Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ohio Can't Pinpoint Nursing Facilities Where Thousands Have Died Of COVID
Cincinnati Enquirer: Which Ohio Long-Term Care Facilities Had COVID-19 Deaths? ODH Doesn't Know
More than 3,700 Ohioans have died from COVID-19 in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, but the Ohio Department of Health now says it does not know the facilities where they died. The health department has for months taken the position that releasing the names of long-term care facilities with COVID-19 deaths would violate state privacy laws. The Enquirer filed a complaint seeking the records in the Ohio Court of Claims in mid-August. (Borchardt, 12/1)
Courier-Journal: As Indiana Numbers Soar, Floyd County Commissioners Remove COVID-19 Response Leader
Commissioners in a Southern Indiana county voted Tuesday night to remove the doctor heading up their COVID-19 response. Floyd County's commissioners voted 2-1 not to approve the certification for Dr. Tom Harris, the county's leading health officer, for another four years despite the health department's board of directors voting to keep him as health officer. The board makes the initial choice, and the commissioners confirm or reject that choice. (Archie, 12/1)
AP: Maine Gets More Than $3M From FEMA For Protective Gear
Maine is set to receive more than $3.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with the costs of personal protective equipment incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic. FEMA officials said the grant is coming to the state as reimbursement for items including disposable non-sterile isolation gowns and disposable isolation units. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention distributed the items in response to emergency needs in the state. (12/2)
In other news from Texas and Kentucky —
Houston Chronicle: Texas Sees Increase In Number Of Residents Picking Affordable Care Act Plans
Texans are enrolling in health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act exchange at significantly higher rates than last year. The number of Texans choosing plans during the first three full weeks of the open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 jumped 17 percent to about 383,000 from 326,000 during approximately the same period last year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Open enrollment ends Dec. 15. (Wu, 12/1)
AP: Louisville Mayor Declares Racism A Public Health Crisis
Louisville’s mayor, weathering heavy criticism in the wake of the Breonna Taylor shooting, has outlined a series of steps to improve racial disparities in Kentucky’s largest city. Mayor Greg Fischer signed an executive order Tuesday declaring racism a public health crisis. He said officials “need to do everything we can to repair distrust through action.” (12/1)
