Florida’s ‘Intimidation Campaign’; Nurses Look to Unionize; Bird Flu and Egg Prices

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Some Florida voters accused Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of an “intimidation campaign” against abortion rights supporters. (The Guardian)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced cost savings for more than 50 drugs under the Medicare Inflation Rebate Program.

After Hurricane Helene’s devastation, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra declared public health emergencies in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

In other hurricane news, a temporary flood wall protected Tampa General Hospital from Helene’s surging waters. (Washington Post)

Meanwhile, western North Carolina is in need of potable water after significant damage to water systems from the storm. (North Carolina Health News)

Acadia Healthcare, the nationwide chain of psychiatric hospitals that just agreed to a nearly $20 million settlement over accusations it defrauded government health insurers by holding patients longer than necessary, faces new federal charges. (New York Times)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill that would have required warning labels on gas stoves over their health effects and signed a bill requiring coverage for in vitro fertilization. (Politico)

Embattled Steward Health CEO Ralph de la Torre, who was held in criminal contempt for refusing to testify at a Senate hearing, will resign. (CBS News)

In related news, Massachusetts seized a hospital from the now-bankrupt group to help keep it running. (AP)

A third of U.S. teens and young adults can’t get menstrual products when they need them, new research found. (NBC News)

In Michigan, a group of nurses from Corewell Health are petitioning to unionize. (Detroit Free Press)

The FDA approved flurpiridaz F 18 (Flyrcado) to evaluate for myocardial ischemia and infarction in adult patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

The agency also granted traditional approval to selpercatinib (Retevmo) for advanced or metastatic RET-fusion-positive medullary thyroid cancer in adults and kids 2 years and up.

Here’s why drug distributors are buying up cancer specialist networks. (Wall Street Journal)

This Iowa teen and her mom travel 450 miles for gender-affirming care. (NPR)

Kentucky is suing Express Scripts, alleging the pharmacy benefits manager played a key role in fueling the opioid crisis. (Kentucky Lantern)

Seeing higher egg prices? Blame bird flu. (CNN)

Amid rising COVID hospitalizations in England, experts called for increased infection control and prevention efforts. (The Guardian)

Actress Maggie Smith, of “Downton Abbey” and the Harry Potter films, died at age 89 in a London hospital. (AP)

Kris Kristofferson, the country music singer-songwriter and actor, died at 88. (Variety)

And John Ashton, best known for his role in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died at age 76. (CBS News)