Nevada To Make Unvaxxed State Workers Pay Extra For Insurance
The fee will be up to $55 per month, and the money is to offset the extra burden of testing all the unvaccinated workers. Meanwhile, in Maine it's proving a struggle to roll out booster shots due to pharmacy staff shortages.
AP:
Unvaccinated Nevada State Workers To Pay Insurance Surcharge
Nevada will be the first state to charge state workers enrolled in public employee health insurance plans a surcharge if they aren’t vaccinated. The state Public Employees’ Benefit Program Board voted on Thursday to charge unvaccinated workers up to $55 per month to offset the costs of testing those who haven’t gotten shots are required to undergo in certain workplaces. “This is pandemic has been shouldered on the burden of everyone. And now this particular burden — the testing — should be shouldered on the burden of those who refuse to (be vaccinated),” said DuAne Young, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s policy director. (Metz, 12/3)
Bloomberg:
Maine Struggles To Give Covid Boosters Due To Pharmacy Staffing Shortages
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., a critical player in the U.S. vaccination campaign, has canceled some booster-shot appointments in Maine due to staffing issues, a state health official said. People began reporting the issue on Twitter last week to Nirav Shah, the director of the northern New England state’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Shah said he contacted Walgreens, thinking he could help if there was a supply shortfall. (LaVito, 12/2)
The CT Mirror:
Two-Thirds Of Nursing Home Residents Have Received COVID Boosters
About 67% of nursing home residents in the state had received a COVID-19 vaccine booster as of Nov. 21, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and just over one-in-five nursing home staff who were eligible for boosters had received one. Many of those residing and working in long-term care facilities have been eligible for booster shots since late September. At a press conference last week, Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer, stated that booster clinics have been ongoing since then. The state is currently helping facilities that “take a little longer to get organized” conduct clinics on-site, he said. (Pananjady and Altimari, 12/2)
The Hill:
South Carolina Nurse Indicted, Accused Of Creating Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Cards
A nurse in South Carolina has been accused of creating fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and lying to authorities when approached about these allegations. As The State newspaper reported, Tammy McDonald, a registered nurse and director of nursing at a rehabilitation center, was indicted by a federal jury on Nov. 23, per court documents that were made public on Thursday. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. (Choi, 12/2)
In non-covid news across the states —
Health News Florida:
Ladapo Says He's 'Committed' To Reducing Florida's HIV Spread At A World AIDS Day Event
Efforts to reduce Florida’s relatively high number of new HIV infections could amp up under the state's new surgeon general. Speaking this week at Leon County’s World AIDS Day event, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo promised he and Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez would work to increase access to testing, treatment and prevention methods. “We’re committed,” he said. “I'm certain that what we can do it, and I'm certain that we will do it.” (Crowder, 12/2)
WUSF Public Media:
Tampa Is Awarded $2M For Affordable Housing For Residents Living With HIV And AIDS
The city of Tampa was awarded $2,250,000 to be used for affordable housing for low- income people living with HIV and AIDS. The money comes from $41 million pot from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).Two other Florida-based organizations received money: Community Rightful Center, which provides employment services to disabled individuals in South Florida, and Broward House, which works to improve the quality of life for individuals with HIV and other chronic health challenges. (Miller, 12/2)
Jacksonville Daily Record:
New UF Health Jax Centers Combine Emergency Room And Urgent Care
UF Health Jacksonville is bringing a new emergency health care concept to Duval County in a partnership with Dallas-based Intuitive Health. The centers combine the facilities of an emergency room with those of an urgent care center. Health professionals triage patients to determine if their circumstances warrant emergency or urgent care treatment. There will be three Jacksonville locations. Intuitive Health also has centers in southeast and northwest Florida. (Macdonald, 12/2)
AP:
Potential Delay Of New Long-Term Care Payroll Tax Considered
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday he is talking to lawmakers about a potential delay in the collection of a mandatory payroll tax to fund Washington state’s new long-term care program. On Wednesday, Senate Democratic leadership sent Inslee a letter asking him to delay implementation of the premium assessment — set to start in January — until Jan. 1, 2023, saying that it would allow the Legislature to address concerns about the program. (La Corte, 12/3)
The Hill:
Hawaii Democrat Raises Alarms Over Water Contamination Near Pearl Harbor
Hawaii Rep. Kai Kahele (D) raised alarms in a House Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday over water contamination near Pearl Harbor. The Hawaii State Department of Health on Wednesday found petroleum products in water from the Navy’s water system that is used by 93,000 people, The Associated Press reported. Residents suspect the contamination is from the Navy’s Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage facility and have called for it to be shut down, while the Navy says the tanks are needed for their Pacific operations, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. (Lonas, 12/2)
