Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Cancel Culture Is Destroying Self-Esteem; How Governors Can Protect Abortion Rights
NBC News: Anxiety And Other Mental Health Issues Cancel Culture Is Breeding
Effective talk therapy is premised on complete privacy and trust between the patient and therapist. These are the foundations for the open, candid and difficult conversations necessary to get to the root of personal issues. But during many of my recent sessions, it’s felt as if there were more than two of us in the room. The overreach of cancel culture from across the spectrum is making its way into therapy offices, and that is worrisome for clinicians and patients alike. (Maggie Mulqueen, 4/9)
The Washington Post: Michigan Gov. Whitmer And Other Democratic Governors Look To Protect Abortion Rights After Roe
Michigan, though one of the most tightly fought swing states in the country, is also a place where support for access to abortion is strong. Nearly 70 percent of voters in one recent poll expressed support for the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision establishing abortion as a constitutional right. However, if the court does what many people expect it to do in an upcoming Mississippi case and overturns Roe, the law governing abortion in Michigan will revert to one of the most extreme in the country: a 1931 measure, unenforceable after Roe but still on the books, that makes it a felony to provide the procedure, except where necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman. (Karen Tumulty, 4/10)
The New York Times: To Be Pro-Choice, You Must Have The Privilege Of Having Choices
Systemic racism is built into every facet of our society, including sexual and reproductive health. In 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade affirmed the constitutional right to abortion, barring states from banning abortion before the point of fetal viability. But too many states, especially in the South, interpreted and applied the decision as strictly as they could get away with, disproportionately affecting women of color. (Monica Simpson, 4/11)
Cincinnati Enquirer: Where We Live Has A Significant Impact On Our Health
During the first full week of April each year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) coordinates the observation of National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation’s health and safety. This year’s theme – "Public Health is Where You Are" – demonstrates that where we live impacts our communities’ health. (Greg Kesterman, 4/9)
The Star Tribune: Ban On Docs As Cops Has Trade-Offs
An internal March 14 newsletter announced the new policy on dual employment, according to a Star Tribune story. The "unclear relationship between health care and law enforcement, is impacting the ability of some to feel safe seeking care,'' Dr. Daniel Hoody wrote in the newsletter. The medical center will also end a "medical instruction" contract with the Minneapolis police. In an interview with an editorial writer, CEO Jennifer DeCubellis underscored the need for the medical center to unambiguously be a place of healing. (4/10)
Modern Healthcare: It's Time To Change The Language Physicians Use In Medical Records
Words matter in medical records. The most recent reminder of this truism comes from studies in Health Affairs and JAMA Network that have drawn attention to the potential for racial and ethnic bias in physician documentation. (Dr. Bobbie Byrne, 4/8)
Stat: CMS Made The Wrong Decision On Aduhelm
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued on Thursday its hotly debated final decision on whether to cover aducanumab (Aduhelm), the first FDA-approved treatment for Alzheimer’s that slows the disease’s biological progression rather than just temporarily easing its symptoms. We believe it made the wrong choice. The agency, which regulates the public insurance programs that collectively serve about 135 million Americans, decided it will cover the cost of Aduhelm only for the tiny subset of people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease who choose to enroll in CMS-approved clinical trials of the drug. (Dennis J. Selkoe and Jeffrey Cummings, 4/9)
