Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Highlights: Bill Allowing Family Members To Visit Ill Relatives Makes Strides In States; New N.J. Medical School Aims To Reverse Talent Drain
Stateline: Family Members Fight For Right To Visit Ailing Relatives
Experiences like [Toby] Davidow’s have prompted at least 11 states to enact laws that would provide a legal remedy, besides seeking guardianship, which can be costly and complicated, for relatives who have been prevented from seeing infirm or disabled family members. Under the laws, relatives can seek a court order permitting visitation and communication. The order must be granted, unless the ailing relative is found to be mentally competent and objects to contact. (Ollove, 3/26)
The Wall Street Journal: New Jersey Venture Aims To Stop ‘Exodus’ Of Medical Students
Years in the making, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University is finally ready for students. The school, located at the former Hoffmann-La Roche campus in Nutley, N.J., is a joint venture of Seton Hall University and Hackensack Meridian Health. The college began accepting applications this week for its first class of 55 students, who will begin studies this July. (West, 3/24)
The Hill: Texas Wants Back Family Planning Funds It Lost Under Obama For Defunding Planned Parenthood
Texas is asking for federal family planning funding to be returned to the state five years after it was pulled by the Obama administration for defunding Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked HHS to reverse the Obama administration's exclusion of Texas from the Title X family planning grant program, which helps fund reproductive health care services for low-income women. (Hellmann, 3/23)
Sacramento Bee: CA Assembly Pitches Alternative To Single-Payer Health Care
California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is refusing to advance this year a controversial single-payer health care bill that would dramatically reshape the state's health care financing and delivery system. Instead, he's orchestrating an alternative, narrower approach that seeks to achieve universal coverage and make Obamacare more affordable. (Hart and Luna, 3/26)
Modern Healthcare: Experts Praise Centralizing Health System Control
When it comes to health system governing boards, for the most part, experts agree: Less is more. It's an important message for the hospital industry, which has been slow to shed its bureaucratic layers. Industry gurus praised St. Joseph Health's recent move to strip key decision making authority from four California hospital boards and shift that control to a regional board, saying it aligns with a governance style that keeps health systems nimble and efficient, even as they add new hospitals. (Bannow, 3/24)
Tampa Bay Times: Should Florida Law Require School Kids To Get The HPV Vaccine?
A bill called the "Women’s Cancer Prevention Act" would have required children entering Florida public schools to receive the vaccine that protects against cervical and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. While it didn’t get much traction in the Capitol this time around, the bill is likely to pop up again next year as other states begin to pass and consider similar legislation. (Griffin, 3/26)
Denver Post: Uber Is Taking A Larger Role In Transporting People To Colorado Hospitals. Does That Promote Inequality?
But people who can’t afford the ride, who don’t use a smartphone or who require specially equipped vehicles are often left out — even though they form the group most in need of transportation help. Advocates for those with disabilities argue that the disparity violates the law. Uber has been sued at least twice nationwide over accessibility. ...There are other medical transportation services in Colorado — the Regional Transportation District offers one, and there are others available to people who qualify for Medicaid — but those services need to be scheduled well in advance and aren’t as conveniently on-demand. In lieu of better options, patients sometimes call for expensive ambulance rides, even if it’s not an emergency. (Ingold, 3/23)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Cleveland Officials To Place Signs On Homes With Lead Hazards Starting April 2
Cleveland officials will begin posting warning signs on homes with lingering lead hazards and where children have been poisoned. The signs, known as home placards, are mandated by Ohio law and will begin April 2. (Madden, 3/26)
WBUR: More States Move To End 'Tampon Tax' That's Seen As Discriminating Against Women
So far, nine states have exempted menstrual products from their sales tax, and seven have introduced legislation aimed at doing the same. Three of the seven — Nebraska, Virginia and Arizona — introduced their legislation this year. (Sagner, 3/25)
Wyoming Public Radio: Special Education Funding Cap Sets Hard Deadline For Innovations
In an effort to curb the rising costs of K-12 education, the state legislature voted to cap spending on special education during the 2018 Budget Session. Lawmakers also directed the Wyoming Department of Education to come up with efficiencies. While educators agree there’s room for improvements, they say Wyoming’s rural nature complicates things. (Watson, 3/23)
St. Louis Public Radio: Inside the Workhouse: Conditions, Treatment And Time Served Remain Under Scrutiny
St. Louis public safety officials want city residents to know people jailed at the St. Louis Medium Security Institution are treated humanely despite allegations to the contrary. In March, the mayor’s spokesman invited reporters to tour the jail — commonly known as the Workhouse — after weeks of requests for access from local press. (Lisenby, 3/26)
Chicago Sun Times: Synthetic Pot Linked To Several Cases Of Severe Bleeding In NE Illinois
State public health officials have linked synthetic marijuana to four cases of severe bleeding that have been reported this month in northeast Illinois. The first case was reported to the Illinois Poison Center on March 10, according to a statement released Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health. In total, the “unusual cluster of cases” has left four people hospitalized. Each person has suffered severe bleeding from a condition that reduces the blood’s ability to clot. (Schuba, 3/24)
