Health Care

Hello Rhode Island! Allow me to introduce myself: I’m Kristin Gourlay, the new health care reporter at Rhode Island Public Radio. I’m really excited to be here, to listen and learn, and to find and tell the stories that matter most to you.

I got to work this morning and did all the things I usually do- checked my email, figured out the stories of the day, posted some material online. I even had an assignment.

But the weird thing about today is I won’t be coming back.  All those emails carefully saved in folders? All those scripts I’ve written? I guess I don’t need them anymore. Today is my last day at the radio station.

By MEGAN HALL

PROVIDENCE,RI – Marijuana is turning into a popular topic up on Smith Hill. Committees in the General Assembly reviewed four separate pieces of legislation concerning the drug in the past two weeks. We're joined by Rhode Island Public Radio's health care reporter Megan Hall to explain what these bills are and what they would do.

Dave: Thanks for coming in Megan

MEGAN: No problem Dave

By MEGAN HALL

PROVIDENCE,RI – Marijuana is turning into a popular topic up on Smith Hill. Committees in the General Assembly reviewed four separate pieces of legislation concerning the drug in the past two weeks. We're joined by Rhode Island Public Radio's health care reporter Megan Hall to explain what these bills are and what they would do.

Dave: Thanks for coming in Megan

MEGAN: No problem Dave

By MEGAN HALL

Providence, RI – Listen in to the complete conference call where Governor Lincoln Chafee and Governor Chris Gregoire of Washington discus their petition to reclassify marijuana as a schedule II drug.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@wrni.org.

By IAN DONNIS

Providence, RI – Full audio of U.S. Attorney Eric Holder's response to reporter questions about federal medical marijuana policy. Recorded during his June 2nd visit to the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-violence in Providence.

By MEGAN HALL

Providence, RI – Complete interview between Megan Hall and Governor Chafee on Arizona's attempts to clarify federal policy on medical marijuana dispensaries

By MEGAN HALL

Providence, RI – Joanne Lepannen is the leader of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, or RIPAC. She doesn't like Chafee's plan to tax medical marijuana, but not prescription drugs.
"The fact that medical cannabis is not being treated in the same manner and in the same regard that prescription medication would be maybe create a public perception that it is not the same medicine," Lepannen says.

She says the she's also worried the tax will make it even harder for low income patients to buy their medicine.

By Bob Seay and Megan Hall

Providence, R.I. – When the Association for the Advancement of Retired persons, or AARP, selected its new board of directors last week, a Rhode Islander moved up to the rank of board chairman.

Phil Zarlengo from Jamestown has served on the National Board since 2006. Before that, he was the President of Rhode Island's AARP for five years. He recently joined WRNI's Bob Seay in the studio to talk about what's next for the AARP and seniors under the new health reform law.

By Larry Abramson