Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Short-Term 'Junk Insurance' Extension Bill Vetoed In Kansas
AP: Kansas Governor Vetoes Bill On Short-Term Health Insurance
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday vetoed a bill favored by many Republican lawmakers that could have encouraged some people to stick longer with short-term health coverage that critics label “junk insurance.” The bill’s backers said it simply would have given people who buy limited duration health insurance more protection against premium increases or coverage changes. Such plans, lasting up to a year, offer lower premiums than comprehensive plans but don’t cover pre-existing medical conditions and other items such as medications or maternity care. (Hanna, 5/21)
WUSF Public Media: State-Run Coronavirus Testing Sites Are About To Swab Their Last Noses
State-run coronavirus testing sites will be closing over the next few days, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Tim Dudley cited a downward trend in the positivity rate and number of cases. Dudley also cited a decrease in the demand for tests. (Lisciandrello, 5/20)
The Oregonian: Fake, Stolen Vaccination Cards Have Become Commonplace In Recent Weeks – And Identifying Them Can Be Difficult
Oregon announced Tuesday that fully vaccinated people now can go maskless in public indoor spaces, but only with proof that they’ve been inoculated against COVID-19. Some other states are considering similar approaches as they too fully reopen their economies. Anticipation of this development is surely one of the reasons fake vaccination cards have been selling briskly on eBay, Etsy and other internet sites for weeks. (Perry, 5/20)
AP: Kentucky Receives Grant For Suicide Lifeline Transition
Kentucky has received $340,000 to help plan for changing over to a crisis phone line that will be known as 988, Gov. Andy Beshear said. The funding came from Vibrant Emotional Health, which is the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Beshear’s office said in a news release Thursday.“ A simplified, three-digit national hotline creates access to mental health care similar to that available for physical health through the 911 system and represents the next giant step in reducing stigma for those at risk or in need of behavioral health services and care,” Beshear said. (5/21)
WSB TV Channel 2: Kroger Says Fully-Vaccinated Customers, Workers No Longer Have To Wear Masks
Kroger has announced it will not require fully-vaccinated customers and most fully-vaccinated associates to wear masks starting Thursday. The updated policy includes all stores, distribution centers, plants and offices unless masks are required by the state or local jurisdiction. “Based on the CDC’s science-based guidance and the input of our associates, we are updating our mask policy in a way that balances our values of safety and respect,” the company said in a statement. (5/20)
New Hampshire Union Leader: Police Arrest Unmasked Attendee As Maskless Group Shows Up At Timberlane School Meeting
Tempers flared at Thursday night’s Timberlane Regional School Board meeting after a Sunday school teacher was arrested moments after she and several other unmasked attendees showed up to demand an end to a school mask mandate. The meeting was planned to be held in person at the district’s Performing Arts Center, but board Chairwoman Kimberly Farah quickly shut it down before it began and required that it be held remotely. (Schreiber, 5/20)
The Oregonian: Fred Meyer, QFC Still Require Masks In Oregon, Despite Kroger Policy Change
Kroger stores across the country are going maskless, but not in Oregon and Washington. The national grocery store chain, which owns Fred Meyer and QFC, said Wednesday that fully vaccinated customers wouldn’t be required to wear masks unless a local rule says otherwise. Neither Fred Meyer or QFC is changing things up that quickly, though. (Acker, 5/20)
Athens Banner-Herald: Athens Mask Mandate Is No Longer Being Enforced As COVID-19 Cases Drop
Athens is no longer enforcing mask-wearing as COVID-19 cases in the county dip below 100 cases per 100,000 residents. On May 4, the mayor and commission approved the 16th declaration of local emergency for COVID-19. As part of this declaration, mask-wearing in Athens would be required throughout the city. The mask requirement has been in place since July 7. (5/20)
The Wall Street Journal: Iowa Bans Face-Mask Mandates In Schools, Joining Texas
In a last-minute move at the end of the Iowa’s legislative session, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill banning mask mandates in public schools across the state. “Iowa is putting parents back in control of their child’s education and taking greater steps to protect the rights of all Iowans to make their own health care decisions,” Ms. Reynolds, a Republican, said. The state’s seven-day Covid-19 case average has dropped below April 2020 levels. According to the latest seven-day average from Wednesday, 202 people have tested positive in Iowa. (Ansari, 5/20)
AP: Washington State's Largest County Says Keep The Masks On
Despite recent guidance from federal and state officials, the top health official in Washington’s most populous county urged people Thursday to keep wearing face masks in public, indoor settings. King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin issued a directive strongly recommending that residents age 5 and up wear face coverings whether or not they are vaccinated until 70% or more of the county’s residents 16 and older are fully inoculated. The agency projects the county will reach the threshold in late June. (Baumann, 5/21)
WUSF Public Media: Rays, Marlins Update Mask Policies While Increasing Stadium Capacities
Fans won’t be required to wear masks the next time they watch the Miami Marlins or the Tampa Bay Rays play at their home stadiums. The teams updated their coronavirus mask policies on Wednesday following recent changes to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, which now say fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most indoor and outdoor settings. (Lisciandrello, 5/20)
The New York Times: Judge Dismisses Murder Charge Against California Mother After Stillbirth
A California judge on Thursday dismissed a murder charge against a woman who delivered a stillborn child in 2019 after consuming methamphetamine. Judge Robert Shane Burns of Kings County Superior Court dismissed the charge because prosecutors had failed to present sufficient evidence that the woman, Chelsea Becker, had ingested drugs with the knowledge and intent that doing so could cause a stillbirth, according to Jacqueline Goodman, a lawyer for Ms. Becker. (Paybarah, 5/20)
