Rhode Island passes bill to guarantee rights of homeless people, By Jason McLure, June 13, 2012, Chicago Tribune: “Rhode Island’s governor is expected to sign into law the first “Homeless Bill of Rights” in the United States as early as next week, formally banning discrimination against homeless people and affirming their equal access to jobs, housing and services. The legislation, which won final approval by the state Senate on Wednesday, bucks a national trend among municipalities toward outlawing behaviors associated with homelessness such as eating, sleeping and panhandling in public spaces. Among other steps, the Rhode Island law would guarantee homeless people the right to use public sidewalks, parks and transportation as well as public buildings . . .”
Day: June 15, 2012
Medicaid Enrollment and Health Care Costs – Minnesota
Medicaid numbers spike in Minnesota, By Warren Wolfe, June 13, 2012, Minneapolis Star Tribune: “The number of Minnesotans on Medicaid shot up at nearly twice the national rate over the past two years, while state costs soared by 40 percent to surpass $4 billion for the first time. There now are about 733,000 Minnesotans in the state-federal health insurance program for the poor — called Medical Assistance in Minnesota — an increase of 125,000 in two years, according to a new federal study. While the weakened economy explains most of the rising Medicaid rolls in other states, much of Minnesota’s increase came when Gov. Mark Dayton expanded the program by 80,000 people last year under an option in the federal Affordable Care Act, the law now facing U.S. Supreme Court scrutiny. Nationwide, the massive and growing Medicaid budget — $450 billion this year . . .”