Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kansas Stops Allowing Gender Changes On Birth Certificates
AP: Kansas Will No Longer Change Trans People's Birth Certificates To Reflect Their Gender Identities
Kansas will no longer change transgender people’s birth certificates to reflect their gender identities, the state health department said Friday, citing a new law that prevents the state from legally recognizing those identities. The decision from the state Department of Health and Environment makes Kansas one of a handful of states that won’t change transgender people’s birth certificates. It already was among the few states that don’t change the gender marker on transgender people’s driver’s licenses. (Hanna and Hollingsworth, 9/15)
The Guardian: Nashville Elects Tennessee’s First Openly Transgender Politician
A transgender woman won election to a seat on Nashville’s city council, becoming the first openly transgender person to be voted into political office in Tennessee. Olivia Hill, 57, secured one of the four open at-large seats on the metro council of Nashville, a politically liberal city in an overwhelmingly conservative state. (Oladipo, 9/16)
The 19th: Views On Gender-Affirming Care Are Influenced By Personal Relationships, Poll Finds
The majority of Americans believe adults, but not minors, should be able to access gender-affirming care — and opinions are significantly influenced by whether they personally know someone who is transgender, a new 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll finds. (Rummler, 9/18)
In news from California —
Los Angeles Times: California Lawmakers Pass Lead-Testing Bill For Schools
California lawmakers have passed a bill that would require kindergarten-to-12th-grade schools in the Golden State to test for brain-damaging lead in all drinking water outlets. ... The legislation comes on the heels of alarming data revealing that one in four of the state’s child-care centers has dangerously high levels of lead in their drinking water, suggesting that thousands of infants, toddlers and children are being exposed to the potent neurotoxin. (Pineda, 9/16)
Axios San Francisco: ER Wait Times In California Rise To 3 Hours
The median time Californians spent in emergency rooms was three hours last year — the latest in a steady increase from pre-pandemic times, according to the latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data. Time spent in the ER is a key metric for tracking hospital performance. Increasing ER visit times is an indication that a hospital may be understaffed relative to a community's need or is facing other issues. (Chen and Fitzpatrick, 9/15)
CBS News: Oakland County Health Officials Investigate Suspected Hepatitis A Case At Pine Knob Music Theatre
The Oakland County Health Division says it is investigating a suspected case of hepatitis A reported at the Ivy Lounge at the Pine Knob Music Theatre. Health officials say all season members, guests, and staff who consumed food at the lounge between Aug. 26 and Sept. 8 should monitor their symptoms. Anyone unvaccinated, who was possibly exposed from Sept. 1-8, is urged to receive the vaccine by the 14-day deadline. (Booth-Singleton, 9/15)
From Arkansas, New Mexico, and New Jersey —
Fox News: Arkansas Toddler Dies Of Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection Likely Contracted At Country Club Splash Pad
A toddler who was his parent's "pride and joy" died from a brain-eating amoeba after playing at an Arkansas country club’s splash pad. ... In a press release, the Arkansas Department of Health confirmed that the toddler had died from an infection caused by the amoeba, also known as Naegleria fowleri. Officials said that the young toddler was likely exposed to the brain-eating amoeba while playing in a splash pad at a Little Rock, Arkansas, country club. (Rumpf-Whitten, 9/16)
AP: Puppy In New Mexico Tests Positive For Rabies In State's 1st Case In A Dog In 10 Years
ew Mexico has its first reported case of a dog with rabies in a decade, state health officials said Friday. A puppy in Bernalillo County is confirmed to have rabies, the New Mexico Department of Health said in a news release. The animal showed textbook symptoms, including a lack of coordination, tremors and aggression. The puppy was euthanized. (9/15)
The New York Times: How A Lawsuit In N.J. Could Bring Aid In Dying To Millions
The plaintiffs want the state to drop its residency requirement. Oregon and Vermont have already done so. (Span, 9/16)
