Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: Managing The Health Of Ukrainian Refugees; Ohio Laws Pertaining To HIV Are Outdated
Seattle Times: World Must Respond To Urgent Health Needs Of Displaced Ukrainians
I am just back from my first international trip in two years to visit Medical Teams International’s work with refugees and the displaced in Uganda and Ethiopia, but there’s no time to write a trip report. Our next response already has begun. As more than 2 million Ukrainians have escaped into neighboring countries, we are preparing for the impact of such a displacement and the impending humanitarian crisis that will follow. While other humanitarian agencies focus on the first and obvious needs of the refugees — water, food and shelter — we are urgently responding to an equally vital pillar of humanitarian response: health. (Martha Newsome, 3/8)
Columbus Dispatch: What Are The Laws About Disclosing HIV Status In Ohio?
At the height of the HIV epidemic, Ohio political leaders created six laws that were not based on science but on fear. Twenty-five years later, we know far more about HIV and have proven tools to end the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately, these laws keep us from reaching that goal. It’s time to fix them. (Carlos Malvestutto and Michael Para, 3/9)
Miami Herald: Beating Cancer Gets A Giant Boost On Miami Beach, Thanks To Generous Locals
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber gave an impressive State of City speech Monday morning - announcing a cultural renaissance that he hopes will transform Miami Beach away from being simply an entertainment center. But before he got started with his speech at the New World Center in Miami Beach, Gelber announced to the crowd a significant gift to the city by local billionaire Norman Braman and his wife, Irma. The mayor announced that the Bramans are donating $250 million to Mount Sinai Medical Center for the construction of a modern cancer treatment center. Yes, Mount Sinai already has a nationally-recognized program, but the Bramans’ gift puts the war on cancer on steroids in South Florida, where so many individuals are fighting for their lives. (3/8)
The CT Mirror: Support Abortion Access; Celebrate Abortion Providers
On March 10, 1993, Florida abortion provider Dr. David Gunn was murdered outside his clinic by a white supremacist and anti-abortion extremist. From this act of horrific violence came a powerful celebration — each year, we commemorate March 10 as National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day to honor and thank every health care professional who works tirelessly to ensure their patients can access abortion. The relentless debate over the right to abortion has, for decades, spread misinformation and slander about what abortion providers do and who they are. Abortion providers are our doctors and clinicians, everyday health care providers who make it their life’s work to give nonjudgmental and compassionate care to all people. (Liz Gustafson and Gretchen Raffa, 3/9)
Stat: Hospitals Need To Get Ahead Of Regulations On Climate Change
Climate change, an issue that hospital leaders should have voluntarily been working on following the catastrophes of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, is soon to be an issue they’ll have to work on, now that the Biden administration has incorporated environmental sustainability directives from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of its broader initiative to halve U.S. carbon emissions by 2030. The U.S. health care delivery sector has been relatively quiet on the topic of climate change and carbon emissions, even though it accounts for an estimated 8.5% of all U.S. carbon emissions and contributes significantly to the climate emergency that industries and governments are tackling worldwide. Health care delivery organizations must take more action to mitigate their contributions to climate change and act now to secure business resilience in the face of an uncertain future. (Sierra Nesbit and Jenna Phillips, 3/9)
The Baltimore Sun: Could ‘Smart Surfaces’ Keep Baltimore Cool (And Healthy)?
Like many cities, Baltimore is struggling with rising temperatures, increased flooding and health and economic risks from climate change. And also like in many cities, Baltimore’s already undervalued neighborhoods are faring worse when it comes to such climate-related harms. Yet unlike most cities, Baltimore is doing something about the problem and has the potential to be a national model for leadership on these critical urban challenges. (Georges C. Benjamin and Greg Kats, 3/8)
