Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Cherokee Nation Wins $75 Million Settlement From Opioid Distributors
Bloomberg: Opioid Distributors To Pay $75 Million In Cherokee Accord
The three largest U.S. opioid distributors agreed to pay $75 million to the Cherokee Nation Native American tribe in Oklahoma to settle allegations that the companies helped fuel a public health crisis with their highly addictive painkillers. McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp. on Tuesday announced the deal, which is the first opioid settlement with a tribal government. It is separate from a $26 billion proposal by the distributors and Johnson & Johnson to resolve thousands of suits by states and local governments over the medications. That deal has yet to be finalized. (Feeley, 9/28)
The candidates for Virginia governor held their final debate —
The Hill: Vaccines, Abortion, Trump Dominate Final Virginia Governor's Debate
Virginia gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe (D) and Glenn Youngkin (R ) participated in a contentious final debate on Tuesday night, which was largely dominated by topics like abortion, vaccine mandates and former President Trump. McAuliffe continued his strategy of tying Youngkin to Trump, saying the Republican is “bought and paid for by the former president. (Manchester, 9/28)
In news from California —
Capital & Main: California COVID Worker Protection Program Expiring
September was always going to be a brutal month for California’s lower income labor force, much of which is still in recovery from COVID-related layoffs. Not only did federal pandemic unemployment assistance come to an end, but an important eviction moratorium in the state is set to expire as well. Understandably, both issues have commanded attention, if not redress. Just under the radar, though, another blow is about to be struck. And this time, the ability of workers to safeguard themselves against the virus itself may be compromised, even as they are finally beginning to hear their names called back to work. (Kreidler, 9/28)
The Mercury News: California Gov. Newsom Signs More Than Two-Dozen Housing Bills
Capping a year of ambitious promises and unprecedented funding for housing, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed more than two dozen bills that attempt to spur new development while also holding cities’ feet to the fire if they don’t approve more homes to address California’s housing shortage. Newsom, who repeatedly has said housing is among his top priorities, signed the 27 bills in the courtyard of Oakland’s Coliseum Connections — a 110-unit, half affordable, half market-rate apartment complex built in 2019. The new legislation follows a historic funding package that includes $10.3 billion for affordable housing and $12 billion for homelessness and is built on emergency housing programs that Newsom put in place during the pandemic. (Kendall, 9/28)
San Francisco Chronicle: S.F. Is Investing Millions In Overdose Response, But Deaths Keep Coming. Here's What The City Is Up Against
Joshua Weens was walking toward his mother’s home in the Tenderloin on a warm August afternoon when he saw a man splayed out on the ground. His skin was slightly purple and drool dripped down his cheek. A group of people hanging around the man near Golden Gate Avenue and Jones Street said he was just sleeping. But Weens was skeptical. He called 911, and the dispatcher suggested Narcan. A woman nearby had the overdose antidote on her and sprayed it up the man’s nose, but it didn’t help. The paramedics arrived a few minutes later, tried Narcan again, and then declared the man dead. (Thadani and Jung, 9/28)
In news from North Carolina, Florida and Washington, D.C. —
North Carolina Health News: Afghan Refugees In NC Face Challenging Health Care System
Azita Razai has lived in Raleigh for the past 24 years, making a home with her husband, mother and three children Ali Razai, 22, Kauser Razai, 15, Sakina Razai, 7. Her journey to North Carolina from her native Afghanistan more than two decades ago included a stop in Pakistan before arriving in this country as a refugee. Like many of the refugees coming here today, she fled the Taliban in her home country. (Bokhari, 9/29)
WFSU: A Tallahassee Doctor Is Fighting The State Following A Marijuana Sting Operation
A physician who orders medical marijuana for patients is accusing state health officials of breaking the law to create fake records in a sting operation involving an investigator falsely posing as a military veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. Joseph Dorn, who has practiced in Florida for nearly three decades, risks losing his medical license after the Department of Health filed a complaint alleging the Tallahassee-based physician violated medical-marijuana laws when ordering cannabis for “Patient O.G. ” and “Patient B.D.,” two undercover investigators with the state agency. (Kam, 9/28)
Axios: D.C. LGBTQ+ Shelter Faces Shutdown
Casa Ruby, a non-profit that provides housing, health care, and social services to LGBTQ+ people in D.C., launched a GoFundMe after the city declined to renew funding for one of its youth shelter programs. In a letter sent to Casa Ruby on Sept. 24 that Axios reviewed, D.C.'s Department of Human Services wrote that the organization's grant agreement for $839,000 in funding for its 50-bed low-barrier shelter will not be extended for fiscal year 2022 and will end on Sept. 30. (Cirruzzo, 9/28)
