First Edition: November 16, 2021

KHN: As Big Pharma And Hospitals Battle Over Drug Discounts, Patients Miss Out On Millions In Benefits
In early July, as the covid-19 pandemic slammed rural America, the president of a small Kansas hospital sat down on a Friday afternoon and wrote the president of the United States to plead for help. “I do not intend to add to your burden,” said Brian Williams, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Desert Storm combat veteran. He said his hospital, Labette Health, was “like a war zone,” inundated with unvaccinated patients. A department head had threatened to resign, saying he could not “watch one more body be carried out.” But Williams wasn’t seeking pandemic relief. (Jane Tribble and Featherstone, 11/16)

KHN: Missouri’s Thin Dental Safety Net Stretched Amid Medicaid Expansion
Roughly 275,000 Missourians are newly eligible this year for Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance program for people with low incomes, and they can be covered for dental care, too. Missouri voters approved expansion of the program in 2020, the latest of 39 states to do so as part of the Affordable Care Act, but politics delayed its implementation until Oct. 1. Adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level — about $17,774 per year for an individual or $24,040 for a family of two — can now get coverage. But one big question remains: Who will treat these newly insured dental patients? (Sable-Smith, 11/16)

KHN: Quarantine And Tracing Rules Are All Over The Map For Students
At this point in the pandemic, most parents are familiar with “covid notification” letters. But the letters’ instruction on whether your kid must quarantine or not varies wildly from school to school. In Minneapolis, students exposed to covid-19 at school are supposed to quarantine for 10 days. In the suburban Anoka-Hennepin school district, a single exposure does not trigger contact tracing or quarantining. In Andover, Kansas, schools follow quarantine protocols set by county health departments. With students from different counties attending the same school, those sitting next to each other in classrooms could be quarantined based on two sets of rules. (Mulrooney Eldred, 11/16)

The New York Times: Some States Aren’t Waiting For The U.S. Government To Approve Boosters For All Adults
Arkansas on Monday joined Colorado, California and New Mexico in broadening access to Covid-19 boosters, getting ahead of federal regulators who are close to making a decision on expanded eligibility. Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas said at a news conference on Monday that he had directed the state health department to issue new guidelines on boosters to allow all adults to get one, provided they meet the timing rules. The move made Arkansas the latest state to issue a decision on boosters ahead of a federal ruling. (Lukpat, 11/15)

The New York Times: New York City Tells Health Providers To Give Booster Shots To All Adults Who Want Them
New York City health officials on Monday encouraged all adults who want to receive coronavirus vaccine boosters to seek them out, and asked health providers not to turn them away, a move that comes as federal regulators consider expanding the eligibility pool for Pfizer-BioNTech’s booster. Anyone who is 18 or older and seeking a booster shot in New York City should not be turned away, said Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, the city’s health commissioner, provided it has been at least six months since their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or at least two months since they received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. (Fadulu, 11/15)

Los Angeles Times: 70% Of Californians Have Gotten At Least One COVID Vaccine Dose
Seven out of 10 Californians have now received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, a promising milestone that comes as state officials continue to urge more residents to roll up their sleeves for the first, second or even third time to ward off a feared coronavirus resurgence over the winter. Reaching that level of inoculation coverage — which happened over the weekend, according to data compiled by The Times — has been a long time coming in the nation’s most populous state. California officially cleared the hurdle roughly 11 months after the first vaccine doses went into arms. (Money and Lin II, 11/15)

AP: Michigan Hospitalizations Spike; State Hits 70% Vaccine Goal
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Michigan surpassed 3,000 for the first time in more than six months Monday amid a fourth surge of infections, while state officials celebrated reaching a key vaccination goal. The number of adults hospitalized with confirmed cases was 3,040. That was up from 2,111 two weeks earlier, a sharp 44% rise that — combined with a weekly case rate that was eight-highest in the U.S. — led health leaders to again plead with people to get vaccinated. (Eggert, 11/15)

NBC News: New England Covid Cases Rise As Delta Hits The Unvaccinated
New England is not out of the woods just yet. Two-week Covid case counts are up in every state in the region except for Connecticut, according to data compiled by NBC News — a stark reminder that unvaccinated people continue to face a serious risk from the delta variant of the coronavirus even in areas with high vaccination rates. (Murphy, Arkin, and Chow, 11/15)

AP: Beshear: Kentucky Coronavirus Cases Appearing To Plateau
After declining for seven weeks in a row, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Kentucky appear to be hitting a plateau, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday. The state reported roughly 3,034 new coronavirus cases in the past three days. Though the total of new cases last week was higher than the previous two weeks, Beshear said there is not yet “a reason to think that there is another surge” coming. (Hudspeth Blackburn, 11/16)

The Washington Post: Montgomery Children Got Diluted Vaccine Dose, Health Officials Say
Almost 100 children at a school in Montgomery County received an incorrect dose of the coronavirus vaccine at a clinic last week, the county health department said Monday. The parents of the 98 students at South Lake Elementary School in Montgomery Village were being notified Monday night that the incorrect doses were administered at a clinic at the school Wednesday, the health department said. The doses of Pfizer vaccine given at the clinic were diluted more than recommended, according to the health department. A makeup clinic will be held at the school Nov. 17 to give the affected children an additional dose. (Weil, 11/16)

Politico: Pentagon: Oklahoma Guard Must Comply With Vaccine Mandate
The Pentagon's top spokesperson on Monday insisted Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had the authority to require National Guard members to get vaccinated against Covid-19, despite new resistance from Oklahoma's highest-ranking military official. "It is a lawful order for National Guardsmen to receive the Covid vaccine. It is a lawful order," Defense Department press secretary John Kirby told reporters at a news briefing. "Refusing to do that, absent an approved exemption, puts them in the same potential [for disciplinary action] as active-duty members who refuse the vaccine," he added. (Forgey, 11/15)

AP: Idaho Lawmakers Meet To Take On Federal Vaccine Requirements
Idaho lawmakers in a first-ever move in state history reconvened the Legislature on Monday after more than five months off to put forward about three dozen bills dealing with COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements. The House never formally adjourned and came back at the request of Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke. The Senate, though it did adjourn in May, also showed up. Normally, only the governor can summon lawmakers when they leave the Statehouse after adjourning. The Idaho attorney general’s office says the Legislature reconvening is likely legal, but it’s unprecedented and a court could decide otherwise, making any laws passed null. (Ridler, 11/16)

The New York Times: The Florida Legislature Kicks Off A Special Session To Pass Bills Curtailing Federal Covid Mandates
At the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who has used his opposition to vaccine and mask mandates to build up his national political profile, Florida lawmakers kicked off a special legislative session on Monday to take up legislation aimed at restricting such measures. Mr. DeSantis, who is seen as a possible presidential candidate in 2024, has cast the session as a high-profile effort to counter the vaccination rules set by the Biden administration. (Mazzei, 11/15)

The Wall Street Journal: Labor Groups Press For Biden’s Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate To Go Further 
Three labor organizations are calling on the Biden administration to review its Covid-19 vaccine mandate, with some indicating the policy is too limited in applying to only large businesses. The AFL-CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union filed a petition in federal court last week asking the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to review the new federal vaccine policy, which directs companies with 100 or more employees to require that workers either be vaccinated or get tested regularly for Covid-19 and wear masks. SEIU, Local 32BJ, which is a part of the larger Service Employees International Union, also filed a petition in federal court last week. (Prang, 11/15)

AP: FDA Updates COVID-19 Test Policies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking several important actions to support ongoing nationwide COVID-19 testing efforts. These actions are aimed at further increasing access to accurate and reliable COVID-19 tests, particularly diagnostic tests that can be performed at home or in places like doctor's offices, hospitals, urgent care centers and emergency rooms without having to be sent to a central lab for testing. (11/15)

The Hill: 72 Percent Plan To Celebrate Holidays With Just Their Household: Poll
Most American adults intend to take COVID-19-related precautions as they prepare to celebrate the holiday season with their loved ones. Seventy-two percent of people who took part in a national survey from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said they planned to celebrate the holidays with only members of their household compared to 79 percent last year. The poll also showed that just over half of the people surveyed would ask their guests to wear masks at holiday parties this year compared to 67 percent in 2020. (Beals, 11/15)

The Hill: Fauci: Vaccinated Families Can 'Feel Good' About Thanksgiving Gatherings
Anthony Fauci said on Monday that families who are vaccinated against COVID-19 can “feel good about enjoying a typical” Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. President Biden’s chief medical adviser warned that the U.S. is still counting tens of thousands of new cases per day and recommended masks in indoor congregate settings. But he said the fully vaccinated should feel comfortable gathering with other vaccinated family and friends in private settings this holiday season. (Coleman, 11/15)

New York Daily News: Dr. Fauci Says He Won’t Step Down Until COVID Is in ‘Rearview Mirror’
He’s not going anywhere. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert who has provided reassurance to many Americans during the pandemic, says he won’t quit until the country gets past COVID-19. (Shahrigian, 11/15)

AP: Report: 'Whole Of Society' Effort Must Fight Misinformation
Misinformation is jeopardizing efforts to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges, be it climate change, COVID-19 or political polarization, according to a new report from the Aspen Institute that’s backed by prominent voices in media and cybersecurity. Recommendations in the 80-page analysis, published Monday, call for new regulations on social media platforms; stronger, more consistent rules for misinformation “superspreaders” who amplify harmful falsehoods and new investments in authoritative journalism and organizations that teach critical thinking and media literacy. (Klepper, 11/15)

AP: Alaska Doctors Seek COVID-19 Misinformation Investigation
Alaska doctors plan to ask the State Medical Board to investigate concerns about the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines and treatments by other physicians. Merijeanne Moore, a private practice psychiatrist, said she drafted the letter out of concern over an event about COVID-19 treatments that featured prominent vaccine skeptics in Anchorage last month, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Moore said Saturday that nearly 100 doctors had signed the letter and more could before she plans to submit the letter on Tuesday. (11/16)

The Boston Globe: On Podcasts And Radio, Misleading COVID-19 Talk Goes Unchecked
On a recent episode of his podcast, Rick Wiles, a pastor and self-described “citizen reporter,” endorsed a conspiracy theory: that COVID-19 vaccines were the product of a “global coup d’état by the most evil cabal of people in the history of mankind.” “It’s an egg that hatches into a synthetic parasite and grows inside your body,” Wiles said on his Oct. 13 episode. “This is like a sci-fi nightmare, and it’s happening in front of us.” (Hsu and Tracy, 11/15)

The Hill: Texas Doctor's Privileges Suspended For 'Spreading Dangerous Misinformation' About COVID-19
A Houston-based doctor has had her privileges suspended from her job for “spreading dangerous misinformation” about COVID-19. Houston Methodist Hospital spokesperson Patti Muck confirmed to The Washington Post on Monday that Mary Bowden's privileges were suspended. Bowden, an ear and throat doctor at the hospital, has tweeted multiple times on her personal account that “vaccine mandates are wrong.” (Oshin, 11/15)

Modern Healthcare: Vaccine Hesitancy Could Lead To 'Twin-Demic' Of Flu And COVID-19
Influenza vaccinations are lagging behind what doctors would like to see during Michigan's first two months of flu season, leading some experts to worry that the conditions are ripe for a "twin-demic" with COVID-19. "It's one of the things that I worry about in this phase of the pandemic," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive. "As a physician, I worry that (COVID-19) is still causing disease, morbidity and mortality, but people either could get infected with multiple respiratory pathogens at the same time." (Greene, 11/15)

The Hill: House Passes Bill To Expand Veterans' Access To COVID-19, Flu Vaccines
The House passed legislation on Monday that would expand access for veterans, their spouses and their caregivers to receive vaccines for both the flu and COVID-19 through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill, passed by voice vote, would build upon a law enacted earlier this year that gave the VA authority to administer coronavirus vaccines to all veterans as well as their spouses and caregivers. That marked a significant expansion from prior rules that limited the VA to administering vaccines to veterans enrolled in its health care system or family caregivers registered in its assistance program. Under the proposal approved on Monday, the VA could provide seasonal flu vaccines alongside the COVID-19 shots through April 29 of next year. (Marcos, 11/15)

AP: OSHA, South Dakota Pork Plant Settle Coronavirus Complaint
Federal workplace safety regulators announced Monday that they have reached an agreement with Smithfield Foods to settle a contested citation of the company’s coronavirus safety measures during a massive outbreak last year at a South Dakota pork processing plant. Under the agreement, Virginia-based Smithfield Foods will develop a plan to prevent infectious diseases at meatpacking plants nationwide and pay a $13,500 fine. (Groves, 11/16)

The New York Times: Biden Signs $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Into Law
The bill Mr. Biden signed will not address the nation’s entire backlog of needed infrastructure investments, and it is not as ambitious as Mr. Biden’s initial $2.3 trillion proposal. The compromises that were necessary to win over a large group of Senate Republicans pared back the president’s ambitions for investing in “human infrastructure” like home health care and fortifying the nation’s physical infrastructure to fight and adapt to climate change. Still, administration officials and a wide range of outside economists and business groups largely agree that the package is the most important step in a generation toward upgrading critical infrastructure — and that it could soon begin to pay dividends for a wide range of businesses and people, from electric vehicle manufacturers to rural web surfers. (Tankersley, 11/15)

The Washington Post: Biden Delays Naming Officials To Oversee Migrant Programs, Child Care Expansion
President Biden has yet to fill the three Senate-confirmed positions at the federal division responsible for a slew of his social-services policies, including expanding child care, establishing universal preschool and housing migrant children at the border, ahead of a congressional deadline that takes effect Tuesday. Biden has not nominated an assistant secretary to oversee the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services with a $62 billion budget. The division manages the nation’s Head Start program for low-income children, welfare and foster care programs, in addition to the embattled refugee office that handles the care of migrant children — one of the biggest challenges of Biden’s presidency so far. The assistant secretary also would oversee tens of billions of dollars in new federal funds from Biden’s social spending package, a massive infusion of cash intended to transform early childhood care and education in America. (Diamond, 11/15)

Bloomberg: 9/11 Victim Fund Director Feinberg Is Named Mediator For J&J Fight
The lawyer who oversaw payments to victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has agreed to mediate part of the fight between Johnson & Johnson’s former talc supplier and thousands of women who claim the company’s baby powder causes ovarian cancer. Kenneth R. Feinberg would share duties with another mediator as part of an effort to resolve nearly 14,000 lawsuits against Imerys Talc America. Imerys filed bankruptcy in Delaware in 2019 with plans to force J&J to help pay for a victim’s trust that would settle all current and future lawsuits. J&J claims it isn’t responsible for helping Imerys. (Church, 11/15)

Reuters: Pharmacy Chains Defend Actions As Landmark U.S. Opioid Trial Nears Its End
Lawyers for pharmacy chains including CVS and Walgreens on Monday argued they were not to blame for the U.S. opioid epidemic, as jurors prepared to consider whether to hold them responsible for the devastation the drug crisis caused in two Ohio counties. Mark Lanier, a lawyer for Lake and Trumbull counties, told a federal jury in Cleveland that a verdict in the case against CVS Health Corp (CVS.N), Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) and Walmart Inc (WMT.N) would have ramifications across the country. (Segall, 11/15)

Reuters: Washington State, In $95 Billion Opioid Trial, Blames Drug Distributors For Crisis
Washington state's attorney general on Monday argued in court that three large drug distributors' excessive shipments of pain pills helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic, calling it the "worst man-made public health crisis in history," as the state sought to recoup an estimated $95 billion. The argument came at the start of a trial in the state's bid to recover more money from distributors McKesson Corp (MCK.N), Cardinal Health Inc (CAH.N) and AmerisourceBergen Corp (ABC.N) than it would have received in a $26 billion nationwide settlement. (Raymond, 11/16)

AP: Washington Seeks Over $38 Billion From Opioid Distributors
After rejecting a half-billion-dollar settlement, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday took the state's case against the nation's three biggest drug distributors to trial, saying they must be held accountable for their role in the nation's opioid epidemic. The Democrat delivered part of the opening statement in King County Superior Court himself, calling the case possibly the most significant public health lawsuit his agency had ever filed. (11/15)

Bloomberg: McKesson Opioid Trial Begins With $95 Billion Potentially at Stake
McKesson Corp. and two other drug distributors say they could end up having to pay more than $95 billion if they lose a trial in Seattle over the opioid crisis that began Monday. Washington State Attorney General Robert Ferguson claims McKesson, Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp. violated the state’s consumer-protection laws by turning a blind eye to red flags about opioid shipments. The companies failed to have tracking systems in place to prevent illegitimate sales and distribution of opioids as required by Washington’s state law, Ferguson said. (Feeley, 11/15)

AP: GOP Rep. Mace's Bill Would Federally Decriminalize Marijuana
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation Monday to federally decriminalize marijuana, a measure she said would give states freer rein to pass their own laws and regulations without fear of federal reprisals. The measure, which Mace said she hoped would garner broad GOP support, was met immediately with criticism from conservatives in her home state, some of whom vowed opposition to any effort toward legalization. (Kinnard, 11/15)

The Hill: Most Say Police Shouldn't Be Primary Responders For Mental Health Crises: NAMI Poll
A wide majority of Americans say mental health professionals, rather than law enforcement, should be the primary first responders to mental health crises, a poll released Monday found. The poll, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), found broad support for police, with 72 percent of respondents having a favorable view of law enforcement. Still, nearly 80 percent of respondents said mental health professionals, not police, should respond to mental health and suicide situations. (Coleman, 11/15)

The Hill: CDC Investigators Going To University Of Michigan Amid Flu Outbreak
Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are going to the University of Michigan to look into the flu outbreak on campus and examine how the illness is spreading. Since the first positive flu case was detected on the Ann Arbor campus on Oct. 6, a total of 528 cases of the flu have been diagnosed at the University Health Service (UHS), according to a statement from the university. Of those cases, 77 percent were among people who did not get a flu shot. (Schnell, 11/15)

The Wall Street Journal: Ohio Sues Meta Alleging Facebook Parent Misled Public About Its Products’ Effect On Children
Ohio’s attorney general is suing Meta Platforms Inc., FB 1.96% formerly known as Facebook Inc., alleging the company misled the public about how it controlled its algorithm and the effects its products have on children. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Meta investors and the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, seeks more than $100 billion in damages and demands that Meta make significant changes so as to not mislead investors again, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement. “This suit is without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously,” Joe Osborne, a Meta spokesperson, said. (Bobrowsky, 11/15)

The Hill: Flight Attendant Union President: Air Rage Incidents Creating 'Hostile Environment'
The head of the country’s main flight attendant union said an increase in unruly passenger incidents is contributing to a “hostile environment” for the profession, ahead of a House subcommittee meeting on the issue Tuesday. “It used to be that it was a really bad day when something bad happened at work, when you had an outburst on a plane,” Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), told The Washington Post on Monday. “More and more we’ve seen this as a regular occurrence and that really chips away at people,” she said. (Hendrix, 11/15)

Bloomberg: Covid Patients Taking Antidepressant May Have Lower Death Risk
A common antidepressant appears to reduce the risk of death in patients admitted to the hospital with severe Covid-19, according to a study published in the JAMA Network Open journal. About 9.8% of the 470 Covid-19 patients in the study who were taking fluoxetine, also sold under the brand name Prozac, died. That’s compared to over 13% of patients with similar characteristics not receiving any antidepressants. A recent trial in Brazil showed fluvoxamine, another antidepressant, may reduce the risk that a patient with Covid-19 ends up in the hospital. The antidepressant was chosen to be studied as a potential treatment for Covid-19 due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also cheaper than Merck & Co.’s new antiviral for Covid-19. (Anghel, 11/15)

The Washington Post: Long Covid Symptoms Linger In 50 Percent Of People Who Survive The Disease
At least 50 percent of people who survive covid-19 experience a variety of physical and psychological health issues for six months or more after their initial recovery, according to research on the long-term effects of the disease, published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Often referred to as “long covid,” the adverse health effects vary from person to person. But the research, based on data from 250,351 adults and children, found that more than half experience a decline in general well-being, resulting in weight loss, fatigue, fever or pain. (Searing, 11/15)

AP: Racial Disparities In Kids’ Vaccinations Are Hard To Track
The rollout of COVID-19 shots for elementary-age children has exposed another blind spot in the nation's efforts to address pandemic inequalities: Health systems have released little data on the racial breakdown of youth vaccinations, and community leaders fear that Black and Latino kids are falling behind. Only a handful of states have made public data on COVID-19 vaccinations by race and age, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not compile racial breakdowns either. (11/15)

The Hill: NIH Long-Term Study On Children Who Had COVID-19 Enrolls First Participant
A long-term National Institutes of Health (NIH) study on the impacts of COVID-19 on children and young adults enrolled its first participant, the agency announced on Monday. The NIH’s research intends to follow 1,000 children and young adults ages 3 to 21 who previously tested positive for COVID-19 over three years to examine the virus’s impact on their physical and mental health, including their development and immune responses to the virus. The agency enrolled its first participant from its Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., as part of the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative. Participants need parents’ or guardians’ consent to be enrolled. (Coleman, 11/15)

Reuters: Vaccines Not Linked To Menstrual Changes
Many women have reported noticing changes in their menstrual cycle after being vaccinated against COVID-19 but a new study of 1,273 women in the UK found no correlation, according to a report posted on Monday on medRxiv ahead of peer review. The women in the study kept careful records of their cycles and their vaccination dates. "We were unable to detect strong signals to support the idea" that COVID-19 vaccines are linked to changes in timing or flow of women's periods, said Victoria Male from Imperial College London. It is possible that larger studies, or studies in other countries, might find links, she said. "It is important to note that most people who report such a change following vaccination find that their period returns to normal the following cycle." Other studies have found no evidence that the vaccines affect female fertility, Male added. (Lapid, 11/15)

CIDRAP: Women, Racial Minority Health Workers Struggle To Find Respirators That Fit
Most respiratory protective equipment (RPE) used in healthcare is not designed for women or racial minorities amid a dearth of research into how facial dimensions across sex and race affect respirator performance, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published late last week in BMJ Global Health. Researchers at the University of Southampton in England led the study, which involved analysis of 32 studies and anthropometric data (measurements and proportions of the human body) from 15 studies. (11/15)

CIDRAP: Depressed Patients Visited ED More Often For Anxiety, Chest Pain In Pandemic
Researchers at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City examined 4,633 patients who completed a routine depression screening before (Mar 1, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020) and during (Mar 1, 2020, to Apr 20, 2021) the pandemic.Nearly 40% of patients said they had new or continuing depression symptoms in the first year of the pandemic. Among depressed patients, screening scores were higher during rather than before the pandemic. The odds of visiting an ED for treatment of anxiety was 2.8 times higher for depressed versus nondepressed patients and 1.8 times higher for anxiety accompanied by chest pain. (11/15)

Stat: Scientists Report Finding A Second Person ‘Naturally’ Cured Of HIV 
One evening in March 2020, a doctor walked out of a hospital in the Argentine city of Esperanza cradling a styrofoam cooler. He handed it to a young man who’d been waiting outside for hours, who nestled it securely in his car and sped off. His destination, a biomedical research institute in Buenos Aires, was 300 miles away, and he only had until midnight to reach it. That day, while his sister was inside the hospital giving birth to her first child, Argentina’s president had ordered a national lockdown to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, including strict controls on entering and leaving the nation’s capital. If the brother didn’t make it, the contents of the cooler — more than 500 million cells from his sister’s placenta — would be lost, along with any secrets they might be holding. (Molteni, 11/15)

NBC News: Woman’s Own Immune System Has Possibly Cured Her Of HIV
A woman in Argentina has become only the second documented person whose own immune system may have cured her of HIV. Researchers have dubbed the 30-year-old mother, who was first diagnosed with HIV in 2013, the “Esperanza patient,” after the town in Argentina where she lives. In English, “esperanza” means “hope.” (Ryan, 11/15)

GMA: Premature Births Continue To Rise For Black, Native American Mothers: Report
The rate of babies born premature in the United States has declined for the first time in six years, but experts warn it is not a cause for celebration, as a maternal and infant health crisis still exists. Preterm birth rates in the U.S. decreased 0.1% from 10.2% in 2019 to 10.1% in 2020, according to a report published Monday by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the health of pregnant people and babies. (Kindelan, 11/15)

Fox News: New Study Gives Hope For Treatment Of PBC, The Silent Liver Disease
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease where the small bile ducts of the liver become inflamed. The disease often goes undetected, potentially leading to scarring and cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and possibly death, hepatologists told Fox News. Patients with advanced stages of the disease who do not respond to other therapies may require a liver transplant, liver disease experts said. However, a recent report shows new hope for treatment. "PBC is a serious silent liver disease often misdiagnosed because of lack of knowledge in the medical community," Douglas Dieterich, M.D., a liver disease specialist and professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explained to Fox News in an interview. (McGorry, 11/15)

CIDRAP: Global Survey Shows More Countries Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance
A growing number of countries are making commitments to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed progress and much work remains, according to the latest global survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). While a record number of countries (163) responded to the latest Tripartite AMR country self-assessment survey, more than 90% reported that the pandemic has impeded development and implementation of national plans to address AMR. (Dall, 11/15)

CIDRAP: Female Docs 30 Times More Likely To Manage Childcare Amid COVID: Survey
Physician mothers were more likely than physician fathers to be responsible for childcare, schooling, and household chores; work mostly from home; reduce their work hours; have work-family conflicts; and have symptoms of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey-based study published late last week in JAMA Network Open. The study, led by University of Michigan at Ann Arbor researchers, involved 276 US physicians enrolled in the Intern Health Study, which assessed stress and depression in their first year of residency and who completed an online follow-up survey in August 2018 and again 2 years later. (Van Beusekom, 11/15)

Modern Healthcare: UnitedHealth Exec's Court Testimony Hints At MultiPlan Trouble
TeamHealth subsidiary Fremont Emergency Services is suing Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare for allegedly shortchanging emergency room physicians $10.5 million. It is one of at least nine complaints the private equity-backed provider has pending against the nation's largest insurer. New York-based MultiPlan helps UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates with out-of-network providers like TeamHealth. (Tepper, 11/15)

Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Can Share Space, Services Under Final CMS Guidance
A hospital can be located on the same property or even in the same building as another hospital, so long as each entity can independently comply with Medicare and Medicaid program participation requirements, according to guidance the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published Friday. The policy document provides answers to questions hospitals have asked for years and grants them more leeway than they had under previous federal guidance. The policy also applies to housekeeping, security, laboratories and other services at co-located facilities. (Goldman, 11/15)

Modern Healthcare: Federal COVID-19 Grants Keep Henry Ford Profitable
Henry Ford Health System's latest financial filing show it continues to rely on federal COVID-19 stimulus grants to stay in the black as the system struggles with mounting staff and supply costs. Without the stimulus funds, the Detroit-based system would have lost $14 million on $5.1 billion in operating revenue in the nine months ended Sept. 30, a 0.3% loss margin. That's a fraction of the $96 million operating loss Henry Ford would have posted on $4.8 billion in revenue in the comparable 2020 period without the federal help, a 2.1% loss margin. (Bannow, 11/15)

Modern Healthcare: 36K Kaiser Workers Plan One-Day Sympathy Strike
A labor union representing 36,000 Kaiser Permanente workers is planning a one-day walkout Thursday in support of an International Union of Operating Engineers local in northern California that has been on strike since September. The sympathy strike, which will begin at 7 a.m. P.T, will take place at 21 Kaiser Permanente facilities in northern California and will involve optometrists, clinical laboratory scientists, respiratory and x-ray technicians, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, surgical technicians, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomists, medical assistants and housekeepers, among others represented by Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, a news release said. (Christ, 11/15)

Crain's New York Business: The Real Cost Of Healthcare In New York
Rankings tout the best hospitals to receive cancer care or treatment of a heart attack. They recommend where to go for a hip or a knee replacement. But tools are scarce for patients who want to choose a hospital based on costs. A federal rule that went into effect Jan. 1 was intended to provide just that. Enacted by the Trump administration, it requires hospitals to disclose their cash prices, or the costs of procedures without health insurance, and the rates they negotiate with insurance companies for all their services. (Glodowski and Kaufman, 11/15)

Los Angeles Times: L.A. Officials Warn That COVID Vaccine Protections Wane As Holidays Approach
Angelenos are busy prepping for holiday parties, shopping and family gatherings. But Los Angeles County officials worry that behavior also could lead to another winter surge of coronavirus as people who got vaccinated earlier this year lose immunity just as they get together more — including in social situations and going back to work. So officials are urging the vast majority of adults to get a booster shot as soon as possible. (Lin II and Money, 11/15)

AP: Amazon Settles California COVID Workers Notification Dispute
Amazon has agreed to pay $500,000 and be monitored by California officials to ensure it properly notifies its workers about new coronavirus cases, the state's attorney general said Monday. Amazon employs about 150,000 people in California, most of them at 100 “fulfillment centers” — sprawling warehouses where orders are packed and shipped. The agreement, which must be approved by a judge, requires the Seattle-based retailer to notify its workers within a day of new coronavirus cases in their workplaces. (11/15)

The New York Times: Colorado Plans To Require Vaccination For Indoor Events Of 500 Or More People In Six Counties
As coronavirus infections inch up at the national level in the United States and spike significantly in some areas, more states and cities are enacting vaccination requirements for people to participate in aspects of public life, hoping to avoid a devastating surge like the one the country experienced last winter. In Colorado, where cases have increased 11 percent in the past two weeks and deaths have increased 44 percent, according to a New York Times database, proof of vaccination will be required starting Friday for anyone attending an indoor, unseated event with more than 500 people in any of six counties in the Denver area, the most populous region of the state. (Astor, 11/15)

Reuters: Japan Confirms H5N8 Strain In Third Bird Flu Outbreak In The Country
Japan has confirmed the highly pathogenic bird flu subtype H5N8 was detected at a poultry farm in the third outbreak of avian influenza in the country this winter, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. The outbreak was discovered on Monday at a farm with about 11,000 egg-laying chickens in Izumi City in Kagoshima prefecture in southwestern Japan, the ministry said in a statement on its website. It comes as several outbreaks of severe bird flu in Europe and Asia have been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health in recent days, in a sign the virus is spreading quickly again. (11/16)

Bloomberg: Boris Johnson Warns New UK Lockdown Is Possible With NHS Struggling
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson left the door open to another coronavirus lockdown this winter, warning that people must get their Covid-19 vaccinations and booster doses to avoid fresh restrictions. A “new wave” of Covid-19 is spreading across Europe and forcing governments to reimpose tougher rules, Johnson said at a televised press conference on Monday. “History shows we cannot afford to be complacent.” (Ashton, 11/15)