Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
More Are Using By-Mail Abortion Pills, Despite Legal Grey Areas
AP: More Turn To Abortion Pills By Mail, With Legality Uncertain
The COVID-19 pandemic and Texas’ near-ban on abortion fueled increased interest in obtaining abortion medications by mail. But with the legality in doubt in several states, some people looking to get around restrictions may not see it as worth the risk. The matter is taking on new urgency with the Supreme Court set to hear arguments next month in Mississippi’s bid to erode the Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing the right to an abortion. Some abortion-rights advocates worry that whatever state officials and anti-abortion groups promise, people ending their pregnancies at home will face criminal prosecutions. (Hanna, 11/13)
The Wall Street Journal: Boys Have Eating Disorders, Too. Doctors Think Social Media Is Making It Worse
Eating disorders are on the rise among boys, say doctors, who think images and videos on social media are a factor. Pediatric wards are seeing more eating-disorder cases overall, with boys making up an increasing share of patients. Cases with boys are often more severe than with girls, the doctors say, because boys’ disorders often go unnoticed until they are far along, and because eating disorders are largely believed to mostly affect young women. (Jargon, 11/13)
AP: Thousands Of Military Families Struggle With Food Insecurity
It’s a hidden crisis that has existed for years inside one of the most well-funded institutions on the planet and has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. As many as 160,000 active-duty military members are having trouble feeding their families. That estimate by Feeding America, which coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the country, underscores how long-term food insecurity has extended into every aspect of American life, including the military. (Khalil, 11/15)
CIDRAP: US Flu Shows Another Small Rise, With 90% Of Cases In Young People
Though the nation's flu activity is still at low levels, the number of detections has increased in recent weeks, mostly due to the H3N2 strain and with 90% of cases in people ages 5 to 24, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in an update that covers last week. Most flu markers remained below baselines, and the CDC notes that public health labs over the past 3 weeks have reported H3N2 in 7 of 10 of US regions. Flu seasons dominated by H3N2 are concerning, because the subtype causes more severe illness in older people and vaccines don't typically protect as well against it. (11/12)
WUSF Public Media: Is Your Tap Water Contaminated? This Website Will Let You Know
In a push for stricter Environmental Protection Agency policies and funding hikes, the Environmental Working Group, through its recently updated database, tracks potentially dangerous chemicals in millions of Americans’ drinking water that are linked to brain damage, cancer and more. The environmental nonprofit has released the newest version of its database to call attention to “antiquated infrastructure and rampant pollution of source water, while out-of-date EPA regulations — often relying on archaic science — allow unsafe levels of toxic chemicals in drinking water.” (Miller, 11/12)
In news on the decline of rural pharmacies —
KHN: How Rural Communities Are Losing Their Pharmacies
Batson’s Drug Store seems like a throwback to a simpler time. The independently owned pharmacy in Howard, Kansas, still runs an old-fashioned soda counter and hand-dips ice cream. But the drugstore, the only one in the entire county, teeters on the edge between nostalgia and extinction. Julie Perkins, pharmacist and owner of Batson’s, graduated from the local high school and returned after pharmacy school to buy the drugstore more than two decades ago. She and her husband bought the grocery store next door in 2006 to help diversify revenue and put the pharmacy on firmer footing. (Hawryluk, 11/15)
007, seriously, has something to say about being healthy nowadays —
Axios: A Study On The Many Health Risks Faced By 007, James Bond
A mostly serious new study analyzes James Bond's exposure to infectious diseases through his 27 films and finds that 007 is a walking occupational health catastrophe. James Bond's license to kill is more like a license to ill. The researchers looked at the 86 international trips Bond has taken over his film oeuvre and "examined adherence to international travel advice" for sexual health, tropical diseases and general stress. (Walsh, 11/13)
On health care costs —
KHN: Your Out-Of-Pocket Health Care Costs Need Not Be A Mystery
If you’ve ever had a serious illness or cared for someone who has, you know how quickly the medical bills can pile up: from labs, radiology clinics, pharmacies, doctors, different departments within the same hospital — some of them in your insurance network, others not. It can be extremely confusing, no matter how clever you are, to determine which bills you need to pay. If you’re sick, or have technological, cultural or language barriers — not to mention financial difficulties — navigating this maze can be especially intimidating. (Wolfson, 11/15)
