Blue Cross Won’t Appeal North Carolina State Worker Health Care Contract
July 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
The decision not to pursue further litigation means Aetna will assume responsibility for managing benefits for state workers and teachers. Separately, former leaders of Outcome Health are appealing their fraud convictions.
New York State Opioid Settlement Board Demands Spending Oversight
July 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
New York’s Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board is calling on New York City, Suffolk County, and Nassau County to reveal more data on how they’re spending countless millions in opioid settlement payments. Also in the news, courses on AI in medicine, states with poor quality of life, and more.
First Edition: July 16, 2024
July 16, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Before Michigan Legalized Surrogacy, Families Found Ways Around the Ban
By Kate Wells, Michigan Public
July 16, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Until this spring, Michigan was the only state that had a broad criminal ban on surrogacy. Many families say that left them in limbo: forcing them to leave the state to have children, finding strangers on Facebook who would carry their child, or going through the legal hassle of having to adopt their biological children.
Despite Past Storms’ Lessons, Long-Term Care Residents Again Left Powerless
By Sandy West
July 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Even after multiple massive power outages — including one from a 2021 winter storm in Texas that prompted a U.S. Senate investigation — little has changed for older Americans in senior living facilities when natural disasters strike.
Colorado Poultry Workers Battle Bird Flu in Heat Wave as US Struggles to Contain Outbreak
By Amy Maxmen
Updated July 19, 2024
Originally Published July 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
So far, all 10 cases reported nationally this year at dairy and poultry farms have been mild, consisting of respiratory symptoms and eye irritation. Scientists have warned that the virus could mutate to spread from person to person, like the seasonal flu, and spark a pandemic.
Trabajadores avícolas en Colorado en riesgo de gripe aviar, en medio de la ola de calor y con el país luchando para frenar el brote
By Amy Maxmen
July 15, 2024
KFF Health News Original
Es probable que las cinco personas se infectaran por manipular pollos, a los que se les había encargado sacrificar en respuesta a un brote de gripe aviar en esa granja.
Officials Raise Awareness Over Measles Cases And Exposure In Mich., NYC, N.H.
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, Colorado reports four new human cases of bird flu, and a national summertime wave of covid appears to grow.
Warnings Raised Over Forever Chemical Impact On Baby Formula
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Worries over infant health and development are noted after nanoplastics and forever chemicals are shown to disrupt the chemical structure of important molecules in baby formula and breast milk, Newsweek reports. Weight loss drugs, energy drinks, and the polluted River Seine are also in the news.
First Year Of Georgia’s Medicaid Work Plan Shows Few Have Coverage
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The only state Medicaid plan with a work requirement is showing cracks after its first year, AP reports: With just 4,300 members, numbers are much lower than officials projected and roughly 100 times fewer than what full Medicaid expansion in Georgia would cover.
Morning Briefing for Monday, July 15, 2024
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Heat health dangers, gun violence and mental health, abortion access, ACOs, doctor pay, immunizations, covid, and more are in the news.
Heat-Related Pavement Burns Rising As Western States Sizzle
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Desert Southwest records more surface burns, but extreme heat can be problematic anywhere.
FBI: ‘No Indication Of Any Mental Health Issues’ For Trump Rally Shooter
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The federal investigation into Thomas Matthew Crooks, who authorities say tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday, has not yielded any signs of mental health issues.
Democrats Trying To Woo Latino Men With Once-Taboo Abortion-Rights Talk
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Signs show Latinos’ views have shifted since Roe v. Wade was overturned. “It is about trusting the people that we love to make those decisions for themselves,” one lawmaker said. Meanwhile, Black men remain reluctant to talk about abortion, indicating it’s not the most important issue for them.
Battle Over Medicare’s Physician Pay Rates Might Heat Back Up
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
With doctor lobbyists pessimistic that Congress will increase physician pay rates overall, it’s expected that primary care doctors and specialists will be left to duel over the available funds. Other news reports on payments for digital mental health therapies.
Largest Dialysis Providers Under FTC Antitrust Investigation
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating alleged measures that DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, the two largest providers in the dialysis industry, have taken to discourage any competition from smaller providers.
ACOs May Get Payment Boost In 2024 Under CMS Proposal
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Though physicians are facing a pay cut under CMS’ 2024 proposals, there is an upside in the plan for providers that participate in Medicare Shared Savings Program accountable care organizations: CMS wants to allow high-performing ACO providers to claim a share of the savings they generate early.
Tennesseans Have No Right To Amend Sex On Birth Certificate, Court Rules
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Long-established policy “predates medical diagnoses of gender dysphoria,” the court says, reasoning it therefore could not have targeted transgender people. Separately, neuroscientists delve into the brain differences between sex and gender.
World Is Still Behind After ‘Historic Backslide’ In Childhood Immunizations
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
New data from the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund shows that globally, we’ve yet to catch up after the pandemic-era drop in routine childhood shots. Also in the news: a window into the structure of proteins in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s disease; Ozempic’s tie to the risk for cognitive problems; and more.
Viewpoints: Clearing Up IVF Misinformation; Safe Help For Teens Shouldn’t Be So Tricky
July 15, 2024
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers tackle IVF, teen mental health facilities, long covid, and Medicare drug pricing.
