First Edition: Nov. 2, 2023
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
KFF Health News:
‘Worse Than People Can Imagine’: Medicaid ‘Unwinding’ Breeds Chaos In States
More than two dozen people lined up outside a state public assistance office in Montana before it opened to ensure they didn’t get cut off from Medicaid. Callers in Missouri and Florida reported waiting on hold for more than two hours on hotlines to renew their Medicaid coverage. The parents of a disabled man in Tennessee who had been on Medicaid for three decades fought with the state this summer to keep him enrolled as he lay dying from pneumonia in a hospital. (Galewitz, Houghton, Kelman and Liss, 11/2)
Stat:
Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines Updated For Cigarette Smokers
Most lung cancer screening guidelines hinge on how much people smoked tobacco and when they last smoked, but the American Cancer Society now says it doesn’t matter how long ago they quit. On Wednesday, the ACS released guidance recommending that anyone with a significant smoking history get an annual low-dose CT scan for lung cancer. (Chen, 11/1)
The Washington Post:
Lung Cancer Rate Flips, Now More Common In Women Than Men Under 55
Although the overall lung cancer incidence rate has declined in recent years, the researchers found that the decline has been greater among men than women (down 44 percent vs. 20 percent for 50- to 54-year-olds, for instance). That has pushed the incidence rate higher among women than men and flipped the historical pattern of more lung cancer cases among middle-aged and younger men than women. (Searing, 10/31)
AP:
Mother, Son Charged With Kidnapping After Police Say They Took A Teenager To Oregon For An Abortion
An Idaho woman and her son have been charged with kidnapping after prosecutors say they took the son’s minor girlfriend out of state to get an abortion. Court documents show Idaho police began investigating the mother and son earlier this summer after a 15-year-old girl’s mother told authorities her daughter had been sexually assaulted and later taken to Oregon to have an abortion. (Kruesi, 11/1)
Health News Florida:
Florida's Attorney General Urges Justices To Reject Abortion Measure
Attorney General Ashley Moody late Tuesday urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to ensure abortion rights, describing the measure as an effort to “hoodwink” voters. Moody filed a 39-page brief contending that the proposal should be kept off the 2024 ballot because the wording of the ballot summary would be misleading to voters. (Saunders, 11/1)
The Hill:
Ohio Abortion Measure Sparks Early Voting Surge
An abortion ballot measure in Ohio is driving a surge in early voter turnout in what is seen as the most important referendum on reproductive rights this year. ... Turnout has been high since early voting started on Oct. 11, with the Ohio secretary of state’s office noting that the state had seen more than 200,000 people voting early in person by Oct. 24 and roughly 110,000 mailed absentee ballots, according to The Columbus Dispatch. In comparison, at this point during the August special election, 192,000 people voted in person early, and 93,000 mailed absentee ballots were received. (Vakil, 11/1)
The New York Times:
Why Ohio’s Abortion Ballot Question Is Confusing Voters
Volunteers canvassing in favor of a ballot initiative to establish a constitutional right to abortion stopped Alex Woodward at a market hall in Ohio to ask if they could expect her vote in November. Ms. Woodward said she favors abortion rights and affirmed her support. But as the canvassers moved on through the hall, she realized she was not sure how to actually mark her ballot. “I think it’s a yes,” she said. “Maybe it’s a no?” ... The measure in Ohio is the first time that voters in a red state are being asked to affirmatively vote “yes” to a constitutional amendment establishing a right to abortion, rather than “no” to preserve the status quo established by courts. Ohio voters have historically tended to reject ballot amendments. (Zernike and Lerer, 11/2)
Roll Call:
GOP Adds Social Policy Riders To House Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill
House Republicans unveiled a revised version of their fiscal 2024 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill that includes a number of new conservative social policy riders related to abortion, gun control and diversity. The revised bill, posted on the House Rules Committee’s website Monday night, comes ahead of possible floor action the week of Nov. 13. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced plans to discharge the bill from committee in a Dear Colleague letter ahead of his election as speaker, meaning it is expected to head to the floor without a full committee markup. (Raman and Hellmann, 11/1)
Reuters:
CVS And Walgreens Say Pharmacist Work Action Had Minimal Impact
CVS Health Corp and Walgreens Boots Alliance on Wednesday said that a work action by some U.S. pharmacists this week had minimal impact on operations, with most stores remaining open. CVS Chief Executive Karen Lynch said in an interview that employees had called in sick at a few stores this week, but there were no store closures or disruptions to shifts due to the action. The company has about 30,000 pharmacists across stores and operates over 9,000 retail locations. (11/1)
AP:
CVS Health Books Strong 3Q But The Health Care Giant Preaches Caution On Next Year
CVS Health beat third-quarter forecasts thanks partially to its growing pharmacy benefits management side, but the health care giant is cautious about next year. Interim Chief Financial Officer Tom Cowhey told analysts Wednesday that it would be “prudent for investors to ground their expectations” for adjusted earnings at the low end of a range of $8.50 to $8.70 per share. That’s also what the company expects for full-year earnings this year. (Murphy, 11/1)
St. Louis Public Radio:
BJC Announces Marketplace Health Insurance Plan With Aetna
Patients who buy health insurance on the federal marketplace will be able to select a plan that includes BJC HealthCare locations in its network, thanks to a last-minute deal with insurer Aetna, health system officials confirmed Wednesday. The announcement comes as another health insurer, Cigna, stopped offering marketplace plans in Missouri for 2024. Cigna’s announcement worried some patients, who were concerned that the health insurer’s exit left patients without a marketplace plan that offered BJC providers in its network. (Fentem, 11/1)
AP:
It's Time To Buy Health Insurance Through The Marketplace. Experts Suggest Doing Your Research First
It’s time to pick health coverage for next year on the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces, and experts caution against focusing your choice on price alone. In order to prevent thousands of dollars in financial surprises, buyers should know what a plan covers, how it works and what costs you may have to pay upfront for care. (Murphy, 11/1)
Reuters:
Humana Flags Higher Medical Costs Could Hurt 2024 Profit Growth
Humana on Wednesday said it expected elevated demand for non-urgent surgeries to spill over into next year and hurt its profit growth, sending its shares down nearly 4%. Humana and rival UnitedHealth had in June warned that older adults were getting more comfortable opting for surgeries delayed during the pandemic. (Mandowara, 11/1)
Axios:
Unions Worry Drug Cost Legislation Could Hit Their Health Plans
As Congress takes on companies managing prescription drug benefits, newly emboldened unions are sending a message to lawmakers: Don't mess with our health plans. Unions have a history of shaping the health care agenda, and their voice could be especially notable as organized labor flexes its muscle this year. (Goldman, 11/2)
Axios:
Medicare Plans That Help Seniors Afford Groceries Surge
The number of Medicare Advantage plans offering seniors help affording groceries has skyrocketed in the few years since it's become easier for insurers to offer an expanded set of benefits. Next year, 1,475 plans — about a quarter of the market — will offer certain eligible enrollees financial assistance for food and produce, according to an analysis from consulting firm ATI Advisory. (Goldman, 11/2)
Modern Healthcare:
Medicare Home Health Payments To Increase In 2024: CMS Final Rule
Home health providers will receive a 0.8% Medicare reimbursement increase in calendar 2024 under a final rule the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued Wednesday. CMS had proposed a 2.2% Medicare payment cut in a draft regulation published in June, which triggered a tsunami of criticism from home health providers and a lawsuit from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice. (Bennett and Eastabrook, 11/1)
Stateline:
GOP States Embrace Uber, Lyft To Take Low-Income Patients To Medical Appointments
This month, Mississippi becomes the latest state to partner with ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to ferry residents to their medical appointments. ... Ryan Kelly, executive director of the Mississippi Rural Health Association, said groups such as his have been working to promote more regular annual checkups, but added that transportation barriers have contributed to high rates of missed appointments. The no-show rate for some providers can be as high as 75%, he said. (Claire Vollers, 11/1)
NerdWallet:
Getting A Second Opinion Can Help Ward Off Misdiagnosis
The harsh reality is that misdiagnosis happens a lot — and sometimes with the gravest consequences. Each year, approximately 371,000 people in the U.S. die because of diagnostic error, according to a July 2023 study in the medical journal BMJ Quality & Safety. A medical second opinion can increase the chances that you get the correct treatment from the start, saving money, distress and maybe your life. “Second opinions are probably the single fastest way to address diagnostic errors today,” says Dr. David Newman-Toker. (Rossheim, 11/1)
Bloomberg:
Apple Has Plans to Eventually, Maybe Revolutionize Health Care
In 2011, a startup called Avolonte Health set up shop in a small office park in Palo Alto, California. ... Avolonte wasn’t just any health-care company. It was a project of Apple Inc., and its mission came directly from Steve Jobs. Apple’s co-founder and then-chief executive officer, ill with the pancreatic cancer that would take his life near the end of that year, had tasked a group of his key executives to develop a noninvasive blood sugar monitor. (Gurman and Bennett, 11/1)
Stat:
Nostrum Laboratories, CEO To Pay Up To $50M Over Medicaid Rebates
A pharmaceutical company and its chief executive — who once defended Martin Shkreli for raising drug prices to controversial heights — agreed to pay up to $50 million to settle allegations of purposely underpaying Medicaid rebates. (Silverman, 11/1)
CBS News:
Chicago Health Care Nonprofit Receives $9M From MacKenzie Scott
A Chicago nonprofit just got a $9 million donation – but it almost didn't happen, because the recipient thought the initial call was a scam. Billionaire MacKenzie Scott is the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Scott has made it her mission to give away millions to worthy nonprofits. Aunt Martha's helps more than 100,000 people in Illinois every year. It is also the only Federally Qualified Health Center in Illinois that is also licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and family Services for young people in out-of-home placements. (Kraemer, 11/1)
The Boston Globe:
Mass General Brigham Won’t Require Patients To Mask This Winter
The Mass General Brigham health system does not plan to require masking for patients and visitors during the coming cold-weather months, though the organization may mandate staff to wear masks in some circumstances if respiratory illnesses rise above certain levels. The policies were released Tuesday by the state’s largest health system, developed in response to recommendations from the Department of Public Health, to mitigate the spread of not only COVID this winter, but influenza and other respiratory illnesses. (Bartlett, 11/1)
The CT Mirror:
Murder Of CT Visiting Nurse Prompts Calls For Home Care Protections
Legislators and health care workers gathered at the state capitol on Wednesday to advocate for increased health care workplace safety measures following the murder of a visiting nurse in Willimantic. The calls for action focused particularly on home settings, where many health care workers are behind closed doors with patients and vulnerable to dangerous conditions, including physical and verbal abuse. (Golvala, 11/1)
North Carolina Health News:
Nurses Head To Campaign School To Run For Office
Year after year, nurses top the list of the most trusted professions. At the same time, politicians rank at the bottom when it comes to the public’s trust. That fact didn’t deter nearly three dozen nurses from participating in a program earlier this year to prepare them to run for public office. (Hoban, 11/2)
AP:
State Is Paying Fired Tennessee Vaccine Chief $150K In Lawsuit Settlement
The state of Tennessee has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by its former vaccine leader over her firing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement in the case brought by Michelle Fiscus includes provisions that limit what each of the parties can say about each other, according to a copy provided by the Tennessee Department of Health in response to a public records request. (Mattise, 11/1)
The Washington Post:
New York City Has A Plan For Everyone To Live To At Least 83
New York City officials on Wednesday announced a sweeping agenda “to achieve healthier, longer lives for all New Yorkers” and raise the city’s average life span to at least 83 years, as public health leaders across the country grapple with declining life expectancy and seek strategies to reverse the trend. (Diamond, 11/1)
AP:
Migrants In Cities Across The US May Need Medical Care. It's Not That Easy To Find
All the chairs in the waiting room were filled by dozens of newly arrived migrants waiting to be seen by a Cook County health worker at a clinic in Chicago. Julio Figuera, 43, was among them. He didn’t want to talk much about traveling to Chicago from Venezuela, where a social, political and economic crisis has pushed millions into poverty and led 7 million to flee, Figuera and three of his kids included. But somewhere along the way, he’d gotten pneumonia. (Shastri, 11/2)
NBC News:
One H.S. In Virginia Had 8 Opioid Overdoses In 3 Weeks In Unprecedented Outbreak
Authorities are investigating an unprecedented outbreak of opioid overdoses at a single high school in Sterling, Virginia. Eight students at Park View High School have overdosed in the last three weeks, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. In total, the sheriff’s office is investigating nine opioid overdoses at Park View this year among male and female students. None of the overdoses were fatal, but each required some sort of medical intervention such as treatment, CPR or transport to a hospital. (Bendix, 11/1)
The Boston Globe:
Sixth Human Case Of WNV Detected In Massachusetts
A man in his 70s has become the sixth Massachusetts resident infected with West Nile virus and was likely exposed in Middlesex County, the state Department of Public Health said Wednesday. The county remains at moderate risk for the mosquito-borne virus, the statement said. Despite colder temperatures, some risk for the virus will continue until areas have a “hard frost,” or when temperatures fall below 28 degrees, the department said. (Lawler, 11/1)
The New York Times:
Are Energy Drinks Safe? A New Lawsuit Raises Questions.
A lawsuit over the death of a 21-year-old with a heart condition who died last year after drinking a highly caffeinated lemonade at Panera Bread has renewed longstanding questions about the safety of energy drinks. The woman’s parents, who filed the lawsuit last week, said that she was likely unaware of how much caffeine was in the lemonade, which they claim was not labeled an energy drink. A large size of the drink contains nearly the same amount of caffeine as five 8-ounce cans of Red Bull. (Blum and Callahan, 11/1)
USA Today:
Study: Race Is A Factor In Depression Of Minority College Students
A new study shows that race may play a role in depression among college students who are minorities at both predominantly white institutions and historically Black universities. The research was conducted by a team at the University of Georgia and the findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of American College Health. ... The team also found that moderately severe and severe depression was more prevalent among the minority race at both universities. (Martin, 11/1)
The New York Times:
Ady Barkan, Health Care Activist, Dies at 39
Ady Barkan, a well-known activist who campaigned for Medicare for all while struggling with the terminal neurodegenerative disease A.L.S., has died. He was 39.His death was announced on Wednesday by Be a Hero, a political organization he co-founded in 2018. Mr. Barkan died of complications of A.L.S. at about 6 p.m. local time at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif., the group said. (Ives, 11/2)