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Media outlets report on news from New York, District of Columbia, Wyoming, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Arizona, Iowa, Texas, and Maryland.
Smuggled Video Reveals Glimpse Inside Florida’s Shockingly Dangerous Prisons
As more attention focuses on the safety and quality of care inmates receive behind bars, the video that was secretly recorded by a Florida man reveals just how perilous the conditions can be behind bars. News on jail safety comes out of Ohio and North Carolina, as well.
For individuals with private insurance, out-of-pocket costs increased 6.1 percent and premiums rose 5.2 percent over the past two years, outpacing wages and inflation. “So, that’s the second year in a row that the cost to individuals, if you will, was rising faster than the cost of the overall system,” says Ray Campbell, executive director of the state Center for Health Information and Analysis
Ohio Governor Releases Gun Violence Plan With ‘Red Flag’ Laws Noticeably Absent From Final Proposal
Following the mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine promised to “do something” about gun violence in the state. While he previously voiced support for “red flag” laws, the governor’s administration felt that the legislation would be “inadequate and unworkable.” The proposal in DeWine’s final version builds on the existing “pink slip” law, which allows for people assessed by mental health experts in a psychiatric facility.
How Long Is It Safe To Play Football? CTE Risk, Severity Increases With Years Played, Study Shows
The study in the Annals of Neurology reported athletes who played more than 14.5 years were 10 times more likely to develop the brain-wasting disease, though several players with careers 15 years or longer were found not to have CTE. Public health news looks at a possible virus behind a rare disease paralyzing children, eye exams aided by smartphones, the toll chronic stress plays on blood sugar levels, unsafe sleeping positions while pregnant, a popular video game’s impact on children’s brains, and new worries for parents about sleepovers, as well.
California To Allow Patients To Get HIV Prevention Pills Without Having To Get Doctor’s Prescription
Supporters of the legislation say PrEP significantly reduces the risk of infection, but only if started within 72 hours of exposure to the virus. Not everyone can get to a doctor within that time frame, they say. The California Medical Association was initially opposed to the legislation but became neutral on it after it was amended to limit the number of PrEP pills patients can get without a physician’s note to 60 days.
Although the information is already available to people, CMS says that currently it’s difficult to access and understand. In other Medicare news: President Donald Trump’s new executive order may have unintended consequences and a price comparison tool is missing just as enrollment nears.
Hiring Decisions In Trump Administration Reflect A Focus On Border Control, Veterans
An analysis by The Wall Street Journal shows that the Department of Veterans Affairs leads the cabinet agencies in average yearly growth. Hiring practices can often highlight the broader priorities of an administration. Under the Obama administration, for example, CMS saw its workforce expand more than 44% as the government implemented the Affordable Care Act.
The bacteria are common and often harmless but can cause disease in “very fragile patients,” said Dr. Frank Maffei, the chair of pediatrics at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. The premature babies were in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit when they were infected. Five other babies also became sick.
The results were released as part of a congressional hearing on compensation funds for those effected by the country’s development of its nuclear arsenal.
Buttigieg Follows Up Aggressive Drug Pricing Plan With Message That He Wants Pharma ‘To Thrive’
“This is not about crushing pharmaceutical work,” South Bend Mayor and 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said after releasing a drug plan that contained progressive ideas on how to lower costs. “This is about making sure that it actually gets to all Americans.” Meanwhile, an adviser for President Donald Trump hinted that the White House would strike a deal on drug prices if the impeachment push dies.
What Will Sanders’ Heart Attack Mean For Already-Sore Subject Of Age In Presidential Race?
Three of the Democrats’ leading 2020 contenders, as well as President Donald Trump, are in their 70s. Following Sen. Bernie Sanders’ heart attack, the question of “how old is too old to be president” could once again be thrust in the spotlight.
The school districts in Missouri, Kansas and New York say Juul explicitly marketed its products to youths, leaving schools to shoulder the costs of stopping students from vaping, disciplining them when they break school rules and providing support services when they become addicted. While Juul is facing court challenges by counties and states, this suit is believed to be the first brought by school districts. In other news on the epidemic: e-cigarettes and fires on planes, the search for lung diseases and vaping link, the first lady speaks out, Walgreens and Kroger to stop selling e-cigarettes and more.
Supreme Court Grapples With Moral, Legal Complexities Of Insanity Defense While Kicking Off New Term
There appeared to be little consensus among the high court’s justices after oral arguments in a case about whether states can abolish the insanity defense in criminal cases.
First Edition: October 8, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Vapers Accuse Officials Of Overreach As Investigation Into Deadly Lung Illness Lags
With federal authorities offering few details about what is causing the deadly outbreak of vaping-related lung illnesses, vaping advocates are crafting an alternative narrative reverberating through online communities.
As Medicare Enrollment Nears, Popular Price Comparison Tool Is Missing
For more than a decade, customers used the online plan finder to compare dozens of policies. Yet after a redesign of the website, the search results no longer list which plan offers a customer the best value. Federal officials say it will be fixed before enrollment begins next week.
Trump’s New Order For Medicare Packs Potential Rise In Patients’ Costs
The president’s directive, which he said is designed to give beneficiaries more choices in their health care, could lead to higher costs for seniors. Final rules are to be written by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Editorial writers focus on these health care topics and others.