Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Public Policy News | Laws / Legal.”
1st state passes law to decriminalize medical errors
04/29/24 at 02:15 AM1st state passes law to decriminalize medical errors Becker's Hospital Review; by Erica Carbajal; 4/25/24Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear recently signed a bill into law that shields healthcare providers from being criminally charged for medical errors, making it the first state to do so. HB 159 ensures that healthcare providers, including nurses, "shall be immune from criminal liability for any harm or damages alleged to arise from an act or omission relating to the provision of health services." It includes exceptions for negligence and intentional harm. ... In wake of [this article's cited] case, nurses and medical groups nationwide — including the American Nurses Association and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement — have called for systemwide workforce and safety reforms to focus on harm prevention, arguing that the criminalization of errors would discourage workers from reporting mistakes. ... The Kentucky Hospital Association said it supports the new law.
Across the nation, the fight’s on to protect physician-led care
04/29/24 at 02:00 AMAcross the nation, the fight’s on to protect physician-led careAmerican Medical Association - AMA; by Kevin B. O'Reilly; 4/25/24After helping state medical associations and national specialty societies defeat more than 100 bills to inappropriately expand nonphysicians’ scope of practice in 2023, the AMA is again relentlessly joining its allies in organized medicine to continue the fight for physician-led, team-based care in this year’s legislative session. This intensive and effective advocacy effort has ranged across the country, as the AMA has helped battle scope creep in Alaska, Connecticut, Georgia, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and elsewhere.
Over 1,200 medical marijuana cards issued ahead of Qualla Boundary dispensary opening
04/18/24 at 03:00 AMOver 1,200 medical marijuana cards issued ahead of Qualla Boundary dispensary opening Blue Ridge Public Radio News, by Lilly Knoepp; 4/16/24 This Saturday, North Carolina will become the 39th state with access to medical marijuana as the Eastern Band of Cherokee opens the first marijuana dispensary in the state. The Great Smoky Cannabis Company will host a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a grand opening at 10 a.m. A spokesperson for ECBI said preparations for the opening have involved a variety of stakeholders. ... In March, ... a total of 1,200 cards had been issued. Now, he says, there have been 3,000 applications submitted to the board.
The Maine Death with Dignity Act Annual Report - Data from calendar year 2023
04/16/24 at 03:00 AMThe Maine Death with Dignity Act Annual Report - Data from calendar year 2023 Produced by Data, Research, and Vital Statistics Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Department of Health and Human Services; 4/12/24 In accordance with 22 MRS § 2140(17), the Department of Health and Human Services (Department) [has generated and made available] to the public an annual statistical report of information collected under the Maine Death with Dignity Act. ... This report is for patients who completed a written request for medication to hasten their death in calendar year 2023. Patients who completed the oral request but not a written request within the calendar year will be included in the subsequent year’s report.
New documentary explores how Lower Moreland’s Terri Schiavo’s story captured the nation
04/08/24 at 03:00 AMNew documentary explores how Lower Moreland’s Terri Schiavo’s story captured the nation Delco.Today, by Tracey Romero; 4/3/24 Between Life & Death: Terri Schiavo’s Story, a new documentary about the right-to-die case of Lower Moreland Township native Terri Schiavo is streaming on Peacock, writes Brian Brant for People. Schiavo who lived in Florida with her husband lived in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years after experiencing cardiac arrest. The documentary explores the familial legal battle over whether or not Schiavo’s feeding tube should be removed.
Connecticut Appellate Court rules employer could discharge medical marijuana user impaired on the job
03/29/24 at 03:15 AMConnecticut Appellate Court rules employer could discharge medical marijuana user impaired on the job The National Law Review; by John G. Stretton, Nicole S. Mulé, Zachary V. Zagger of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.; 3/27/24 On March 19, 2024, the Connecticut Appellate Court upheld an employer’s right to discharge an employee for being impaired on the job from medical marijuana under a state law that provides employment protections for qualified medical marijuana users.
Dr. Kevorkian was convicted of murder 25 years ago today: Examining the mixed legacy of a fighter for patient autonomy
03/27/24 at 03:00 AMDr. Kevorkian was convicted of murder 25 years ago today: Examining the mixed legacy of a fighter for patient autonomy Reason, by Jeffrey A. Singer; 3/26/24Today marks the 25th anniversary of Dr. Jack Kevorkian's conviction of second-degree murder for performing euthanasia on Thomas Youk, a Michigan man suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. ... Kevorkian, a medical pathologist, had been defying state laws by engaging in assisted suicide—he claimed to help more than 130 people die— often using machines. But this was different. Kevorkian was not assisting a suicide. Kevorkian videotaped himself injecting Youk with lethal chemicals. He was doing all the work. And despite having received Youk's informed consent, the Michigan Court considered it murder. ... Today, physician-assisted suicide is legal in 11 jurisdictions: California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. ... Autonomous adults have the right to govern their bodies freely, provided they respect the equal rights of others. ... Active and passive euthanasia are grim exercises for physicians like me who decided to become doctors because we wanted to save lives. ... Editor's Note: Read more from this article that provides significant contexts for today's conflicts: historical, legal, medical, ethical, and geographical (USA and international) .
Noem signs bill removing some medical marijuana dispensary protections
03/22/24 at 03:00 AMNoem signs bill removing some medical marijuana dispensary protections SDPB Radio (South Dakota Public Radio), by Evan Walton; 3/19/24 Gov. Kristi Noem has signed a bill removing some protections medical cannabis facilitates now receive. Senate Bill 71 allows local law enforcement to inspect, search, seize, prosecute, or impose disciplinary action on medical cannabis dispensaries. This includes medical cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and testing facilities.
Facing dementia: Clarifying end-of-life choices, supporting better lives
03/01/24 at 03:00 AMFacing dementia: Clarifying end-of-life choices, supporting better lives The Hastings Center; 2/28/24The report includes 10 recommendations for policymakers, research funders, clinical and legal practitioners, and professional societies. ... “Facing Dementia: Clarifying End-of-Life Choices, Supporting Better Lives” is the major product of a Hastings Center research project, codirected by Hastings senior research scholar Nancy Berlinger and President Emerita Mildred Z. Solomon.
[Maryland] Medical aid-in-dying bill short on votes, unlikely to pass Senate committee
02/28/24 at 03:00 AM[Maryland] Medical aid-in-dying bill short on votes, unlikely to pass Senate committeeMaryland Matters, by Danielle J. Brown; 2/26/24A controversial bill for medical aid-in-dying, which would allow qualifying terminally-ill patients to prompt their own death with the help of a physician, will likely be stalled for a least another year, as some senators “continue to wrestle” with the issue, Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair Will Smith (D-Montgomery) said Monday night.
Proposed legislation would create tax credits for family caregivers
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMProposed legislation would create tax credits for family caregiversHospice News, by Jim Parker; 2/23/24A bill to strengthen support for family caregivers is working its way through Congress. If enacted, it would create tax credits to help offset the financial burdens of caring for the seriously ill. ... The nation’s health care system is lacking in support for caregivers of the terminally ill, who are often left with a heavy financial and logistical burden. Without assistance or relief, these difficulties can impede access to hospice and other types of home-based care.
Exploring the role of medicinal cannabis in palliative care
02/22/24 at 03:00 AMExploring the role of medicinal cannabis in palliative careMicrodose, by Keith Fiveson; 2/19/24Palliative care is a crucial aspect of healthcare, aiming to enhance the quality of life for patients facing incurable illnesses. Within this context, the use of medicinal cannabis (MC) has emerged as a potential avenue for addressing various symptoms and improving overall well-being. This article delves into a systematic review conducted by Marjan Doppen and colleagues, which examines the current evidence surrounding MC’s effects and potential harms in palliative care settings.
[Nebraska] New polling finds 70% support for legalizing medical cannabis
02/21/24 at 03:00 AM[Nebraska] New polling finds 70% support for legalizing medical cannabisNebraska Examiner, by Paul Hammel; 2/19/24New polling found that 70% of respondents are ready to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska and that a majority of those responding want to approve a novel alternative to property, sales and income taxes.
Most Pa. workers can’t take paid leave to care for sick loved ones. State law could change that
02/20/24 at 03:00 AMMost Pa. workers can’t take paid leave to care for sick loved ones. State law could change thatWESA Pittsburgh's NPR News Station, by Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza; 2/18/24About 66% of workers statewide don’t have paid family and medical leave benefits, according to a U.S. Census compensation survey from March 2022. And the brunt of that unpaid work often falls on any women in the household, said Meghan Pierce, CEO of the Executive Forum of Women in Philadelphia. ... The Executive Forum of Women, created in the late 1970s, is one organization in the coalition of nonprofits and businesses pushing to get paid family medical leave as a state law in Pennsylvania.
South Dakota campaign joins state and federal efforts to expand rural telehealth access
02/15/24 at 03:00 AMSouth Dakota campaign joins state and federal efforts to expand rural telehealth accessMcKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 2/12/24The continued need for telehealth options is particularly important for older adults living in rural areas. That reality may explain, in part, why South Dakota is working on legislation that would grant $5 million to assisted living communities and nursing facilities in the state to implement telehealth and telemedicine technology.
From “high potential for abuse” to “accepted medical use”: Tracking developments and possible outcomes of federal cannabis rescheduling in the U.S.
02/09/24 at 03:00 AMFrom “high potential for abuse” to “accepted medical use”: Tracking developments and possible outcomes of federal cannabis rescheduling in the U.S.JD Supra, by Jean Smith-Gonnell and Cole White; 2/7/24Whether you believe that cannabis legalization has occurred too quickly or too slowly, one thing is certain: recent developments herald a potentially seismic shift in federal cannabis policy in the U.S. ... This article aims to catch readers up on the latest developments in federal cannabis legalization.
NJ Governor signs Medicaid palliative care bill into law
01/31/24 at 04:00 AMNJ Governor signs Medicaid palliative care bill into lawC+TAC press release; 1/23/24New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed AB 5225 into law on December 21, 2023, requiring the development of a palliative care services benefit aimed to improve the quality of life for Medicaid beneficiaries with serious illness and their caregivers.
Alzheimer’s Association calls for federal involvement to increase dementia care workforce, training in assisted living
01/30/24 at 03:15 AMAlzheimer’s Association calls for federal involvement to increase dementia care workforce, training in assisted livingMcKnights Senior Living, by Lois A. Bowers; 1/29/24“Congress should consider the steps it can take at the federal level, including expanding the necessary workforce and improving dementia training standards and access,” as part of efforts to “help ensure a quality direct care workforce that can meet the unique needs of our nation’s growing number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia” in assisted living communities and elsewhere, the Alzheimer’s Association and its advocacy affiliate, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, said in comments submitted to the US Senate Special Committee on Aging for the record of the hearing it held Thursday, titled “Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults.”
Minnesota lawmakers kick off debate on joining other states that permit physician-assisted suicide
01/29/24 at 04:00 AMMinnesota lawmakers kick off debate on joining other states that permit physician-assisted suicideThe Associated Press, by Steve Karnowski; 1/25/24The Minnesota Legislature kicked off debate Thursday on whether the state should join the list of those that allow physician-assisted suicide.
Policy experts on cost, accessibility, other details in Assembly GOP medical marijuana plan
01/24/24 at 04:00 AMPolicy experts on cost, accessibility, other details in Assembly GOP medical marijuana planWisconsin Examiner, by Baylor Spears; 1/22/24The proposal by [Wisconsin] Assembly Republicans would create the Office of Medical Cannabis Regulation in the Department of Health Services. The office which would maintain a registry of patients and caregivers who could purchase medical cannabis products from one of five state-run dispensaries. Access would be limited to patients with certain medical conditions, and available products would include oils, edibles and pills but exclude anything smokeable.
Virginia legislators seek to become 12th jurisdiction to legalize medical aid in dying
01/24/24 at 04:00 AMVirginia legislators seek to become 12th jurisdiction to legalize medical aid in dying Courthouse News Service, by Joe Dodson; 1/22/24Virginia state Senator Jennifer Boysko held back tears and read a letter written by her friend U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton, who suffers from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), in support of medically assisted death.
Proposed federal law would put limits on use of $50 billion in opioid settlements
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMFederal lawmakers take first steps toward oversight of $50 billion in opioid settlements
New bill would give California parents more control over whether state can store their kid's DNA
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMNew bill would give California parents more control over whether state can store their kid's DNACBS News / TV, by Julie Watts; 1/17/24Should you have the right to know that the state is storing your child's DNA and that researchers or law enforcement may use it without your consent? ... A 2018 statewide CBS News poll found that the majority of new parents did know about the lifesaving test. Three quarters (of new parents) had no idea the state was storing their baby's leftover bloodspots after the required test genetic test was complete.
Pediatric care for non-white children is worse across US: Researchers urge policy reform to address disparities
01/19/24 at 04:00 AM
How history has shaped racial and ethnic health disparities: A timeline of policies and events
01/15/24 at 03:00 AMHow history has shaped racial and ethnic health disparities: A timeline of policies and eventsKFF, with thanks to Daniel Dawes, Gilbert Gee, Michelle Tong; ongoing reference for health policy research, polling and journalismThis timeline offers a historical view of significant U.S. federal policies and events spanning the early 1800s to today that have influenced present-day health disparities. It covers policies that directly impacted health coverage and access to care, relevant events in medicine, social and economic policies and developments that influence health, and efforts to tackle inequalities. ... While not exhaustive, the timeline aims to provide context for addressing disparities, acknowledging the complex history that shapes racial and ethnic health and health care disparities that persist today.