News in brief - April 12, 2004

Calif. doctors' need for speed - Health centers expand access - Organ donation funds authorized - Low response to tax credit program

Calif. doctors' need for speed

As long as they don't drive recklessly or without regard for others' safety, California physicians will be able to go faster than the posted speed limits when driving to emergencies if they display a California Highway Patrol-approved emblem.

"In an emergency, even an extra minute can make a big difference," said James N. Eustermann, MD, a rural King County surgeon, who along with the California Medical Assn. and the highway patrol helped revive a 1970s law that was never implemented. The emblem is available in sticker or magnet form through the CMA.

Health centers expand access

With increased federal money in the past two years, community health centers have improved access to regular medical care for more than 2.6 million Americans, according to Dan Hawkins, vice president for federal, state and public affairs at the National Assn. of Community Health Centers.

The centers offer 15 million Americans medical, dental, imaging and pharmacy services at an average cost of $450 per patient a year. Still, a recent NACHC report says 36 million Americans, both insured and uninsured, don't have access to regular primary care. "More work needs to be done," said Hawkins. "We can't just stand here and pat ourselves on the back."

Organ donation funds authorized

Congress has passed legislation to authorize $25 million for fiscal year 2005 in grant money for states and organ donation programs. The money, if allocated during the budget process, would help programs pay for live donors' travel and other incidental costs. The bill would also pay for public outreach, awareness and education efforts. Money would be available for research into increasing organ donation and recovery rates.

"More than 83,000 Americans are currently awaiting an organ transplant," said the bill's sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R, Tenn.). "By improving public awareness to encourage organ donation we can save thousands of lives."

Low response to tax credit program

The 2002 law offering some unemployed workers tax credits to help them buy health insurance has had few takers, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study. Just 3.6% of the 235,000 potentially eligible workers were enrolled at the end of 2003. Reasons for the low enrollment rate are still unclear but could include high insurance premiums that are still unaffordable even with a tax credit, the report's authors stated.