Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Teva Alleges Colorado's Epinephrine Pen Cost-Limiting Is Unconstitutional
Stat: Teva Sues Colorado Over Plan To Lower Cost Of Epinephrine Injectors
In the latest tussle over the cost of medicines, Teva Pharmaceuticals has filed a lawsuit alleging that a new Colorado program aimed at making epinephrine auto-injectors more affordable violates its constitutional rights. (Silverman, 10/16)
In other health news from across the U.S. —
Marin Independent Journal: Marin County To Expand Involuntary Medication Of Jail Inmates
Marin County plans to expand a program that allows medications to be administered to jail inmates against their will. Last fall, the Board of Supervisors allowed court-ordered medications to be given to inmates who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial — without their consent, if necessary. Prior to the authorization, inmates had to remain in jail for months until a bed became available at a state hospital. (Halstead, 10/16)
Axios Philadelphia: Philly Mayor Jim Kenney To Sign Order Protecting Gender-Affirming Care
Mayor Jim Kenney will sign an executive order Tuesday protecting access to gender-affirming health care in Philadelphia. Major medical associations consider such care necessary and potentially lifesaving. (D'Onofrio, 10/16)
CIDRAP: Wisconsin, Illinois Confirm Measles Cases
Health departments in two Midwestern states—Wisconsin and Illinois—have reported measles cases, according to official statements. In Wisconsin, Milwaukee’s health department last week reported an infection in a Milwaukee resident who works in Waukesha County. City, county, and state health officials are working to identify people who may have been exposed. Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on October 13 announced that a measles infection has been confirmed in Cook County, which includes Chicago. The case is the state’s first since 2019. The patient is unvaccinated and had been exposed during international travel. The patient’s rash began on October 9, and the IDPH said the infectious period likely ranges from October 5 through October 13. (Schnirring, 10/16)
Houston Chronicle: Weeks After Texas Eliminated Tampon Tax, Advocates Fight For More Accessibility To Period Products
Dana Marlowe, founder of the nonprofit I Support the Girls, said the next step is providing free menstrual products in all city and state buildings, especially public schools. ... "Period poverty is a public health crisis that people don't like to talk about because periods are considered a taboo topic, and if we aren't willing to fully acknowledge and talk about periods, then we can't help women, girls and menstruators in need live their lives with dignity," Marlowe said. (Garcia, 10/16)
Kansas City Star: Mom Died In Hospital Lobby After Hours Of Waiting: WA Lawsuit
When Cheyenna Costello arrived at a Washington hospital with stomach pains, she was assessed as “critically ill” and in need of immediate medical attention, according to a new lawsuit. Despite this, the “vibrant, much-loved” 41-year-old mother of three was left to wait in the emergency room’s lobby at Providence Regional Medical Center on Nov. 2, 2022, the lawsuit says. (Marnin, 10/16)
KFF Health News: For People With Sickle Cell Disease, ERs Can Mean Life-Threatening Waits
Heather Avant always dresses up when she goes to the emergency room. “I’ve been conditioned to act and behave in a very specific way,” said Avant. “I try to do my hair. I make sure I shower, have nice clothes. Sometimes I put on my University of Michigan shirt.” It’s a strategy to combat discrimination the 42-year-old photographer in Mesquite, Texas, has developed over a lifetime of managing her sickle cell disease, a rare blood disorder that affects an estimated 100,000 Americans. The hereditary condition can affect a person of any race or ethnicity, but Black patients, like Avant, make up the majority of those afflicted in the U.S. (Hutchinson, 10/17)
On drug use and addiction —
CBS News: "Melanie's Law" Enacted To Prevent Fentanyl Overdoses In California Schools
Middle and high school students across California will be protected by a new law requiring life-saving prevention and response resources for fentanyl overdoses under legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday. Newsom announced on Friday that he had signed Senate Bill 10 or Melanie's Law, introduced by Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, which aims to prevent and respond to youth fentanyl overdoses through mandated school safety plans requiring prevention, response, training, education and awareness. (10/16)
Columbus Dispatch: Animal 'Tranq' Embedded In Ohio And Kentucky Fentanyl Supply
A Northern Kentucky doctor saw a patient who was hospitalized for weeks as caregivers removed all the skin from her forearms to save them from amputation. Dr. Mike Kalfas said the woman had been using the opioid drug fentanyl tainted with an animal sedative that caused tissue death, a situation that's becoming more and more common in the Cincinnati area. (DeMio, 10/16)
The Colorado Sun: A Homeless Recovery Campus On The Plains Is So Successful Colorado Is Making More
D.J. Poole’s rock bottom was a sleeping bag on a cold Denver sidewalk. Years of chasing heroin and meth had landed him outside, alone. He had been kicked out of a Denver Rescue Mission rehab program, which meant he couldn’t sleep there anymore. Poole, 33, had spent time in jail, and had burned so many bridges he figured there was no one left to help him. Then, during another round of detox, an addiction counselor suggested that Poole sign up for Fort Lyon. (Brown, 10/16)
