WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials are issuing a warning to doctors about the increase in rare bacterial infections in the United States. Meanwhile, a Republican-backed plan in Mississippi to partially extend Medicaid has passed in the state Senate. These developments come as states across the country grapple with the controversial issue of fetal personhood, with varying definitions being established. The issue has gained momentum after the recent Supreme Court ruling on abortion. The impact of personhood measures is becoming a reality, as evidenced by recent legislation and legal decisions in several states. At least four states have passed personhood statutes, while others continue to debate similar legislation.
States are defining fetal personhood in different ways, with Georgia considering people to be Homo sapiens at any stage of development in the womb, Alaska defining a person as an entity with the moral right of self-determination, and West Virginia defining a person as a divinely created being entitled to equal protection. These definitions have significant implications for reproductive rights and abortion regulations. Advocates for reproductive rights argue that the absence of protections from Roe v. Wade has allowed these personhood laws to have real-world consequences. According to data from multiple sources, including Pregnancy Justice, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Guttmacher Institute, at least 17 states have debated personhood legislation in recent years.
In Alabama, a fetal personhood clause was added to the state constitution in 2018, leading to a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that treated frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization as children and held individuals accountable for their destruction. The ruling prompted state legislators to pass a law protecting providers and patients involved in IVF from criminal or civil liability. However, these developments in Alabama are forecasted to embolden antiabortion policymakers in pursuing fetal personhood measures.
In addition to the issue of fetal personhood, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning healthcare providers about a sharp rise in cases of a rare meningococcal disease in the United States. The CDC reports that there has been a significant increase in cases compared to the previous year. The majority of these cases have been caused by a specific strain of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria and have disproportionately affected adults ages 30 to 60, Black individuals, and people with HIV.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing payment increases for Medicare providers, including hospice providers, skilled nursing homes, and inpatient psychiatric facilities. These increases, if finalized, would provide financial support to these healthcare facilities. The CMS’s proposal comes as Mississippi’s Republican-controlled Senate passed its version of Medicaid expansion, differing from the state House’s proposal in terms of eligibility criteria and federal funding. The fate of the bill lies in the hands of Governor Kay Ivey, who has previously expressed opposition to expansion.
In other news, some Medicare plans administered by CVS Health, Elevance Health, and Kaiser Permanente will start covering the weight-loss drug Wegovy for seniors with a history of cardiovascular disease. This move by major health insurers follows federal regulators’ approval of Wegovy for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in overweight adults.
These developments highlight the ongoing debates and challenges in the healthcare landscape, from reproductive rights and personhood definitions to infectious diseases and healthcare coverage. The impact of these issues extends beyond state borders, influencing policy decisions and affecting the lives of individuals across the country.