Governor Robert Bentley may be softening his position on expanding Medicaid. But there would be conditions. The Governor he says he's somewhat open to the idea. However, any Medicaid reform plan would have to be designed by the state and there would be rules. Bentley told state lawmakers he's willing to consider a state-designed program. Bentley says he would want the program to require recipients to look for a job, or join a job-training program. It would also use the private sector.
A community college near Huntsville begins work today sharpening the skills of emergency medical technicians. Northeast Alabama Community College was just named the state’s only training center on techniques to help accident victims breathe. Paramedics will attend classes today on how to maintain a patient’s airway. Shelia Barnes is the school’s emergency medical services program director. She says both students and veteran EMT’s can benefit from the class…
"We're training our current EMS students at different levels, at EMT, Advanced EMT, or Paramedics, and we're going to offer to practitioners who are in the field practicing."
Northeast Alabama Community College is also taking this course on the road throughout the state. Hospitals or other colleges can request training sessions for their staff and students.
It looks like the city of Montgomery may move ahead with a proposed smoking ban. A public hearing has been set for the Monday before Christmas on the measure which would restrict smoking in many buildings and public spaces. The proposed ordinance would also prohibit smoking within twenty feet of business entrances, public transportation stations or playgrounds. The city's Health, Education & Recreation Standing Committee is hearing concerns from residents.
Alabama's high school graduation rate increased to 86 percent for the class of 2014. A-P-R's Stan Ingold has more...
State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice says that figure is up from 80 percent the prior year. It also puts the state ahead of schedule in meeting its goal of having a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020. Bice says the increase of six percentage points means about 3,600 more students graduated than in the prior year. He attributes it to schools using new, innovative ways to help students learn and having more flexibility in how they do that. Alabama's graduation rate was 72 percent in 2011.
