Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Florida Abortion Ban Has No Exceptions; Alzheimer's Research Must Diversify
Miami Herald: Without Access To Safe Abortion, Florida Women And Their Families Will Take An Economic Hit
This January marked the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed that the Constitution protects a pregnant person’s freedom to choose abortion. Less than a month later, the Florida House passed HB 5 to ban abortions after 15 weeks (the current cutoff is 24 weeks), with no exceptions for rape or incest. The bill is now expected to pass the Senate and go to Gov. DeSantis, who has signaled he will sign it into law. (Marya Meyer and Elizabeth Barajas-Roman, 2/24)
Stat: Improving Diversity In Alzheimer's Research Can Update All Medical Research
The health inequities that have long plagued the U.S. were highlighted and worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic. Low-income and minoritized populations, such as Black and Hispanic Americans, are not only at greater risk of infection, hospitalization, and death from the disease, but they are also up to twice as likely to develop chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The roots of these disparities are deep and complex. But one of them that bears highlighting is the extent to which regulatory approval pathways affect how medical research is conducted in the U.S. (Rhoda Au, 2/25)
The CT Mirror: Three Voices On Medical Aid-In-Dying
When Kristen Keska’s mother Karen Self-Mann, was diagnosed with a terminal, late-stage cancer, Kristen wished her mother lived in one of the 10 states and jurisdictions where medical aid in dying was available. For as long as she can remember, Kristen’s mom told her that if needed, she favored an option to ease suffering at the end of her life. Although she had hospice services, Kristen’s mother suffered in her final days, and Kristen advocates for medical aid in dying today in her memory. (Tim Appleton, 2/25)
The Tennessean: Tackling Food Insecurity Requires A 'One Health' Approach
A new approach, a "One Health" approach, holds promise where other strategies have failed. A One Health approach looks at the intersection of the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. (Deb Miller and Carole R. Myers, 2/24)
Stat: CDC Must Stop Legitimizing The Expulsion Of Asylum Seekers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has come under fire in past weeks over fumbles in its response to the Omicron surge. As the organization’s leadership works to dig itself out from this blow to its reputation, it must rectify another issue that’s been threatening its legitimacy for almost two years: CDC orders that have justified the baseless expulsions of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. In March 2020, the CDC issued an order invoking two rarely used sections — 265 and 268 — of Title 42 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, which was established in 1944 by the Public Health Service Act. Title 42 grants the government powers to take emergency action to halt the introduction of communicable disease. It’s meant to be used for localized outbreaks, not global pandemics. (Juliana Morris, Stephanie Sun and Rashmi Jasrasaria, 2/24)
USA Today: Kathy Ireland Wants To Help Fight Opioids As The Nation Battles COVID
For renowned supermodel and philanthropist Kathy Ireland as well as former Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, the fight against the opioid epidemic is personal. Ireland and Hargan recently met with USA TODAY Opinion to talk about fighting the opioid epidemic in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. (2/25)
The CT Mirror: UConn Health’s Mission Is Public Service For Our State
As the newly appointed interim CEO for UConn Health, I testified on February 22 before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee regarding our budget request for the next fiscal year. I highlighted the enormous good that UConn Health does and proudly carries out as a public service mission for our state. However, I remain troubled and perplexed by the level of misunderstanding and mistaken assumptions that continue to be perpetuated regarding UConn Health, our mission, and our finances. (Bruce T. Liang, M.D., 2/25)
Stat: Fair Hearings Often Aren't When Hospitals Try To Suspend Physicians
Over the past five years, there has been an alarming trend in the United States health care system: an increase in the number of physicians in private practice whose medical staff privileges in hospitals have been suspended without proper due process. Hospitals operate under certain accrediting agencies, most commonly The Joint Commission, which, along with state laws, require them to adopt medical staff bylaws that provide for a fair hearing process consistent with “due process” if they intend to take a negative action such as trying to limit or revoke a physician’s medical staff privileges. Due process requires that legal matters be resolved according to established rules and principles which, in the context of curtailing a physician’s privileges, includes a fair hearing. (Daniel B. Frier, 2/25)
