November 1st, 2022
The Out-of-Pocket Health News Digest
|
|
Below you will find briefs about recent health policy news stories. Our hope is for students to have an information outlet at their fingertips to keep up-to-date with the most pressing news stories in health policy.
Produced by the HPSA Education Committee: Abigail Lindsay, Graceanne Horton, Olivia Rockwell, Ellie Jorling, Nia Allen, Ronnie Sharangpani, Easheta Shah, and Iulia Dobrin
|
|
Health and Disability Take Center Stage in Pennsylvania Senate Race
by Graceanne Horton
|
|
After surviving a stroke five months ago, Democratic candidate John Fetterman took to the stage Tuesday evening to debate his Republican opponent in the race for Senate in Pennsylvania, Dr. Mehmet Oz. The performance of Fetterman, who is currently the lieutenant governor of the state, concerned many party leaders, as he visibly struggled to articulate his positions. At times, Fetterman relied on closed captioning for questions and even stated positions that appeared contrary to his own.
Despite the responses of doctors and disability rights advocates applauding Fetterman’s performance and claiming no evidence of cognitive impairment, the debate centered questions about disability and health in voters’ minds. Democrats worry that voters may be disheartened by Fetterman’s performance and that it may sway the outcome of the nearly deadlocked race.
Dr. Oz, who earlier in the race questioned Fetterman’s health, has recently directed more attention to issues of public safety in an attempt to cast Fetterman as radically anti-law enforcement. Other Republican leaders, however, have not relented, continuing to express doubts about Fetterman’s ability to meet the demands of the job.
The outcome of this highly watched election will not only determine the political balance of Congress; it may also shed light on how Americans view disabilities.
|
|
New York State Department Implements Regulations to Protect Nail Salon Workers
by Jaymie Tibbits
|
|
Going to the nail salon is a source of joy for many people, spending time on self-care and staying up on the latest style trends. One thought that might not cross your mind when visiting your local salon is the health and safety of the nail technicians performing the service.
In 2016, a movement of organizers and nail salon employee advocates spurred the adoption of ventilation requirements for salons across the state of New York. However, due to delays in part attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, those regulations were not fully implemented until last month. Now, nail salons across the state will be required to procure and install ventilation systems that must “capture and exhaust harmful contaminants, fumes, and particles away from clients and workers.”
Research has proven that prolonged exposure to the chemicals found in nail salon products such as benzene, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, can have adverse effects on women’s reproductive health. Nail salon technicians, who often work long hours in small, poorly ventilated spaces, are at a heightened risk for experiencing miscarriages or giving birth to children with significant birth defects. Data from a survey by The New York Committee for Occupational Health and Safety (NYCOSH) was recently analyzed and the results indicated that nail technicians were more than three times as likely to have babies born with birth defects than the general population.
According to a study titled “Unvarnished” published in June 2022 by Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, New York has 3,781 nail salons across the state. Of those surveyed, nail salon employees identified as: 84.4% women, 73% Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), and 21% Latinx. For 83% of workers, English is not their primary language. This research indicates that nail salon safety is a particularly salient issue for minority women.
The authors of the study outlined many recommendations for improving workplace conditions and empowering nail salon employees to know their rights by increasing accessibility to workforce training.
|
|
Pediatricians Worry the End of the Public Health Emergency May Result in Loss of Medicaid Coverage
by Ellie Jorling
|
|
On October 13, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra signed a declaration renewing the official COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the 11th time. This declaration has allowed Medicaid-eligible children to “receive continuous coverage—without having to re-enroll or jump through hoops,” according to NPR.
In states like Missouri, the declaration has allowed an additional 400,000 individuals to enroll in Medicaid since its initial announcement in 2020. However, pediatricians in Missouri are concerned that once the Public Health Emergency stops renewing, many children will lose their Medicaid eligibility. Their fear is justified given that from 2018 to 2019, Missouri had the greatest decline (12.1 percent) in Medicaid child enrollment in the country.
The current PHE is set to expire on January 11, 2023, and if HHS does not renew it, “States are going to be faced…with a gargantuan task of redetermining eligibility for people who have stayed on Medicaid over this two-year period,” says Sara Collins of the Commonwealth Fund.
If the PHE expires, many children will lose their current Medicaid coverage, which could have a significant negative impact on their health. In the meantime, “the federal government is already discussing the problem with states and is recommending that they approach the redetermination work gradually, dividing up their Medicaid caseload into smaller chunks,” according to NPR.
|
|
-
In the two months since Roe was overturned, the number of legal abortions fell by around 6%, a decrease of about 10,000, due to new restrictions (NY Times).
-
Communities of color experienced large gains in health insurance coverage between 2020 and 2022 due to increased affordability and outreach efforts (Washington Post).
-
FDA does not authorize health providers to prescribe abortion medication prematurely to patients who are not yet pregnant (Politico).
-
The clitoris is “completely ignored by pretty much everyone,” medical experts say, and that omission can be devastating to women’s sexual health (NY Times).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
