American Indians residing on-reservation were interviewed regarding their substance use and treatment utilization. One-third had a current substance abuse problem. Predictors included gender, tribe, age, employment status, household income, and educational attainment. Almost two-thirds of those with substance abuse problems had received no…

Context: Evidence exists for differences in health insurance coverage among states, but less is known about variations across different kinds of communities within states. Purpose: This article assesses the role of residential setting (metropolitan county, rural adjacent, and rural nonadjacent) in health insurance coverage for adult residents,…

Despite economic and social challenges facing California, Children Now advocates that the foundation of state vitality and well-being is a healthy, educated and skilled population, and urges efficient investments in children. State leadership is called upon to: (1) Ensure every child has affordable health insurance coverage; (2) Invest earlier in…

While data sources exist to measure and monitor the health of children in the United States, few take into account the many contexts in which children grow and develop, including their family and community environments. The National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), conducted in 2007, addresses multiple aspects of children's health and…

Context: Patients with heart conditions in rural areas may have different responses to health promotion-disease Self-management interventions compared to their urban counterparts. Purpose: To estimate the impact of a multi-component health promotion nurse intervention on physical function and total health care expenditures among elderly adults…

This consumer education document is intended to provide a complete description of Medicare's Prospective Payment System (PPS) for hospitals from the consumer's point of view and to provide basic information on how consumers can protect their rights to appropriate hospital care under Medicare. The first section describes the PPS and also explains…

This report uses data from the 1989 National Health Interview Survey to estimate health insurance coverage of children and nonelderly adults with disabilities and their utilization of physician and hospital care as a function of health insurance status. In part 1, national statistics on disability and insurance status are provided for different…

This national survey of 2,299 elderly Hispanic Americans found that a great number face a daily struggle, living on limited incomes and coping with poor health. Problems in later years are the result of immigration patterns, low educational attainment, and limited English proficiency that have resulted in a lifetime of low income, no pension, and…

The interaction of an aging population and the national budget can best be seen through programs for older people. The key to understanding this interaction lies in linking budget and program costs with demographics, and in observing data over time. Data from three federal budget programs, Social Security's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and…

The types of health insurance coverage desired by students and their current coverage were studied at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, (UMBC), and implications of the findings for selecting a new university insurance plan were evaluated. A total of 340 questionnaire respondents provided information on their current coverage, their…

A multitude of public policy issues currently surround the tax treatment of employee benefits, particularly since the tax-favored status of employer contributions to pensions and health insurance has been blamed for a shrinking tax base that has exacerbated the federal budget deficit, an inefficient and bloated health-care sector, overinsurance by…

This demographic overview summarizes some major findings from national surveys reported by the Census Bureau in 1990. Statistical data are drawn from the Current Population Survey, the Survey of Income and Program Participation, and the American Housing Survey. The following trends are reported: (1) the decline in average household size begun in…

This document presents witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine mental health trends for treating adolescents with emotional or substance abuse problems. Committee chairman George Miller voices concern that while insurance coverage changes and third party health care reimbursements are expanding…

This document presents witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine the plight of the medically uninsured in America. Opening statements are included from Senators John Heinz, Charles E. Grassley, Christopher J. Dodd, and John Glenn; prepared statements are given from Senators Lawton Chiles and…

The feasibility of developing a policy to make student health insurance mandatory, with right of waiver, was studied by a team of graduate students, and recommendations were presented for an advisory committee and the Arizona Board of Regents. Objectives included: clarifying issues concerning mandatory student health insurance, with particular…