Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Controversial Abortion 'Reversal' Bill Advances In S. Carolina
AP: 'Abortion Reversal' Bill Moves Forward In S Carolina House
A bill that would require doctors to inform patients receiving drug-induced abortions about a controversial method to possibly halt the abortion process is moving forward in the South Carolina House. The House Judiciary Committee could consider the legislation after a panel of lawmakers voted to advance the measure Thursday. (3/10)
Louisville Courier Journal: Bill To Ban Abortions In Kentucky After 15 Weeks Advances
Abortions would be banned in Kentucky after 15 weeks, according to a bill that passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday amid objections from opponents who said it duplicates laws already on the books. "Senate Bill 321 doesn't do anything that our state hasn't done already," said Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky state director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. "This is nothing more than political theater designed to score points in an election year." (Yetter, 3/10)
Kansas City Star: Key Abortion Bills To Watch In The Missouri General Assembly
A proposal to allow lawsuits against out-of-state individuals who help Missouri women obtain abortions has grabbed attention in the General Assembly in recent days. But lawmakers are pursuing an aggressive agenda of measures intended to restrict access to the procedure. As the annual session reaches its midpoint, the House and Senate have yet to pass much abortion-related legislation, though lawmakers approved a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. (Shorman, 3/11)
In other health news from across the U.S. —
AP: Woman Whose Rape DNA Led To Her Arrest To Sue San Francisco
The woman whose DNA from a sexual assault case was used by San Francisco police to arrest her in an unrelated property crime plans to sue the city, her attorney said Thursday. The woman has filed notice of a possible federal lawsuit because she feels betrayed by police officers who broke her trust and violated her rights, said her attorney, Adante Pointer. (3/11)
Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Cities Opt Out Of Mississippi's Medical Marijuana, Face Pushback
A handful of cities and towns have voted that for now, they are opting out of participating in Mississippi’s nascent medical marijuana program that was signed into law just over a month ago. Under the law, any town, city, or county governing board has up to 90 days, or until the first week of May, to vote against allowing dispensaries, cultivators, or production facilities from operating within those jurisdictions. These localities have the option to opt back in at a later date. So far, only a small number of cities and towns have chosen not to participate including the cities of Brandon, Ridgeland, Pass Christian, and Gluckstadt. But advocates fear this could signal that more communities will follow suit, ultimately creating access issues for patients and limiting the number of businesses able to operate successfully in the burgeoning industry. (Clark, 3/11)
Anchorage Daily News: Alaska House Votes To Prohibit Marriage For Children 15 And Younger
The Alaska House of Representatives unexpectedly amended a proposed marriage-reform bill Wednesday to prohibit children ages 15 and younger from being married in the state. Current state law allows children to be married as young as 14 with the approval of a judge. During debate on legislation to change the number of witnesses required for a marriage, Rep. Sara Rasmussen, R-Anchorage, proposed an amendment to raise the minimum marriage age to 16, Alaska’s age of consent. Parental approval would be required for marriages involving children between 16 and 18. The House approved Rasmussen’s amendment, 33-3. It does not become law unless the House and Senate approve the underlying bill and it’s signed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Brooks, 3/10)
AP: Battle Heating Up Over Smoking In Atlantic City Casinos
The battle over whether smoking should be prohibited in Atlantic City’s casinos heated up Thursday, with a major business group opposing a ban, and a public health agency resigning from the business group in protest. The Greater Atlantic City Chamber said efforts to ban smoking in the casinos should be dropped, warning it would cost jobs and hurt local businesses. (Parry, 3/10)
AP: Ducey To Mull Letting Dentists Give Cosmetic Botox Shots
The next time you sit in the dental chair for a filling, your dentist may also be able to offer to handle those pesky wrinkles around your eyes by injecting some Botox. All that’s standing in the way is a signature from Republican Gov. Doug Ducey on legislation that passed the House and Senate. (3/11)
Columbus Dispatch: Drug Co-Pays: Ohio Bill To Aid Patients Stalled At Statehouse For Year
Sara Sharpe, 34, has a pretty basic wish: She doesn't want to suffer a potentially fatal allergic reaction "because of insurance company paperwork" foul-ups. She is one of millions nationwide caught up in a money-saving move by health insurance companies with the unwieldy name of "co-pay accumulators." People in this diverse group, many suffering from rare diseases, are casualties of the ongoing battle over prescription drug prices among multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical manufacturers, health insurers and the obscure middlemen in the drug-supply chain, pharmacy benefit managers. (Rowland, 3/10)
The Texas Tribune: Child Victims Of Sexual Trafficking Were Abused In Texas Shelter
Employees of a Texas-contracted facility meant to care for female foster children who are victims of sex trafficking were discovered to be trafficking the same children, according to a federal judge. Seven children, ages 11 to 17, were victimized by nine alleged perpetrators, according to discussions held during an emergency court hearing called by U.S. District Judge Janis Jack on Thursday. The children remained in the facility for over a month after the abuse was first reported before they were removed. (Oxner, 3/10)
The CT Mirror: Immigration Activists Rally In Support Of Child Health Care Expansion
Rosario Tepoz arrived in Connecticut from Mexico 10 years ago with a 2-year-old son. Six years later, Tepoz had a daughter, born in Connecticut and, as a result, born into citizenship in the United States. Today, her children face completely different realities when it comes to accessing medical care. “I have two children. One has health insurance, and one does not have health insurance, and this hurts me in my soul. They themselves have lived and understand what this means,” testified Tepoz in a public hearing on Thursday. (Golvala, 3/10)
