National news

Stimulus package funds health care improvements

President Barack Obama has promised that improvements in health care must be a part of any economic recovery package or packages. Within the first stilumuls package and the new president’s first budget are numerous investments in health care.

A few of the investments of most immediate impact on Oregon health care and health care providers:

$20 billion for health information technology to promote the ability for information to follow patients among doctors' offices, hospitals and other providers. Such a system could improve quality and safety and reduce duplication of services, at a potential savings of hundreds of billions of dollars per year.

$1.1 billion for researchers to compare drugs, medical devices, surgery and other ways of treating specific conditions. The bill creates a federal council to coordinate the research.

Emily Katz, CareOregon’s representative in Washington, D.C., also reports on the health care proposals of the new administration and Congress.

And James Schroeder, CareOregon’s Director of Health Care Systems, comments on funding for Oregon’s Community Health Centers.

Gallup Poll: Americans are happier, healthier out West

The Gallup Poll has confirmed what Westerners knew intuitively: Americans who live in Western States report higher levels of happiness and health than do those Americans who live in other regions.

The Gallup survey was conducted in partnership with Healthways and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

Utah ranked highest on the poll, which considered physical and economic health among the key factors. Close behind was Hawaii and Wyoming. Ranking at the bottom were Mississippi at 48, Kentucky at 49, and West Virginia at 50.

AHIP reported the Associated Press story in March.