Another week, another health news roundup. Here's the latest.
- With Republicans unable to advance a healthcare bill in Congress, President Trump's administration may find itself in an awkward role as "caretaker" of the Affordable Care Act, which he still promises to repeal and replace. The Trump administration's first sign-up season for 2018 coverage begins November 1. (According to a CBS poll, only 32 percent of people surveyed approve of the way Trump is handling healthcare.)
- Mission Health made the news again after it was granted $1.25 million from The Duke Endowment that will allow it to blend behavioral health services with its existing primary care in Western North Carolina.
- The Washington Post cited the veteran healthcare gap as a risk factor for increasing the opioid epidemic, which is widespread throughout North Carolina.
- Speaking of North Carolina, our state was ranked one of the 10 worst states for healthcare according to a WalletHub analysis that compared all 50 states across 35 measures of cost, accessibility, and outcome. (More on this tomorrow!)
- And just for kicks, in the "crazy medical case" department, an Australian woman complaining of abdominal pain was found to have had a piece of her braces embedded in her intestine - 10 years after the braces had been removed! (Talk about bracing yourself for the worst.)
We’re dedicated to keeping you informed, so be prepared for another health news lowdown next week.
In the meantime, one thing we're clear about, despite the murkiness of America's healthcare future, is rolling back state-based mandates. These mandates drive up the cost of healthcare for everyone in our state and that's not right. Want to help us in our fight to roll them back? Join us.
