State policy developments: Iowa seeks to extend birth control coverage; Minn. eyes more health care for poor; Miss. drug settlement

BusinessWeek: "Mississippi will receive $18.5 million from drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. as part of a settlement over claims the company promoted the anti-psychotic Zyprexa for ailments it was not federally approved to treat, Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday" (Byrd, 2/4).

Radio Iowa: "The state currently provides 'family planning services' — like 'the pill' — for low income women between the ages of 13 and 44. (A proposed) bill would allow low income women to remain eligible until they reach the age of 55" (Henderson, 2/4).

Minnesota Public Radio: "The Minnesota Legislature returned to work Thursday, with health care and jobs getting the early attention. (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) leaders marked the opening of the 2010 session by unveiling a $1 billion bonding bill that they want to pass quickly. They also advanced a plan to provide health care coverage to the poor. They want legislators to pass a bill that extends General Assistance Medical Care, or GAMC, for another 16 months to an estimated 35,000 people" (Pugmire, 2/4).

Utah's Deseret News: "The third year of decade-long overhaul of the state's health care system got officially under way with the announcement of landmark reform legislation that establishes a state risk adjuster board to ensure consumer health risks are spread evenly among private insurers as they increase access for 350,000 uninsured Utahns" (Thalman, 2/4).

Baltimore Business Journal: "Surprise, surprise — there is a polarizing debate over health care reform taking place among lawmakers. But this one takes place in Annapolis — not Washington, D.C. — and pits those who want to take patients out of the health care payment equation against those who think doing so would send the cost of care for individuals and businesses further skyward" (Graham, 2/5).