Jon Davis

History

Blog: View recent blog entries
Member for: 4 years 10 months

Author Articles

The American Health Care Act: Its potential impact on health consumers, states

By

|

Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:20 AM

On May 3, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Shoring up health exchanges: Premium hikes in 2017 led Minnesota to intervene with funding for subsidies, reinsurance; all states face uncertainty

By

|

Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:14 AM

Last summer, as insurers filed their individual health insurance plan rate premiums for 2017, it became clear that something was wrong: Rates in 31 states shot up by double digits (triple digits for Arizona); overall, the average increase in premiums was 25 percent....

Nebraska joins states requiring dense breast tissue notification

By

|

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 04:23 PM

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts in April signed LB 195, also known as “Cheri’s Law,” requiring that women be notified of breast tissue density following mammograms. It had passed the states’ Unicameral Legislature by a vote of 48-0.
The law requires that written notice be given to women if a mammogram reveals heterogeneous or extremely dense breast tissue. Such tissue can make breast cancer more difficult to detect. Under the new law, mammography patients must be told that a finding of dense breast tissue is normal, and that notice is being given to raise awareness and so patients can further discuss risk factors and detection methods with their doctor.

Who can introduce bills? Legislators, mostly...

By

|

Friday, April 28, 2017 at 01:18 PM

It’s an axiom, especially to those of us reared on “Schoolhouse Rock”: Bills originate in the legislative branch. That’s certainly the case throughout the Midwest — anyone can suggest a bill, but only legislators can introduce them for consideration.

Kansas law bars DNR orders for children without parents’ OK

By

|

Friday, April 28, 2017 at 12:53 PM

A new law in Kansas will bar “do not resuscitate” or similar physician’s orders for unemancipated minors unless at least one parent or guardian has been told of the intent to issue such an order.

New laws in Illinois, Michigan aim to update, improve justice systems

By

|

Friday, April 28, 2017 at 12:49 PM

Two of the Midwest’s governors recently signed bipartisan legislation to overhaul aspects of their states’ criminal justice systems.

Program aims to promote safe sleep, healthy starts by putting babies in boxes

By

|

Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 03:48 PM

On March 10, Ohio became the first Midwestern state (and the second overall, behind New Jersey) to begin providing a safe place for newborns to sleep by offering “baby boxes” to all new parents.

Improving healthy birth outcomes in the Midwest is focus of 2017 MLC chair's initiative

By

|

Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 03:43 PM

State policymakers are increasingly realizing that beyond the importance of early childhood development lies its foundation, a healthy birth outcome for parents and their newborns.

When citizen-initiated laws, legislatures collide: Who gets the final say?

By

|

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 05:21 PM

Many states offer citizens a direct opportunity to create laws or constitutional amendments via the ballot box. Those that do also allow legislators to amend or even overturn those initiatives, a process generally known as “legislative intervention.”

More states requiring women to be notified that breast density can skew mammogram results

By

|

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 05:08 PM

Mammograms are perhaps the best-known tool to detect breast cancer, but their effectiveness can be diminished if the breast tissue itself is dense enough to hide the tumors.

Pages