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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for the Week of August 19, 2002

 

. Missouri's prescription drug program for the elderly wins over a pharmaceutical firm. (08/23/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - One of the nation's larger generic drug manufacturers has agreed to participate in the state's program for the elderly that provides prescription drugs at reduced cost.

The agreement was reached by Geneva Parmaceuticals. Under the program, a drug company is required to give the state a 15% rebate to help finance the program. Under an agreement reached with Geneva, the company will be allowed to drop out by May if the legislature failes to lower that rebate to 11%.

Nearly 30,000 elderly Missourians have signed up for the program passed by a special session of the legislature last year.

. Missouri's audior finds few teachers actually teach. (08/23/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - An audit from Missouri's state auditor reports a high turn-over rate among Missouri's certificated teachers.

The audit found that 28% of school teachers in Missouri had never taught in a Missouri school before.

. A state judge rules the state should fund dental services for the poor. (08/23/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - A St. Louis circuit judge has ruled against a state agency decision to stop Medicaid funding for dental services.

The Social Services Department had cut off dental services at the start of the current fiscal year, which began July 1.

About 100,000 Missourian had received dental services in the past year. In January, the administration had estimated the state would save $16 million by eliminating both dental and optical coverage under Medicaid.

. Deparment of Health working on West Nile (08/22/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's Department of Health is doing what they can to help with the West Nile virus. However, making people aware of symptoms and precautions is not out of the ordinary.

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    . Holden's budget director will leave (08/22/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Brian Long, the state budget director, has accepted a job as chief operating officer of Transit Casualty Insurance Co.

    This is the fifth person to leave Holden's staff in the two years he has been governor. Long will more than double his salary.

    . Drug firm joins SenioRx (08/22/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA is the first large generic drug company to join SenioRx. The prescription drug plan for seniors has joined with other pharmacies and drug manufacturers, but this is the first major drug company to join.
    . Students not taking ACT (08/22/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The number of students taking the ACT in Missouri dropped by about 1300. However, the cumulative test score rose 1/10 of a point.
    . More West Nile cases in the St. Louis area. (08/21/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that four new cases of West Nile disease have been reported by St. Louis city health officials.

    An elderly nurse in the St. Louis area died earlier this month -- the state's first and only West Nile connected death.

    . Missouri's coin artist faces a federal investigation for defacing coins. (08/21/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The artist who won the administration's WWW-based poll for the Missouri edition of the U.S. quarter has come under federal investigation for defacing coins.

    Pual Jackson has been distributing coins with his drawing pasted on one side to protest the U.S. Mint's decision rejecting his design.

    The Mint is expected to make later this fall its recommendation to the governor.

    . The statehouse adds a $16,000 imported door. (08/20/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The state administration has installed a $16,000 security door to restrict access from the Senate's parking lot to one person at a time.

    The door was imported from South Africa and is a continuation of the administration's efforts to regulate access into the Capitol.

    . Missouri records its first West Nile disease death. (08/20/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - St. Louis city health officials report that preliminary tests indicate West Nile disease virus in a woman who died earlier in August.

    If confirmed, it would be the first death from West Nile disease in Missouri.

    . Tobacco ballot issue heads to court. (08/20/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Supporters of the effort to get a tobacco tax increase on the November ballot have taken their case to the Cole County circuit court.

    The organization that had collected signatures to put the issue on the ballot have filed a legal challenge to the Secretary of State's decision that the group failed to collect enough signatures.

    The organization Citizens for a Health Missouri argue in their lawsuit that the Secretary of State gave the group outdated voter registration records that the group had used in collecting signatures.