First Edition: Oct. 24, 2023

KFF Health News: Millions Of Rural Americans Rely On Private Wells. Few Regularly Test Their Water
Allison Roderick has a warning and a pledge for rural residents of her county: The water from their wells could be contaminated, but the government can help make it safe. Roderick is the environmental health officer for Webster County in north-central Iowa, where a few thousand rural residents live among sprawling corn and soybean fields. Many draw their water from private wells, which are exempt from most federal testing and purity regulations. Roderick spreads the word that they aren’t exempt from danger. (Leys, 10/24)

KFF Health News: Epidemic: What Good Is A Vaccine When There Is No Rice?
The 1970s was the deadliest decade in the “entire history of Bangladesh,” said environmental historian Iftekhar Iqbal. A deadly cyclone, a bloody liberation war, and famine triggered waves of migration. As people moved throughout the country, smallpox spread with them. In Episode 7 of “Eradicating Smallpox,” Shohrab, a man who was displaced by the 1970 Bhola cyclone, shares his story. After fleeing the storm, he and his family settled in a makeshift community in Dhaka known as the Bhola basti. Smallpox was circulating there, but the deadly virus was not top of mind for Shohrab. “I wasn’t thinking about that. I was more focused on issues like where would I work, what would I eat,” he said in Bengali. (10/24)

The New York Times: Biden Administration Moves To Ban TCE, A Solvent Linked To Cancer
The Biden administration has proposed to ban all uses of trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent used in glues, other adhesives, spot removers and metal cleaners, saying exposure to even small amounts can cause cancer, damage to the central nervous system and other health effects. The proposed ban is the latest twist in a yearslong debate over whether to regulate trichloroethylene, commonly referred to as TCE. In its final weeks, the Obama administration tried to ban some uses of the chemical, only to have the Trump administration place it on an Environmental Protection Agency list for long-term consideration, a move that essentially suspended any action. Monday’s proposal goes further than the Obama-era plan by prohibiting all uses of TCE. (Friedman, 10/23)

Reuters: US FDA Accepts AstraZeneca's Self-Administered Flu Vaccine For Review 
The company said it expects the FDA to decide on the vaccine by the first quarter of 2024, adding that it expects the vaccine to be made available for self-administration in the United States during the 2024-2025 flu season, if approved. (10/24)

Reuters: Colorado Cannot Ban Unproven Abortion Pill Reversal Treatment, Judge Says 
Colorado cannot stop a Catholic medical center from offering an unproven treatment meant to reverse the effects of pill used in medication abortion, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico said in an opinion on Saturday that a Colorado law banning so-called medication abortion reversal treatment likely violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom. His order stops the state from enforcing the law against Bella Health and Wellness, which sued to block it, or against anyone else working with Bella Health, while he considers the medical center's challenge to the law. (Pierson, 10/23)

Reuters: Planned Parenthood Must Face Trial Over Texas Medicaid Fraud Claims
Planned Parenthood must face a trial in a $1.8 billion lawsuit by Texas accusing the organization of defrauding the Republican-led state's Medicaid health insurance program, a federal judge ruled on Monday. At issue is billing by Planned Parenthood after Texas announced its decision to terminate the organization as a provider under its Medicaid insurance programs for low-income people. (Pierson and Raymond, 10/23)

AP: This Procedure Is Banned In The US. Why Is It A Hot Topic In Fight Over Ohio's Abortion Amendment?
With Election Day closing in, anti-abortion groups seeking to build opposition to a reproductive rights measure in Ohio are messaging heavily around a term for an abortion procedure that was once used later in pregnancy but that hasn’t been legal in the U.S. for over 15 years. In ads, debates and public statements, the opposition campaign and top Republicans have increasingly been referencing “partial-birth abortions” as an imminent threat if voters approve the constitutional amendment on Nov. 7. “Partial-birth abortion” is a non-medical term for a procedure known as dilation and extraction, or D&X, which is already federally prohibited. (Smyth, 10/23)

Stateline: Medical Exceptions To Abortion Bans Often Exclude Mental Health Conditions
More than a dozen states now have near-total abortion bans following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with limited medical exceptions meant to protect the patient’s health or life. But among those states, only Alabama explicitly includes “serious mental illness” as an allowable exception. Meanwhile, 10 states with near-total abortion bans (Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming) explicitly exclude mental health conditions as legal exceptions, according to an analysis from KFF, a health policy research organization. (Hassanein, 10/23)

Axios: Supporting Families During Pregnancy And Infant Loss Awareness Month
1 in 4 women will experience pregnancy loss, and 2.6 million stillbirths happen each year, according to the World Health Organization. Even given these staggering statistics, open discussion about the topic remains stigmatized, leaving mothers and families to grieve in silence or behind closed doors. (Hawkins, 10/23)

Becker's Hospital Review: New York System Delays Birth Center Closure Amid Equity Concerns
St. Peter's Health Partners has delayed plans to shut down the maternity unit at Troy, N.Y.-based Samaritan Hospital to address community members' concerns about care access and transportation barriers, the the Times Union reported Oct. 23. Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peters was originally slated to close the hospital's birthing unit in December but has extended this deadline by six months. The system now aims to shutter the unit no later than June 30, 2024. (Bean, 10/23)

Stat: Covid Vaccine During Pregnancy Offers Infants Immunity For Up To 6 Months
The risks of severe neonatal morbidity, neonatal death, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit were all significantly lower during the first month of birth in infants whose mothers were vaccinated against Covid-19, and protection against the virus continued for up to six months after birth, according to a new study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics. (Balthazar, 10/23)

CIDRAP: Study: Kids With COVID Shed Virus For Median Of 3 Days, Supporting School-Isolation Policies
Children who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022 were contagious for a median of 3 days, regardless of vaccination status, suggesting that 5-day school isolation policies are sufficient amid Omicron variant predominance, University of Southern California (USC) and Stanford University researchers report today in JAMA Pediatrics. The study included 76 children aged 7 to 18 years infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Los Angeles County from April to September 2022. (Van Beusekom, 10/23)

CNN: Demand Outstrips Supply For Some Doses Of New Shot That Protects Babies Against RSV 
In the latest headache for parents hunting for a new shot to protect babies against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, this winter, the manufacturer says it has stopped taking orders for some doses because they are unable to keep up with “unprecedented demand.” (Goodman, 10/23)

Becker's Hospital Review: Henry Ford Hospital Sees Highest Strep Rate In 25 Years
Officials at Henry Ford Medical Center Fairlane in Dearborn, Mich., thought they may have had faulty testing swabs for strep throat when rates were so high, but the swabs are accurate, radio station WWJ reported Oct. 23. Strep throat rates are currently the highest Jennifer Stevenson, DO, director of the medical center's emergency department, has seen in her 25 years of practice. (Carbajal, 10/23)

Modern Healthcare: GPDC Saved Medicare $371.5M In 2022, CMS Says
The Global and Professional Direct Contracting Model went out a winner in its second and final year by saving Medicare $371.5 million in 2022, a more than fivefold improvement from the prior year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Monday. CMS credited the $301.1 million increase in savings to growth in the number and experience of Direct Contracting participants, and to an extension of the amount of time organizations had to manage patient care. Tepper, 10/23)

Modern Healthcare: MJHS’ Hospice Aims To Connect With LGBTQ+ Community
While hospice has become a popular end-of-life care choice for many terminally ill people in the United States, the care model continues to suffer an image problem among members of the LGBTQ+ community. One-third of LGBTQ respondents to a survey released last year by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization said they were unsure whether hospice providers would respect their sexuality. “We don’t know what comes along with their history,” Weiss said. “So it’s our job to create safety for those patients.” (Eastabrook, 10/23)

Modern Healthcare: Healthcare Cybersecurity Incidents Up In 2023 Over 2022, 2021
Cybersecurity incidents in healthcare spiked in September as the industry continues to face challenges in protecting data, according to a report published Tuesday. The report, from cybersecurity software company NCC Group, found that cybersecurity incidents increased 86% in September. (Perna, 10/24)

Becker's Hospital Review: Google Can Track Analytics From Healthcare Providers, Judge Says
A California judge rejected the request to prevent the tech giant Google from gathering user analytics data from websites of healthcare providers, Law360 reported Oct. 18. The judge said there is no evidence that Google has been using the collected information from healthcare providers' websites for "criminal or tortious purposes," according to the publication. (Diaz, 10/20)

CNBC: FTC Plans To Hire Child Psychologist To Guide Internet Rules
The Federal Trade Commission plans to hire at least one child psychologist who can guide its work on internet regulation, Democratic Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya told The Record in an interview published Monday. FTC Chair Lina Khan backs the plan, Bedoya told the outlet, adding that he hopes it can become a reality by next fall, though the commission does not yet have a firm timeline. (Feiner, 10/23)

Axios: A Tiny Home Makes The Case For At-Home Hospital Care
With HGTV-style finishes like butcher block counters and hardwood floors, a tiny house on wheels rolled into Washington this week demonstrating what it looks like to hospitalize patients at home. Medically Home — one of the companies helping health systems like the Mayo Clinic and Kaiser Permanente launch their own hospital-at-home programs — is making the case for Medicare to extend pandemic-era flexibilities funding at-home hospital care. (Reed, 10/24)

The Washington Post: Prominent Pathologist At Johns Hopkins On Leave, Facing Bullying Claims
A prominent cancer-detecting doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital is on administrative leave after a misdiagnosis led to a patient’s bladder removal, and as allegations have surfaced that he bullied or intimidated others in his department, according to interviews and an accreditation report obtained by The Washington Post. The internationally regarded pathologist Jonathan I. Epstein has been accused by other doctors of pressuring them to give second opinions that agree with diagnoses made by his wife, who also is a pathologist, said four people who have knowledge of the situation and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing probe. (Thompson and Shepherd, 10/22)

Fierce Healthcare: Henry Ford Health Sued Over Cognition Tests For Older Physicians
An 84-year-old ophthalmologist has filed a class action lawsuit against Henry Ford Health and its medical group practice over a policy requiring older practitioners to undergo a cognition screen in order to keep their position. The complaint, filed late September in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that the organizations are discriminating against its employees solely on the basis of their age. (Muoio, 10/23)

Stat: STAT Summit: Ending The Crisis Of Black Deaths In The U.S.
In the last two decades, Black Americans have suffered 1.63 million excess deaths compared to white Americans. Experts gathered at the STAT Summit in Boston last week to discuss the crisis of Black deaths in the U.S. and interventions that can help advance health equity. (Nayak, 10/23)

USA Today: 14-Year-Old Virginia Boy Named 'America's Top Young Scientist'
"America's Top Young Scientist" is a 14-year-old who invented a soap that treats skin cancer. Heman Bekele, a ninth grader from Annandale, Virginia, won the prestigious award from 3M and Discovery Education, considered one of the country's top middle school science competitions. "I believe that young minds can make a positive impact on the world," Heman said in his submission for the award. (Al-Arshani, 10/23)

Fierce Healthcare: National Medication, Equipment Shortages Harming Patients
Ongoing national medication, medical supply and medical equipment shortages are harming patients, a new survey reveals. The survey was issued by the nonprofit patient safety organization ECRI and its affiliate, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), and reached nearly 200 people in July. Respondents included pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, procurement specialists and clinicians across a variety of healthcare settings. (Gliadkovskaya, 10/23)

Stat: FDA Clears Verve To Begin U.S. Study Of Gene-Editing Treatment
Verve Therapeutics said Monday that it had received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a clinical trial in the U.S. of its experimental, gene-editing treatment for a common form of heart disease. The FDA’s action removes a clinical hold on Verve’s CRISPR-based therapy, called VERVE-101, that was placed on it last November. Verve now intends to recruit participants from U.S. sites into a Phase 1 study that’s been underway since last year in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. (Feuerstein, 10/23)

Stat: Results On Novartis Prostate Cancer Therapy Could Expand Its Use
Results presented Monday could expand the use of a Novartis therapy for metastatic prostate cancer, moving it from a treatment used after chemotherapy to one with demonstrated benefits beforehand as well. (Joseph, 10/23)

Houston Chronicle: Texas Expands Maternal Health Committee, But Some Question Inclusivity
Texas will add more people to investigate pregnancy-related deaths and illnesses after a new law expanded the number of positions on the state’s maternal mortality review committee, a volunteer group whose research helps guide maternal health policy. But while the law brings much-needed resources to address a major health issue, some of the changes have confused maternal health advocates who worry that new qualifications will make it harder for people without professional experience to serve on the committee. (Gill, 10/23)

The Colorado Sun: Colorado Health Insurance Rates Are Set To Rise Nearly 10% In 2024
Health insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on their own are set to increase by nearly 10% next year. But that is slightly lower than insurers had initially requested, and the Polis administration found other reasons to cheer in the numbers it released Monday. (Ingold, 10/24)

The New York Times: Psychedelic Mushrooms Hit The Market In Oregon
This summer, the state debuted a first-of-its-kind legal market for psilocybin mushrooms, more widely known as magic mushrooms. Far from the days of illicit consumption in basements and vans, the program allows people to embark on a therapeutic trip, purchasing mushrooms produced by a state-approved grower and consuming them in a licensed facility under the guidance of a certified facilitator. (Baker, 10/23)

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Among Cheapest States For Medical Marijuana, New Study Says
Ohio has some of the cheapest medical marijuana prices in the country, according to a new study. Leafwell, a medical marijuana card service and research group, analyzed over 130,000 menu items at medicinal marijuana dispensaries across the United States to find which states offer the cheapest average price for cannabis per gram. The study, released Monday, revealed Ohio is among the cheapest states for medical marijuana. (Behrens, 10/23)

Politico: Legislative Progress Galvanizes Anti-Cannabis Club On Capitol Hill
Fighting weed legalization on Capitol Hill can feel like a lonely struggle these days. Marijuana is just as popular as ever. More than half of Americans now live in states where adults can legally possess the drug, and just over two-thirds support federal legalization. In Congress, more and more lawmakers — on both sides of the aisle — express some form of support for legal cannabis in the states. Yet a small but vocal, ad-hoc coalition of lawmakers — almost all Republicans — is keeping the anti-weed fight alive in Washington. And they’re not exactly losing. (Fertig, 10/23)

Axios: Fentanyl Addiction Treatment For Kids And Teenagers Lags Far Behind Demand
An alarming rise in overdose deaths among children and teenagers is colliding with an inadequate pediatric mental health system — including a lack of addiction treatment. Limited treatment options and coverage gaps mean that many kids aren't getting needed care that could help prevent them from developing a deeper and potentially deadly addiction. (Owens, 10/24)

CBS News: Officials Say Narcan Is Now Stocked In NYC Public High Schools, But Some Principals Say They Haven't Received It Yet
The opioid crisis is a new challenge for schools this fall. As fentanyl fears remain high among teens, New York City Public Schools officials say Narcan, the medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses, is now stocked in its high schools. CBS New York has been following the opioid crisis and the push to get Narcan in schools. (Bisram, 10/23)

The New York Times: Mary Lou Retton Is Released From Hospital, Daughter Says
Mary Lou Retton, the decorated Olympic gymnast, has been released from a hospital, one of her daughters said on Monday, about two weeks after her family reported that the gold medalist had a rare form of pneumonia and was in an intensive care unit “fighting for her life.” “We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” McKenna Lane Kelley, Retton’s daughter, said on Instagram, noting that her mother was at home. “We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts.” (Jimenez, 10/23)

The Washington Post: An Estimated 220,000 U.S. Kids Under 18 Diagnosed With Arthritis
Some 220,000 youths in the United States — children and adolescents younger than 18 — have been diagnosed with arthritis, a disease most commonly associated with older people, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The finding is based on analysis of 2017 to 2021 data from the Census Bureau’s National Survey of Children’s Health. Details came from the parents of 173,406 youths, with responses weighted to reflect a nationally representative sample. (Searing, 10/23)

CBS News: Hot Yoga Could Help Treat Depression Symptoms, Mass General Study Finds
According to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, heated yoga, commonly known as "hot yoga," could help treat symptoms of depression. In a randomized controlled trial, 80 adults with moderate to severe depression were randomized to either perform 90 minutes of Bikram yoga in a 105-degree Fahrenheit room at least twice a week for eight weeks or get placed on a waitlist. The subjects in the yoga group reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms. (Marshall, 10/23)

Reuters: Several People Taken To Hospital In Austria After Taking Suspected Fake Ozempic 
Several people were taken to hospital in Austria after using suspected counterfeits of the diabetes drug Ozempic, according to the federal health safety office. The patients were reported to have suffered hypoglycaemia and seizures, serious side effects that indicate the product contained insulin instead of Ozempic's active ingredient, semaglutide, the BASG said in a warning issued on Monday. (10/24)