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Minnesota To Explore Drug Imports
by Chloe Albanesius
Minnesota state lawmakers are urging the state to join the program for importing prescription drugs that is spearheaded by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The I-SaveRx program allows residents to purchase affordable prescription drugs from Canada and Europe. Kansas, Missouri, Vermont and Wisconsin have joined the program. Connecticut lawmakers also are considering a bill, S.B. 1236, that would allow the state to join I-SaveRx.
"I commend [Minnesota state] Senate Minority Leader Dick Day for working to give the people of Minnesota access to the savings and safety available through I-SaveRx," Blagojevich said in a statement. "In an ideal world, our leaders in Washington, D.C., would tackle the issue of high prescription drug costs and find a way to give all Americans access to better prices on the world market." But importation programs like I-SaveRx will have to suffice until then, he said.
Minnesota already runs a Web site that provides residents with information on cheaper medicines from Canada, but it does not allow residents to purchase the drugs. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said he does not oppose the Illinois plan.
In other news, Pawlenty has drawn criticism from a Democratic state representative for purchasing Internet addresses that automatically reroute people typing those names into Web browsers to the official governor's Web site, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Rep. Tom Rukavina cited two specific sites as objectionable -- www.pawlentyforgovernor.com and www.timpawlenty.com. "I think it's totally inappropriate to have a political Web site punching you directly into the governor's Web site."
State Rep. Pat Garofalo purchased those Web sites, as well as other domains not mentioned by Rukavina, when he was a Pawlenty campaign volunteer. Garofalo accused the governor's opponents of wanting to use the domains for "nefarious purposes."
The governor denied any wrongdoing. "There's nothing wrong about sending people to your official Web site as long as the official site is appropriate," he said.
Minnesota Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles refused to comment directly on the Pawlenty case but said he had no direct knowledge of a state law or court precedent that would prohibit the practice. "I have a concern," he said. "The current situation is at best confusing and possibly hypocritical."
Legislatures Move Tech-Related Bills
State lawmakers continued to explore a number of technology-related measures this week, with topics ranging from identity theft to deregulation of telecommunications markets.
Alabama senators on Tuesday approved a bill, S.B. 114, that would limit the control of the state's Public Service Commission. Specifically, the bill would allow for the deregulation of business telephone service for companies with more than four lines and would require dominant local telephone companies to pay up to $8,000 of the costs to provide a new line to a customer.
Bill supporter BellSouth said the move is necessary so it can compete with emerging technologies, but detractors claim the bill would result in higher rates for consumers. The bill's passage came after weeks of contentious debate and campaigns to thwart its movement.
BellSouth contends that certain cable providers in Alabama refused to run advertisements promoting the bill's passage, The Mobile Register reports. Spokeswoman Terri Denard said Charter Communications and four other providers, including Comcast, refused to run the spots. Comcast denied being contacted about the commercials.
In other news, the Florida House last week unanimously passed a bill that would remove a communications tax on business with their own networks.
The bill, H.B. 49, would eliminate a tax crafted decades ago that was supposed to apply to technologies like satellite. Some, however, claimed that the law could eventually affect Internet-based technologies like Internet telephony and wireless services. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Meanwhile, at least three states -- Georgia, Illinois and North Dakota -- are considering bills to legalize online gambling. USA Today reports that the House chambers in North Dakota and Georgia bills have passed their respective measures, while the Illinois legislation is scheduled for a Senate vote next month.
And Nebraska is considering three bills to combat identity theft, the Lincoln Journal Star reports.
Pa. Companies Given Access To Tech Capital
Pennsylvania entrepreneurs will have access to about $240 million in venture capital under a program announced Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Edward Rendell.
Companies investing in tech-based solutions will be eligible to receive a portion of $60 million provided by the state and an additional $180 million in private equity. The program "will attract fresh capital to Pennsylvania, enhancing the advancement of products from the research and development stage through the commercialization of a product in the marketplace," Rendell said in a statement. It will "provide capital to promising, technology-based companies."
During his February budget address, Rendell called for applying "the tools of technology" to the state's manufacturing sector and pushed for an accelerated deployment of high-speed Internet access.
Maine Introduces Alerts For Hearing-Impaired
Maine Gov. John Baldacci last week announced plans for a statewide emergency-notification system for people with hearing disabilities.
Hearing-impaired residents will be able to receive alerts via text messages on their cellular telephones, one- and two-way pagers and other digital devices distributed by the state's telecom equipment program. The cost of the devices will be based on income.
Maine began considering such a program after a crippling ice storm in 1998 left many residents without power. While most people received updates on the power outage via battery-power radios, hearing-impaired residents had no means of communication.
Baldacci touted the new program as the "most sophisticated and comprehensive of its kind."
The system will enable "rapid contact with first responders to ensure emergency-alert notification ... to all affected persons in the state, including the at-risk population," said Art Cleaves, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency.
Louisiana Hosts First E-Health Conference
Louisiana last week hosted its first e-health conference, which showcased various state-based offerings in health information technology.
Officials from the Louisiana Health and Hospitals Department, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department and the state's e-health initiative discussed electronic health records and the more accurate transfer of medical information.
"Improving administrative efficiency is integral to my healthcare reform efforts," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said in a statement. "It is just as important to integrate technology in health care as it is to emphasize prevention and disease management." E-health efforts will "reduce costly duplications," she said.
Janet Marchibroda, CEO of the eHealth Initiative, urged involvement on the local level. "Addressing [health information technology] issues at the national level is not enough," she said. Local involvement is "critical because that is where health care is actually delivered."
Governments Select Data-Sharing Networks
The San Jose City Council on Tuesday selected Nortel Networks to provide an information-sharing network for its city hall. Nortel has until June 9 to provide the California city with a system based on voice, data, video, wireless and Internet multimedia capabilities.
Employees who are traveling will be able to communicate with city workers via videoconferencing and online document-sharing, while residents will be able to use a voice-recognition call center to get information about city services.
The state of Delaware, meanwhile, chose California-based Sigaba to provide protected information-sharing solutions.
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