Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Highlights: Va. Panel Recommends No Changes To Vaccine Exemptions; W.Va. Politics, Lawsuits Put Focus On Drug Distributors' Role In Opioid Epidemic
The Richmond Times Dispatch: Va. Commission Recommends Not Changing State's Immunization Exclusion Guidelines
The General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Health Care on Wednesday recommended making no changes to the state’s regulations on possible exemptions, including religious reasons, for otherwise-mandatory school vaccinations. (Demeria, 11/9)
The Columbus Dispatch: Cardinal Health Snared In West Virginia Politics Over Opioids
An ongoing legal battle and a contentious political race in West Virginia have put a renewed spotlight on the role of giant drug distributors, including Cardinal Health, in fighting the opioid epidemic. (Rose, 11/9)
Health News Florida: Florida Supreme Court Won’t Reconsider Nursing Home Case
A divided Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would not reconsider a decision rejecting arbitration in a lawsuit about injuries suffered by a nursing-home resident. (11/9)
The Texas Tribune: State Officials Hear More Testimony On Fetal Remains Rule
Texas Health and Human Services Commission officials listened to wide-ranging testimony about miscarriages, grief, loss and the need for human dignity Wednesday as they continue mulling a rule that would require cremation or interment of aborted or miscarried fetuses. (Evans, 11/9)
St. Louis Post Dispatch: People 'Like Zombies' After OD'Ing On Synthetic Drugs Near Downtown St. Louis Homeless Shelter
Dozens of people have been treated downtown over the past several days after apparently overdosing on a synthetic cannabis-like drug, officials said Wednesday.“ People were standing and walking around like zombies,” said St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson. “They didn’t know what they were doing or where they were at.”Some were found lying in the streets and on sidewalks. Most of those overdosing appeared to be homeless, Jenkerson said, and most were in the area of New Life Evangelistic Center on Locust Street or the nearby Central Library branch. (Hollinshed and Bogan, 11/10)
