Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Federal Project Tackles Health Impacts Of Extreme Heat In Nevada, Elsewhere
The 18-month project, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, supports state and local efforts to reduce the health effects of extreme heat in Las Vegas, Nev., Phoenix, Ariz., Miami, Fla., and Charleston, S.C. According to the NOAA, the work in each city is specific to local needs and includes things like heat monitoring, identifying heat-risk reduction strategies, and improving services for the most vulnerable citizens. (Roedel, 11/22)
In other health news from across the U.S. —
Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller is stepping down from the job that includes overseeing Florida’s massive Medicaid program. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will soon begin a second term, announced the move in a Twitter post Monday. (11/22)
A Cook County jury ruled in favor of Sterigenics, concluding that the Oak Brook-based medical-sterilization company should not take any responsibility for cancer in a woman who lived near the company’s plant in suburban Willowbrook. (Davis, 11/22)
According to statistics provided to ABC News by the Columbus Public Health Department (CPHD), as of Tuesday afternoon, 19 children have contracted the virus. Nearly half of these children were hospitalized due to severe symptoms of the infection. Almost half were under five years old. (Cahan and Kekatos, 11/23)
New Hampshire's Republican-controlled executive council blocked funding Tuesday for a long-running sex education program, saying they want state education officials to weigh in on the curriculum. (Gibson, 11/22)
New Hampshire already faces a shortage of nursing assistants, home health aides and other direct care workers. But a state commission says thousands more will be needed as the population ages. (Cuno-Booth, 11/22)
On police intervention in mental health emergencies —
Officers trained in crisis intervention responded to the 911 calls in both incidents, according to police, but were unable to de-escalate either situation. Five officers shot 38 rounds at Burks in three seconds, striking him 19 times, after police said he lunged toward them. Three officers shot four rounds at Miller during an alleged struggle for a gun. (May Sahouri, 11/22)
Two officers responded to the residence to provide standby assistance, police said. Once they arrived at the garage at about 11:40 a.m., a member of the crisis outreach team spoke with one of them about the man’s recent drug use, prior police interactions and the team’s safety concerns, according to a Tuesday news release from Salt Lake police. (Peterson, 11/22)
