Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Anti-Abortion Law Advances In Tennessee
AP: Tennessee House Advances Anti-Abortion Resolution
Tennessee House Republicans on Monday advanced an anti-abortion resolution commemorating the day the medical procedure became legal nearly 50 years ago. The resolution states that Jan. 22 will be known as the “Day of Tears,” and suggested that Tennesseans should mourn aborted embryos and fetuses. It was adopted on a 72-20 vote after no debate. (2/8)
The Washington Post: Fla. Republicans Ditch Texas-Style Abortion Law For 15-Week Ban
It took just one day after Texas enacted its controversial “heartbeat bill,” banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, for a top Florida Republican to endorse passing the same law in his state — with the leader of the state Senate declaring that a similar measure was “something we’re already working on.” But by the time the measure was introduced in September, drawing national headlines as the first Texas copycat ban to emerge nationwide, Florida GOP leaders effectively shrugged it off. (Kitchener, 2/7)
In other news from across the U.S. —
AP: UCLA Settles Gynecologist Abuse Suit For More Than $100M
The University of California has agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle allegations that several hundred women were sexually abused by a former UCLA gynecologist, lawyers announced. The settlement was announced Monday by some of the attorneys representing 203 women who said they were groped or otherwise abused by Dr. James Heaps over a 35-year career. Details weren’t released. (Jablon, 2/8)
The Washington Post: D.C. Had Mixed Results In Fight Against HIV In 2020
The number of new HIV cases in D.C. sharply declined in 2020, but the city made no progress toward other key goals in the decades-long fight to end the epidemic, according to a report released Monday, which said the coronavirus crisis has greatly hampered the District’s effort to combat the virus that causes AIDS. While the city recorded 217 new HIV cases in 2020, down from 282 the year before, the percentage of D.C. residents with HIV who were in treatment dropped to 76 percent, from 80 percent in 2019, according to the Health Department’s annual Epidemiology & Surveillance Report. (Duggan, 2/7)
Indianapolis Star: Therapy Dog To Help Noblesville Police, Community Conquer Stress
Noblesville Police have a new tool to help officers and paramedics cope with trauma and stress: her name is Luna. The black Labrador Retriever will be joining the department as a therapy dog at the end of February, a growing trend in law enforcement. Unlike her K-9 partners on the force, Luna isn’t trained in sniffing for bombs or drugs — she seeks only pats and hugs. “The men and women in uniform are tough, but they are also human and we think this can be a help,” Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said. The dog can provide comfort to police, firefighters and paramedics after stressful shifts or traumatic events, he said. (Tuohy, 2/8)
Louisville Courier Journal: Why Kentucky Is Facing Issues Putting COVID-19 Housing Vouchers To Use
Last spring, as the COVID-19 pandemic entered its second year, federal lawmakers approved a program meant to get homeless people out of shelters and into permanent housing. Local advocates praised the move as unprecedented. Not only did the program make 567 emergency housing vouchers available to some of Kentucky's most vulnerable residents, but it also included resources to help them find housing quicker. Eight months later, however, just 37% of the state's vouchers are in use, with 355 yet to be attached to a lease, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Loosemore, 2/8)
