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Health Care and Insurance News Bulletin

October 14 – October 27, 2022

The purpose of this bulletin is to compile a handful of articles relating to health care coverage in the United States that are most pertinent to LIUNA and its health and welfare funds. We hope you find this biweekly bulletin helpful and informative.

ProPublica: Lawmakers And Public Health Advocates Call For Congress To Finally Ban Asbestos
Days after ProPublica detailed dangerous working conditions at a chlorine plant that used asbestos until it closed last year, public health advocates and two U.S. lawmakers are renewing calls for Congress to ban the carcinogen.

CNN: Health Insurance Premiums At Work Didn't Rise In 2022 Amid Soaring Inflation, But The Good Times Won't Last
Even though the price of gas, groceries and other essentials shot up in 2022, health care premiums for employer-sponsored coverage remained essentially flat, according to a survey released Thursday.

Axios: ACA's Preventative Care Requirement Under Attack
Plaintiffs in an Affordable Care Act lawsuit are now asking a federal judge to toss all parts of the law requiring coverage of preventive health services. The filing raises the stakes in the closely watched case, Kelley v. Becerra: If U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor sides with the plaintiffs, millions of Americans could lose coverage for cancer screenings, behavioral counseling and other recommendations made by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The Hill: House Investigation Finds Insurers, Benefit Managers Improperly Limit Access To Birth Control
Some of the nation’s largest insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) impose coverage exclusions and other restrictions on birth control products, contrary to an Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement, according to a House investigation.

ABC News: Experts Warn Of Severe Upcoming Flu Season As Pediatric Hospitals Already Feel The Crush
A surge in pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses is overwhelming hospitals across the United States, as experts warn of a potentially severe flu season in the coming months.

AP: Biden Administration Seeks To Expand 24/7 Mental Health Care
The government announced plans [October 18^th] to award millions of dollars in grants to expand all-hours mental health and substance abuse care in more communities around the country.

Reuters: Hair-Straightening Products Linked With Uterine Cancer Risk: Study
Hair-straightening products may significantly increase the risk of developing uterine cancer among those who use them frequently, a large study published on [October 17^th] suggests.

CBS News: Benzene Behind Latest Shampoo Recall Is A Big Problem, Scientist Says
Unilever is recalling dry shampoo aerosol products sold nationwide because they may contain elevated levels of benzene, a human carcinogen. The recall is the latest of half a dozen so far this year, with the cancer-causing chemical showing up in products including deodorant, hand sanitizer and sunscreen.

NPR: What To Know Now That Hearing Aids Are Available Over The Counter
Starting [October 17^th], hearing aids will be available to buy over the counter across the U.S.

Politico: CDC Advisers Recommend Adding Covid Shots To Routine Immunization Schedules For Kids, Adults
The CDC’s independent vaccine advisers voted 15-0 [October 20^th] to add most Covid-19 vaccines offered in the U.S. to the childhood, adolescent and adult immunization schedules.

Fierce Healthcare: New Biden Order Wants Payment Models To Tackle Drug Prices
President Biden is calling for new payment and delivery models that will lower drug prices in a new executive order.

Kaiser Health News: Weight Loss Gadgets: They Provide Data To Help Consumers Achieve Diet Goals, But It Still Won’t Be Easy
I felt a special kind of awe, then panic, watching my glucose levels skyrocket for the first time after relishing a cold beer on a sweltering summer evening.

STATES IN THE NEWS

Health News Florida: 'Enormous Loss': Advocates Lament States Like Florida Dropping The Teen Mental Health Survey
In April, the Florida Department of Education announced it would not participate in a key part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior surveys that reaches more than 80,000 students.

Carolina Public Press: No Internet, No Telehealth: Rural North Carolina Residents Struggle To Connect With Doctors Virtually
An estimated 4 million North Carolinians don’t have access to reliable broadband service. This particularly affects rural residents, many of whom live in communities that tend to suffer most from a lower supply of health professionals.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Local Hospitals Feel The Brunt Of AMC’s Emergency Room Closure
On [October 17^th], just three days after the emergency room at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center was closed, officials at nearby hospitals report they have seen more patients but that it’s hard to know how many were formerly served by AMC.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: New Technology Paves Way For Robotic, 1-Incision Colon Surgery
Friedman and HCA’s MountainView Hospital have joined a Food and Drug Administration clinical trial to confirm the safety and feasibility of using the da Vinci SP (single port) robotic system in a variety of colorectal surgeries.

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Lisa M. Sabitoni, Esq.
Executive Director
Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America
905 16th Street, NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20006