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Media outlets report on news from Connecticut, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Alabama, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Missouri, Washington, Texas, Florida, Illinois, California, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland and Maine.
In 2017, an American outbreak in which 79,000 people died followed Australia’s worst outbreak in 20 years. The same strain might dominate this year. In other public health news: brain stimulation for severe depression, a problem with the new meat guidelines, disaster-response systems, childhood academic struggles, living with disabilities on YouTube, dangers of clean eating, relief migraines, managing screen time, taking “verbal autopsies,” and more.
The federal government has encouraged Medicare Advantage plans to offer perks that address the social and environmental factors associated with improved health.
The deaths at a West Virginia medical center have brought renewed scrutiny into the VA’s quality control. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he is incredulous that hospital leaders in Clarksburg took so long to put the pieces together. “You mean to tell me that for nine months you didn’t know what was going on in your hospital?” Manchin said. “Either you didn’t care, or there was a lack of competency.”
During 20th Century, Doctors Were The Quintessential Republican. But That’s Starting To Change.
Doctors are a politically powerful group, and they once were firmly in the Republican camp. But with social changes–such as more women being accepted into medical school–comes a political shift leftward. In other elections news: officials say the Trump administration would delay changes to health law until after elections if the court overturns it and Republicans are getting behind mental health platforms.
While South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has struck a more moderate tone on other health care policies, his newly released drug pricing plan embraces strategies that have been considered radical. Among other proposals, his plan would direct the HHS secretary to negotiate lower prices for expensive drugs and would penalize drug companies with rapidly escalating taxes if they couldn’t agree with the federal government on a price.
Brutal Killings In NYC Highlight Dangerous Conditions Faced By Homeless
Following the rampage, the city will be sending mental-health outreach teams to the area where the attacks occurred to provide emotional support and connect people to appropriate care. But advocates say officials need to address the root causes of such incidents–the homeless crisis.
Other countries limit or forbid plasma donations, but the U.S. allows companies to pay donors and has comparatively loose standards for monitoring their health. And while most U.S. centers receive around 1,000 paid donations a week, centers at the border count more than 2,300.
Officials have been warning teenagers for years that vaping is dangerous, and yet the message is only starting to sink in with the recent illnesses. Although now some are scared, others still think it won’t happen to them. In other vaping news: the black market, political pressures of cracking down on e-cigarettes, the unintended consequences of banning vaping, state bans, and more.
The four victims could be an emotionally persuasive force that was missing when the state attorneys general first made the deal with Purdue Pharma. In other news on the opioid crisis: the role of genetics, treatment scams, fentanyl-laced pills and the next wave of drugs.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the episode made him “more determined than ever to fight alongside you to make health care a human right.” The heart attack is likely to heighten scrutiny on age in a primary where the top candidates are all in their 70s. Meanwhile, both Sanders and rival candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) struggle to answer questions about how the middle class will be affected by “Medicare for All.”
Would-be immigrants will need to show they’ll be covered by health insurance within 30 days of entering the country or have the financial resources to pay their medical bills, President Donald Trump announced. The rule would apply to the spouses and parents of U.S. citizens. That could have an impact on families who are trying to bring their parents to the U.S., and is the latest sign that the Trump administration is trying to move away from a family-based immigration system.
In Politically Charged Term, Supreme Court Will Weigh In On Abortion, Guns, LGBTQ Rights And More
The Supreme Court on Monday starts a new term, during which cases on a wide-range of hot-button issues will be heard. Their decisions are expected to land next June when the 2020 presidential race is heating up. One of the cases that will be closely watched is a challenge to a Louisiana law that imposes restrictions on abortion doctors. While it’s similar to a law the high court ruled unconstitutional in 2016, the make-up of the justices looks different now than it did then.
The work done by William Kaelin Jr., Peter Ratcliffe and Gregg Semenza is paving the way for promising new strategies to fight anemia, cancer and many other diseases.
First Edition: October 7, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Federally Funded Obria Prescribes Abstinence To Stop The Spread Of STDs
Obria, a Christian medical chain, was awarded federal family planning funds for its California clinics for the first time this year. Clinics receiving Title X funds are expected to treat and prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Obria’s prohibition against condoms means its prevention efforts rest on abstinence, even as STD rates surge.
Extent Of Health Coverage Gains From California Gig Worker Law Uncertain
The new law reclassifies many independent contractors as employees, requiring they be offered a range of benefits. But that could have unintended consequences, experts warn.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Research Roundup: Medicaid Work Requirements, The 2020 Election And Food Insecurity
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Nevada, Michigan, California, Kansas, Connecticut, Oregon and Georgia.