Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Gene For Dangerous Drug-Resistant Bacteria Found In Georgia Sewer
FOX 5 Atlanta: Gene Found In Georgia Sewer Water Could Be 'Global Public Health Threat,' Scientists Say
University of Georgia scientists have found a gene that causes bacteria to be resistant to one of the world's most important antibiotics in sewer water in Georgia. Researchers say they discovered the MCR-9 gene, which causes resistance to colistin, while testing sewage water in an urban environment in Georgia. Antimicrobial resistance is a problem that has been declared "one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity" by the World Health Organization in 2020. According to UGA, assistant professor Issmat Kassem's team found evidence of the gene in the very first sample they took during their tests. (1/12)
In news from Florida, Mississippi and Kentucky —
WUSF Public Media: Abortions After 15 Weeks Of Pregnancy Would Be Restricted Under These Florida Bills
As the 2022 legislative session started Tuesday, two influential Republican lawmakers filed proposals that would prevent doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The bills (SB 146 and HB 5), filed by Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, and House Judiciary Chairwoman Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, largely mirror the abortion restriction in a Mississippi law that is before the U.S. Supreme Court. The proposals also will add a highly volatile issue to the 60-day legislative session that kicked off Tuesday with a State of the State address by Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Saunders, 1/12)
WUSF Public Media: Florida Reports A Record Rise In Child Drownings For 2021. Pandemic Shutdowns May Be A Contributor
Florida hit a grim new record in 2021, reporting the most child drownings since at least 2009. A Florida Department of Children and Families report shows that deaths rose from 69 in 2020 to 98 in 2021.Florida "loses more children under the age of 5 to drowning than any other state in the nation," according to the department. Petra Stanton is the supervisor of Safe Kids, a coalition of health and safety experts, at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. She said Florida has a high amount of these tragedies because the state is both surrounded by water and dense with water. (LeFever, 1/12)
AP: Medical Marijuana Proposal Moves To Mississippi Senate
A bill to create a medical marijuana program is headed for debate in the Mississippi Senate in coming days. Senate Bill 2095 passed the Senate Public Health Committee on Wednesday. It would allow a person with a marijuana prescription to obtain up to 3.5 grams of the substance per day. (1/12)
Louisville Courier Journal: Gov. Andy Beshear Proposes Billions For Health And Human Services
Gov. Andy Beshear proposed billions of dollars for Medicaid, nursing scholarships, local health departments, child protection and other human services Wednesday during his third and final preview of his state budget plan. "Ensuring opportunity and caring about our people is good business, and it's the right thing to do," Beshear said in unveiling more details of the two-year budget proposal he will present to the General Assembly. Beshear, a Democrat, is to outline his budget to a joint session of lawmakers Thursday evening, although Republicans, who control the legislature, preempted him when the House filed its own plan Friday. (Yetter 1/12)
In news from Maryland, West Virginia, Wisconsin and California —
The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Department Of Health Confirms Ransomware Attack Crippled Its Systems Last Month
A ransomware attack at the Maryland Department of Health crippled its systems last month and forced many of its services offline, the state agency confirmed Wednesday. For weeks, the department described the event as a “network security breach” and offered few other details about the nature of the incident. Services ranging from the reporting of daily COVID-19 surveillance data to basic local health department functions were rendered unavailable, and officials declined to say definitively when such operations would be restored. (Miller, 1/12)
AP: WVa Health Partnership Includes Products Preparedness Center
A public-private health care partnership will launch a products preparedness center in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice announced. The center will be located in Morgantown, involves a more than $50 million investment for the state and will create more than 125 jobs, Justice said in a news release Wednesday. (1/13)
AP: Report: Alcohol-Related Deaths In Wisconsin Rose 25% In 2020
Alcohol-related deaths in Wisconsin rose almost 25% in 2020, according to a report released Thursday. Data compiled by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum shows 1,077 Wisconsin residents died of alcohol-related causes in 2020, up from 865 in 2019. The data was compiled from U.S. residents’ death certificates. (1/13)
AP: California Sues 'Sharing Ministry' Health Insurance Plan
California on Wednesday sued what the state’s attorney general called a sham health insurance company operating as a “health care sharing ministry” — one the state claims illegally denied members benefits while retaining as much as 84% of their payments. The lawsuit names The Aliera Companies and the Moses family, which founded Sharity Ministries Inc. Sharity, formerly known as Trinity Healthshare Inc., is a nonprofit corporation. (Thompson, 1/12)
