Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Missouri's Medicaid Expansion Begins; Doctors Push For It In Mississippi
CNN: Missouri Medicaid Expansion: Coverage Begins For Low-Income Residents
Medicaid expansion has finally begun in Missouri, nearly five months after Republican Gov. Mike Parson unsuccessfully tried to block it. Roughly 275,000 low-income adults in the state are now eligible for coverage. MO HealthNet, the state's Medicaid program, has already received more than 17,000 applications since the sign up process started in August. (Luhby, 10/4)
Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting: Mississippi Physicians' Group Pushes Medicaid Expansion Options
The largest physician group in Mississippi will pursue options to expand Medicaid in the state despite opposition from two statewide top political leaders. The Mississippi State Medical Association recently adopted a resolution to explore and pursue options including a Medicaid waiver program and or amending the state’s Medicaid plan to ensure more people have access to health care. (Gates, 10/4)
In news from California, Connecticut and Maine —
Los Angeles Times: California Will Impose New Vaping Tax To Help Curb Teen Use
Amid concern over widespread teen vaping, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday approved a new 12.5% excise tax on electronic cigarettes to be paid by California consumers to boost public health and education programs. The aim of the legislation is to discourage vaping by minors and bring taxes on e-cigarettes more in line with levies on other tobacco products, said state Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), who authored Senate Bill 395. “Vaping has become increasingly popular despite the risks,” Caballero said. “This is especially evident among our youth, and made worse by the availability of youth-appealing flavors such as gummy bears and cotton candy.” (McGreevy, 10/4)
Los Angeles Times: Hospice Reforms To Become Law After Times Investigation
Decades of unchecked growth in the California hospice industry will come to a halt Jan. 1, when a moratorium on new licenses takes effect along with reforms aimed at curbing widespread fraud in end-of-life care. The licensing moratorium and a crackdown on kickbacks and patient-recruiting schemes are at the heart of legislative reforms outlined in two bills largely spurred by a Los Angeles Times investigation of the state’s booming hospice business last year. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bills into law Monday. An extensive examination by the state auditor also is underway to identify deficiencies and recommend improvements to hospice licensing and oversight. (Christensen and Poston, 10/4)
AP: Hollywood’s Behind-The-Scenes Crews Vote To Authorize Strike
Film and television production in North America is in jeopardy of coming to a standstill after its behind-the-scenes workers overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike for the first time in its 128-year history. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said Monday that nearly 99% of registered members who participated, or 52,706 people, voted in support of a strike over the weekend. At issue is a contract standstill over requests for more reasonable conditions for the craftspeople, technicians and laborers working for streaming companies like Netflix, Apple and Amazon, including better pay, reasonable rest periods, safer hours and guaranteed meal breaks. (Bahr, 10/5)
Fox News: Connecticut Mosquitoes Test Positive For Potentially Deadly EEE Virus, Officials Say
Connecticut health officials are cautioning southeastern area state residents over the potentially deadly mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus after detecting virus-positive mosquitoes. According to the state health department, mosquitoes trapped in the Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown tested positive for the EEE virus, marking Connecticut’s first EEE-positive mosquitoes of the year, per a release posted Monday. (Rivas, 10/4)
Bangor Daily News: Maine Lawmakers Eye Aggressive Slate Of Child Welfare Overhauls In 2022
Maine lawmakers are looking to improve oversight of the state’s child welfare system after four child deaths in recent months brought renewed attention to problems that watchdogs have flagged as persistent. Maine’s ability to monitor children’s safety was questioned after two children who were under its protection, 4-year-old Kendall Chick and 10-year-old Marissa Kennedy, died in late 2017 and early 2018, respectively. Lawmakers launched probes and made immediate changes, including adding caseworkers after many reported feeling too overworked. (Andrews, 10/4)
Also —
Health News Florida: Florida's First Lady Casey DeSantis Is Battling Breast Cancer
Florida first lady Casey DeSantis has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Governor Ron DeSantis made the announcement in a statement on Monday morning. The statement did not give a prognosis or details on treatment, but the governor said his wife is "a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up." (10/4)
