KFF Health News Weekly Edition: May 12, 2023

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The Crisis Is Officially Ending, but Covid Confusion Lives On
The public health emergency declaration for covid-19 ends May 11, ushering in major changes in how Americans can access and pay for the vaccines, treatments, and tests particular to the culprit coronavirus. But not everyone will experience the same changes, creating a confusing patchwork of coverage — not unlike health coverage for other diseases. Meanwhile, outside advisers to the FDA formally recommended allowing a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription. If the FDA follows the recommendation, it would represent the first over-the-counter form of hormonal contraception. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.

PBMs, the Brokers Who Control Drug Prices, Finally Get Washington’s Attention
By Arthur Allen Drugmakers, pharmacies, and physicians blame pharmacy benefit managers for high drug prices. Congress is finally on board, too, but will it matter?

An Arm and a Leg: Mental Health ‘Ghost Networks’ — And a Ghostbuster
By Dan Weissmann What should you do when your search for an in-network mental health care provider comes up empty? Abigail Burman has some expertise to share.

AI May Be on Its Way to Your Doctor’s Office, But It’s Not Ready to See Patients
By Darius Tahir Giant corporations like Microsoft and Google, plus many startups, are eyeing health care profits from programs based on artificial intelligence.

Republicans Vow Not to Cut Veterans’ Benefits. But the Legislation Suggests Otherwise.
By Michael McAuliff Sparing veterans and defense spending, as Republicans promise, would be extremely difficult, requiring cuts of more than 20% in other parts of the budget. The Republicans’ Limit, Save, Grow Act already proposes a $2 billion cut to the Department of Veterans Affairs by taking back unspent covid relief funding.

California Confronts Overdose Epidemic Among Former Prison Inmates
By Don Thompson Individuals newly released from prison are 40 times as likely to die of opioid overdoses than members of the general population, researchers say. In response, California corrections officials aim to arm departing inmates with an antidote that can be used to reverse the effects of opioid poisoning.

An Outdated Tracking System Is a Key Factor in Texas’ Foster Care Shortcomings
By Colleen DeGuzman The computer program, designed in 1996 to be a secure location for foster children’s medical and school records and histories of neglect and abuse, is older than Google — and has had far fewer updates.

Legal Pot Is More Potent Than Ever — And Still Largely Unregulated
By David Hilzenrath As marijuana has become far more mainstream, potent, and sometimes dangerous, uneven regulation at the state and federal levels leaves consumers at risk.

Drive-Thru Baby Showers Serve Express Needs of Pregnant Veterans in Atlanta
By Jess Mador, WABE Women are the fastest-growing group among U.S. veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs says it is working to meet their health needs, including pregnancy care.

California Debates Extending PTSD Coverage to More First Responders
By Annie Sciacca A state Senate bill would extend workers’ compensation coverage of post-traumatic stress injuries for firefighters and police officers. But a separate bill to cover paramedics and EMTs is unlikely to be heard.

Medi-Cal Enrollees in California: Here’s How to Verify Your Eligibility
By Bernard J. Wolfson California’s safety-net health program has resumed annual eligibility checks after three years, which means beneficiaries will need to provide updated personal information to maintain coverage. Here’s what to watch for.

In Idaho, Taking a Minor Out of State for an Abortion Is Now a Crime: ‘Abortion Trafficking’
By Sarah Varney Under the nation’s first law of its kind, teens must have parental consent to travel for medical care, including in cases of sexual assault or rape. Any adult, including an aunt, grandparent, or sibling, convicted of violating the criminal statute faces up to five years in prison — and could be sued for financial damages.

On the Night Shift With a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
By Katheryn Houghton Montana and other states are trying to increase the number of nurses specially trained to treat survivors of sexual assault.

Students in Rural Colorado Are Left Without Options as Specialized Schools Close
By Rae Ellen Bichell and Helen Santoro A new state law aims to keep the doors open at schools that accept students with intensive needs. One preteen in rural Colorado shows how the current system leaves some students bouncing between institutions far from home.

Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
“Health Minute” brings original health care and health policy reporting from the KFF Health News newsroom to the airwaves each week.