends, treatment effectiveness, and areas for improvement in the health care system. This initiative will help identify gaps in care, support the implementation of best practices, and ultimately reduce the burden of stroke across the state. The AHA is offering access to this database to the State of Indiana at no cost, highlighting the importance of tracking this data. Increasing tobacco taxes is another significant health initiative being championed by the AHA through the Tobacco Free Indiana (TFI) coalition. Higher tobacco taxes have proven health benefits, and the revenue generated can be used to fund health and tobacco prevention programs. Reducing tobacco use lowers health care costs, benefiting businesses as well. Tobacco taxes are a proven method to reduce and prevent the use of dangerous and addictive tobacco products, particularly among young people and in communities targeted by aggressive tobacco marketing. TFI advocates for a significant $2 tax increase, as small increases are often offset by discounts, coupons, and buy-one-get-one-free offers from tobacco companies. Parity in the cost of alternative tobacco products, such as vapes or e-cigarettes, is also necessary to discourage switching to cheaper, unhealthy alternatives. Any tax increase must be substantial to achieve public health benefits. Tobacco tax revenue can be directed towards tobacco prevention and control programs and other health initiatives. In these challenging fiscal times, the revenue can also help address budget shortfalls in Medicaid. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmaker files bill to rename state's Department of Corrections
OKLAHOMA CITY (KNWA/KFTA) — An Oklahoma lawmaker has filed a bill that would rename the state's Department of Corrections. House Bill 1310 was filed on Jan. 15 by Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) and would rename the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Oklahoma Department of Corruption. 'The Oklahoma Legislature has published all the bills for our upcoming 2025 session,' Humphrey said in a news release on Tuesday. 'It is not unusual that I would receive some negative comments, and several media stations have questioned why I file certain bills. One such bill that has been drawing numerous questions is changing the name of the Department of Corrections to the Department of Corruption. Many think this is a childish waste of time. I disagree.' The release said Humphrey blamed the legislation on Steven Harpe, the department's director, who he said is 'the worst he's seen at the job in his 35 years of working for or with corrections.' The lawmaker continued saying Harpe has zero experience but his salary has increased $90,000. Humphrey said he made an open records request for documents saying the raise was authorized but was told no records existed. Crews search for Army veteran after crash sends car into Arkansas River 'Based on the claim of no records, this seems like embezzlement,' Humphrey said. The release said Humphrey was told by the department if he wanted to see other records, he would have to see them in person and not be allowed to make copies. Humphrey also said he was told he would be required to sign a non-disclosure contract because of his release of nonpublic records. When Humphrey asked about what records he had released, department officials reportedly refused to tell him. Humphrey said HB1013 brings attention to one small example of what he calls 'the Oklahoma swamp.' The bill says any and all references made to the Department of Corrections would be amended to read the Department of Corruption If the bill is passed, it would go into effect on Nov. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
