Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
For Houston's Hospitals That Were Already Struggling, Harvey Is Another Financial Blow
Reuters: Storm Harvey Could Financially Hurt Already Strained Houston Hospitals
Structural improvements over the last decade to Houston hospitals have helped them so far to avoid devastation like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005, but the pounding it is receiving from Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to financially hobble many already strained Texas medical centers. The storm has forced hospitals to cancel surgeries, evacuate patients and contend with food and supply shortages. Even bigger challenges are expected in coming months when people who have lost homes and jobs avoid medical treatment or seek charitable care. (Scheyder and Mincer, 8/29)
Modern Healthcare: Trump's Easing Of Building Regulations Could Backfire During Severe Flooding
As the unprecedented storm devastates southeast Texas, a new executive order easing infrastructure regulations could jeopardize the safety of providers that must cope with future natural disasters. ... on Aug. 15, Trump signed an executive order that immediately rolled back a previous order aimed at helping flood-prone communities prepare for the impact of climate change and rising sea levels. The Obama-era order required that new critical buildings such as federally funded hospitals or medical facilities be built at least 3 feet above the national 100-year flood elevation standards or to at least the 500-year flood plain. (Kacik, 8/29)
Houston Chronicle: Ben Taub Hospital Abandons Plans To Evacuate Patients
Ben Taub Hospital, one of the city's largest public safety-net hospitals, called off attempts on Tuesday to evacuate patients after a series of delays hampered efforts, including two ambulances turned back because of high water. Ben Taub officials on Sunday asked regional emergency coordinators to evacuate the hospital after a pipe burst in the basement of the facility in the Medical Center. The rush of water contaminated the hospital's food supply, closed its pharmacy and damaged medical supplies. (Deam, 8/29)
Stat: Harvey Flooding Engulfs MD Anderson Cancer Center, Canceling Treatments
Tropical Storm Harvey has flooded the roads in and around MD Anderson’s primary Houston hospital, leaving one of the world’s foremost cancer centers unable to see patients for appointments or previously scheduled treatments until Thursday at the earliest. The cancer hospital issued a statement Tuesday saying the main building and several MD Anderson satellites around Houston will remain closed to appointments through Wednesday, as emergency crews work to restore operations and wait for the flood waters to recede. (Ross and Sheridan, 8/29)
Politico Pro: Texas Hospitals Improvise To Avoid Harvey Flooding
Harvey has been a lingering natural disaster that’s forcing patients and health systems throughout southeast Texas to respond to fast changing and unpredictable circumstances. Roads have moved from passable to flooded within minutes, leaving ambulances scrambling to reroute and hospitals to quickly change evacuation plans. (Rayasam, 8/29)
Austin American-Statesman: Central Texas Sends 25 Staffers To Houston VA Hospital
The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System is sending a 25 member team to Houston’s VA hospital to provide relief to staff who haven’t been able to leave since Hurricane Harvey hit this weekend. The Central Texas team, made up of nurses, operating room technicians and radiology techs, will leave Wednesday at 7 a.m. (Schwartz, 8/29)
