Different Takes: After Defeating Issue 1, Ohio Prepares To Take On Abortion Rights
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss the latest on reproductive rights.
Former Health Care Exec Enters Race For North Carolina Governor
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Jesse Thomas, AP reports, is framing himself as a “no-nonsense Republican.” He formerly led the Medicaid plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield locally. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, the attorney general objected to rate increases requested by the state’s health insurers.
Want To Lower Your Risk Of Death? Just Walk 4,000 Steps A Day: Study
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Google “10,000 steps” and you’ll find many reports mentioning health and that number of paces per day, but NBC News covers a new study that shows health benefits from walking a mere 4,000 steps daily — though benefits did ramp up with more steps. Also in the news: women’s problem drinking.
Senators Seek IRS Investigation Of Nonprofit Hospitals’ Local Care Efforts
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
A bipartisan group of senators is pushing for federal tax regulators to make sure nonprofit hospitals are living up to their mandates for supporting their local area with free or low-cost care to people with low incomes. Also in the news, controversy around a union effort to cap hospital CEOs’ pay.
Study: Weight-Loss Drug Wegovy Reduces Risk Of Heart Troubles By 20%
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
A large study of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, started in 2018, finds that the anti-obesity treatment cut the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths by 20%. The study raises questions about how employers and insurers will cover the pricey drug.
Why Do Some People Get Long Covid? Research Finds Link To Single Gene
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Preliminary research by an international collaboration between dozens of scientists associated long covid with people who carry a version of a single gene, FOXP4. In other long covid news, NIH efforts to research possible therapies are in question.
Republicans Add Anti-LGBTQ+ Efforts To Funding Bills
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
The 19th reports activists are calling the number and severity of anti-LGBTQ+ provisions added to “must-pass” funding bills an “unprecedented attempt” by lawmakers to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Meanwhile, Florida bans AP Psychology because of its discussion of gender identity.
Effort Begins For An Abortion-Rights Constitutional Amendment In Arizona
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion-rights activists want to ask Arizona’s voters to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights, AP says. Meanwhile, in Utah, courts are considering a case influenced by what the state’s attorneys argue was the “original public meaning” of the 1895 state constitution, which didn’t guarantee abortion rights.
Morning Briefing for Wednesday, August 9, 2023
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion vote, long covid, Wegovy heart benefits, LGBTQ+ health, nonprofit hospitals, daily steps, air pollution, and more are in the news.
Ohio Rejects GOP’s Attempt To Quash Abortion Vote; November Battle Looms
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
AP says voters “resoundingly” rejected a Republican-led effort to make it more difficult to change Ohio’s constitution — meaning an abortion rights amendment effort in the fall has a lower bar to reach. Meanwhile, Politico explains why the vote wasn’t a particularly close race, but USA Today reports why the November vote is still a challenge.
First Edition: Aug. 9, 2023
August 9, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As a Union Pushes to Cap Hospital CEO Pay, It’s Accused of Playing Politics
By Molly Castle Work
August 9, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A union is asking Los Angeles city voters to cap hospital executive pay at the U.S. president’s salary. However, hospitals accuse the union of using the proposal as political leverage, and policy experts question whether the policy, if enacted, would be workable.
Pioneering Study Links Testicular Cancer Among Military Personnel to ‘Forever Chemicals’
By Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime
August 9, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The military first documented health concerns surrounding chemicals known as PFAS decades ago yet has continued to use firefighting foam made with them. Despite scores of lawsuits by its personnel and high rates of testicular cancer among troops, it has been slow to investigate a connection.
Viewpoints: Will Ohio Enshrine Abortion Rights?; Still No Word On Cost Of OTC Birth Control Pills
August 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers discuss abortion rights, OTC birth control, covid and more.
1 In 4 Nursing Homes In Missouri Are Operating Uninspected
August 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Missouri Independent says that although federal law requires states to conduct an unannounced inspection at least every 15 months for health and safety compliance, many homes haven’t had an inspection for two or more years. Among other news, worries over West Nile virus in Colorado.
Landmark Change Allowing More Gay Men To Donate Blood Goes Into Effect
August 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
In other public health news: a remarkable lung transplant in two people with organs flipped left to right compared with normal anatomy; the Air Force and Space Force are offering new mental health referrals; worries over AI influencer trends and mental health; and more.
2021 Data Show Majority With Opioid Use Disorder Didn’t Receive Meds
August 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
CDC data from 2021 show only around 1 in 5 adults with an opioid use disorder received medications to help treat them, despite the fact that over 80,000 people died from opioid overdoses that year. Experts say that access to the meds is tougher for Black adults and women.
Study Casts Doubt On Breast Cancer Screening For Those Over 70
August 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
The new study says women 70 and older who underwent mammograms were more likely to be diagnosed with tumors that actually posed no threat to their health, compared to those who were unscreened. Separately, a study found Black men have lower melanoma survival rates.
Shortage Of Black Widow Spider Bite Anti-Venom Ending
August 8, 2023
Morning Briefing
Merck, which makes the Antivenin medication, only sells between 300 and 800 vials per year, and is saying it’s back in supply. Separately, the WHO warns over a batch of contaminated cold syrup made in India — part of an ongoing problem with manufacturing quality.