Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Nevada Reverses Decision On Rapid Tests In Nursing Homes
The New York Times: Nevada Revokes Halt On Rapid Antigen Testing In Nursing Homes
Under pressure from the federal government, Nevada health officials on Friday rescinded a statewide order directing nursing homes to halt the use of two government-issued rapid coronavirus tests that the state had deemed to be inaccurate. The reversal came shortly after the United States Department of Health and Human Services issued a threatening letter, dated Oct. 8, to Nevada officials. The federal document noted that swift punitive actions could be taken if the state did not promptly revoke its ban, which Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, called “unwise, uninformed and unlawful” and a violation of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act. (Wu, 10/10)
WSB-TV: Health Experts Shares Concerns About How Rapid Tests Are Reported In Georgia
Millions of rapid tests for COVID-19 will be heading to Georgia soon and the first shipment has already arrived. Rapid results could make up as much as 6% of the state’s positive COVID-19 cases but this can’t be known for sure. As these tests get smaller and more widespread, some experts say that’s not good enough. (Johnson, 10/9)
Bloomberg: Rapid Covid Test Push Wavers On Nursing Home False Positives
A federal effort to arm nursing homes with rapid coronavirus tests is stumbling on concern the tests return false positives, putting at least one state at odds with federal officials over the value of the tests. Nevada this month ordered nursing homes to stop using the point-of-care tests after they found more than 20 instances where positive findings were overturned by more precise assays. That was more than half of the positive samples re-tested. Other states are now questioning their accuracy as well. (Tozzi, LaVito and Court, 10/9)
In news from Nebraska, Montana, Idaho, Utah and California —
Lincoln Journal Star: Major Nebraska Public Health Reshuffling Leaves Epidemiologist Position In Limbo
At a time when public health programs are crucial in order to protect, advise and educate state governments and the people they serve, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is in the middle of a weighty reorganization. Under the leadership of CEO Dannette Smith and advice of a hired consultant, it is shuffling employees and filling new positions. Tom Safranek, who had been the state epidemiologist for 30 years, was removed last month from that position and given a new role: special assistant to CEO Smith. (Young, 10/11)
Billings Gazette: Montana’s Care Homes Struggle With Staffing And Ever-Changing Regulations As COVID-19 Cases Rise
As COVID-19 cases surge across Montana, care homes are struggling to keep up with frequently changing regulations, intensifying the pressure they’re under to keep staff and residents safe. Long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living centers generally serve older adults with underlying medical conditions, and the communal nature of these facilities compounds the risk, according to health experts. (Hall, 10/11)
KHN: COVID Stalks Montana Town Already Saddled With Asbestos Disease
Frank Fahland has spent most days since the pandemic began at the site of his dream house, working to finish a 15-year labor of love while keeping away from town and the people closest to him. Like thousands of people from Libby and Lincoln County in the far northwestern corner of Montana, the 61-year-old Fahland has scarred lungs after years of breathing in asbestos fibers from dust and soil contaminated by the town’s now-defunct plant that produced vermiculite, a mineral used in insulation and gardening. (Hegyi, 10/12)
Idaho Statesman: Idaho COVID-19 Data Q&A: Positivity Rate, Deaths Explained
Among the overwhelming amount of numbers that have come from tracking the COVID-19 pandemic, positivity rate might be the most misunderstood. The math is simple. But identifying the right raw numbers to put into the formula has proved elusive for some popular national tracking websites — creating a “what source do you believe?” situation. (Cripe, 10/9)
The Salt Lake Tribune: Older Utah Voters Are Worried About Health Care And Prescription Drug Costs, Survey Shows
The rising costs of prescription drugs and health care could be a potent campaign issue for older voters in Utah ahead of the November elections. And according to a new survey, Utahns age 45 and above expressed support for a number of progressive policies to boost pay and reduce the influence of money in politics. (Schott, 10/10)
San Francisco Chronicle: California Lawmakers Ask Judge To Replace Prison Health Overseer Amid Coronavirus Outbreaks
Amid continuing coronavirus outbreaks in the California prison system, a group of state lawmakers called Friday for a federal judge to replace the court-appointed receiver who oversees prison health care. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in Oakland, six legislators asked him to remove J. Clark Kelso from the job he has held since 2008 and appoint a new receiver “committed to protect the health and safety of incarcerated persons, staff and the public.” (Koseff, 10/11)
In news from Michigan, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida —
Detroit Free Press: Detroit Issues COVID-19 Order That Requires Masks, Social Distancing
Detroiters must wear a mask at indoor and outdoor gatherings and businesses must maintain social distancing and capacity limits, Detroit city officials announced Friday. Detroit Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair issued a new COVID-19 public health order which takes effect immediately and reinstates aspects of the emergency declarations previously issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which were undercut by a state Supreme Court ruling. The state health department on Friday issued a sweeping order that largely mirrors those put in place by Whitmer. (Rahman, 10/9)
The Hill: Kentucky Governor To Quarantine With Family After Coronavirus Exposure
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) and his family have started quarantining after a member of the governor's security detail received a positive test for the virus on Saturday evening, after driving the first family in the afternoon. The governor announced the family’s plans in a video on Twitter on Sunday afternoon. (Coleman, 10/11)
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Georgia Veterans' Wait Times For Medical Help Skyrocket
Thousands of military veterans in Georgia who signed up for a program to speed access to medical care are instead waiting longer, a review of internal Veterans Affairs reports shows. A poorly functioning VA appointment department, a surge in veteran requests amid a pandemic and a rocky transition to a private company that manages referrals are contributing to the worsening delays, according to VA employees and veterans. (Quinn, 10/11)
Tampa Bay Times: Former Seminole Tribe Leader Who Built The Hard Rock Brand Dies From COVID-19
Max Osceola Jr., a longtime Seminole Tribe leader who transformed the tribe by building the Seminole Hard Rock hotel, cafe and casino brand into one of the world’s most successful entertainment enterprises, died Thursday night at the Cleveland Clinic from complications due to COVID-19. He was 70. He had been hospitalized and receiving treatment for the virus for several weeks. (Cetoute, 10/11)
