HEALTH & JUSTICE IN THE NEWS
Date: June 21, 2018
Around the World
Canada's Legislature Votes To Legalize Marijuana; Sales Will Begin In Weeks
NPR, 6/19/18
Recreational marijuana may soon be legal in Canada, after both the House of Commons and the Senate approved the Cannabis Act. Legal sales are likely to begin before the end of summer after the Senate voted 52-29 Tuesday night to approve the bill, the CBC reports.
Around the Nation
New Trump Administration Rule to Expand Access to Health Plans Without ACA Protections
The Wall Street Journal, 6/19/18
Millions of small businesses and self-employed people will be able to buy health-insurance plans exempt from many Affordable Care Act consumer protections under a much-debated rule released Tuesday by the Trump administration. The rule is a far-reaching step by the administration to wield its regulatory powers to chisel away at the Obama-era health law. It was undertaken at the behest of President Donald Trump, who last year called for the change in an executive order. The rule makes it far easier for small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together and obtain "association health plans" for themselves and their employees. Many of the plans will be subject to the same rules as larger employers, which means they won't have to provide comprehensive benefits, such as maternity services, prescription drugs, or mental health care, mandated under the ACA.
GOP, Dem governors back benefits for pre-existing conditions
ABC News | AP, 6/18/18
A bipartisan group of governors is speaking out against a Trump administration decision that could narrow access to health insurance benefits for those with pre-existing conditions. Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and the governors of Alaska, Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, Montana, Washington and Maryland issued a joint statement Monday. They said the administration's move would hurt families in their states, add uncertainty to insurance markets and go against American values. The administration revealed in a recent legal brief that the Justice Department no longer plans to defend the portion of the Obama-era Affordable Care Act related to pre-existing conditions.
NY, Mass. to sue over Trump health plans skirting ObamaCare requirements
The Hill, 6/20/18
New York and Massachusetts will sue the Trump administration over its expansion of health insurance plans that don't meet all of ObamaCare's requirements. New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood (D) and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D) argue the expansion of association health plans will "invite fraud, mismanagement and deception." "We will sue to safeguard the protections under the Affordable Care Act and ensure that all families and small businesses have access to quality, affordable health care," the attorneys general said in a statement Wednesday. "We believe the rule, as proposed, is unlawful and would lead to fewer critical consumer health protections."
Conservative groups outline new ObamaCare repeal plan
The Hill, 6/19/18
A coalition of conservative groups on Tuesday released the outlines of a new plan for repealing and replacing ObamaCare, indicating that at least some corners of the Republican Party are still pushing for repeal. The plan was drafted by groups led by the Heritage Foundation, the Galen Institute and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), who have been leading meetings for months. It is similar to the plan from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), which failed to pass last year, in that it eliminates ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion and the subsidies to help people buy coverage, instead converting that money into block grants to states.
Insurers to Expand Presence in Affordable Care Act Marketplaces Despite Uncertainty
The Wall Street Journal, 6/21/18
After years of pullbacks, insurers are increasing their footprints in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces next year, despite uncertainty including the latest court challenge to the health law.
Key ObamaCare groups in limbo as they await funding
The Hill, 6/20/18
Local groups that help people sign up for ObamaCare and Medicaid have yet to hear from the Trump administration about their annual federal funding, leaving many in limbo and fearing the grants could be too small or might not come at all.
Maine Keeps Battling Over Medicaid Expansion
The Wall Street Journal, 6/18/18
Despite two state court rulings that Maine must begin to execute its voter-approved Medicaid expansion, Republican Gov. Paul LePage isn't giving in. Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy first ordered on June 4 the governor's administration to jump-start the planned July 2 expansion, and on Friday ruled a delay could "engender disrespect for duly enacted laws." Mr. LePage's administration on Monday urged the state's Supreme Judicial Court to step in, saying it is being asked to implement a "massive new benefit program that the legislature has not yet funded." The administration said the expansion should be put on hold pending its legal appeal. In November, nearly 60% of Maine voters approved the ballot initiative, which extended Medicaid coverage to low-income adults and made Maine the 32nd state to adopt a key plank of the Affordable Care Act. Maine is one of several states where there are pushes to expand Medicaid after Republican lawmakers last year failed to repeal the 2010 Obama-era health law.
What's in the House's bills to address the opioid crisis - and what's not
STAT, 6/21/18
The House spent much of the last two weeks passing dozens of bills aimed at addressing the opioid crisis, an effort top lawmakers from both parties have long identified as a priority. Many are consensus proposals, though a few have generated controversy. Some are substantial in their scope, though many fund pilot programs or studies, or enact grants for which funding will expire within years. Outside experts, while applauding Congress for its focus on the issue, say they believe the current package fails to match the scope of the current crisis.
Beyond Opioids: How A Family Came Together To Stay Together
NPR, 6/19/18
After a decade of steady decline, the number of children in foster care had risen by 10 percent between 2012 and 2016, in large part because of the opioid epidemic, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And regions with higher rates of deaths from drug overdose and drug-related hospitalizations have higher rates of placements in foster care. "Removal of a child [from its parents], while sometimes absolutely necessary, causes trauma in that child at a very early age," says Valerie Chandler, the former program director of the Berks Parents Services Collaborative Program, designed for mothers with addiction, at the Children's Home of Reading. The county's traditional way of handling these cases - common in other states, too - was inadvertently setting up these women to fail. So, in 2016, Chandler and her colleagues got together with the county and other local institutions, like Reading Hospital, to come up with a different approach to help these mothers and their babies. Instead of waiting for the baby to be born, the county's social workers would meet with each opioid-addicted woman during her pregnancy, and identify and enlist an extended network of family or friends.
Facebook to redirect users searching for opioids to federal crisis help line
STAT, 6/19/18
Facebook users attempting to purchase opioids or seeking out addiction treatment will be instead be redirected to information about a federal crisis help line, the company announced Tuesday, a major step for an industry leader facing pressure to more aggressively police illicit drug sales on its platform. The announcement comes a week before an "opioids summit" convened by the Food and Drug Administration to get Facebook and other tech companies, including Twitter and Google, to take additional measures to help curb the nation's opioid crisis.
Critics of New York Mayor's New Marijuana Policy Say It Leaves Racial Disparity in Place
The Wall Street Journal, 6/19/18
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's new marijuana policy was met with a backlash from the Manhattan district attorney and advocates, who said the change wouldn't do enough to diminish racial disparities among those who face punishment for the low-level crime. Mr. de Blasio and New York Police Department officials announced at a news conference Tuesday that instead of arresting people caught smoking marijuana in public, officers would issue a summons. The new policy would cover everyone except people with criminal warrants, those on parole or probation, people who have committed a violent crime within three years or those whose identity police can't verify. The new policy comes in the wake of criticism over statistics showing 87% of people arrested in 2017 for smoking marijuana were black or Hispanic, despite studies that show all races smoke marijuana at generally the same rate. It also comes a day after study commissioned by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recommended the state allow adults to consume marijuana legally. This prompted criticism from officials and activists who said the list of exceptions could just continue an enforcement imbalance.By excluding from its benefit racially disparate populations such as New Yorkers with prior arrests, people on probation, and parolees working to re-enter their communities, this policy could have the unintended consequence of further solidifying the racial inequities in marijuana enforcement," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement.
A New Wave Of Meth Overloads Communities Struggling With Opioids
NPR, 6/20/18
Too many children in this part of Ohio's Appalachian country live in unstable homes with a parent facing addiction. For years, the community has struggled with opioids. Ohio had the second-highest number of drug overdose deaths per capita in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in McArthur, a close-knit village of about 2,000 in rural Vinton County, there has been a significant shift in recent months. "They've moved on from the oxycodone and OxyContin," says Hale. "Right now, the biggest problem is meth." At the local ER dispatch, paramedics are observing the change firsthand. "We used to do a lot of pills, but now the problem is meth," says Mike, a paramedic who asked to be identified only by his first name so he could speak freely. "And it's worse because there's no Narcan for meth," he says, referring to the antidote that reverses an opioid overdose.
Around Illinois
An Examination of Illinois and National Pretrial Practices, Detention, and Reform Efforts
ICJIA, 6/7/18
This article provides an overview of the main issues driving a renewed focus on pretrial detention, the effects of overuse of pretrial detention, and potential areas of reform with a focus on Illinois law and practices when possible. Illinois has made some progress in pretrial reform including the passing of a Bail Reform Act which became effective in 2018. However, more data and research is needed in the area of pretrial practices.
Gov. Rauner Open To Changes So People with Disabilities Get Released From Prison On Time
WBEZ, 6/20/18
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said the Department of Corrections was following the law when it kept prisoners with disabilities in prison even after their release dates. But the governor has also indicated an openness to changing the law. A WBEZ investigation found the Department of Corrections often struggles to house inmates leaving prison with disabilities. Instead of being released to halfway houses where they can serve out parole, or mandatory supervised release as it's officially called, inmates with disabilities can end up spending extra time in prison. "If these laws need to be changed, we're open to having that conversation with the General Assembly as we continue to build on our efforts to reform the criminal justice system in Illinois," Rauner said in a written statement. A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections said the department would be willing to expand its efforts to house people leaving prisons with disabilities, but state lawmakers need to provide a budget to do that.
'Can't arrest our way out of this problem'
New Tribune, 6/20/18
The opioid epidemic is a known problem at the local, state and federal levels. That was one takeaway when Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti attended a roundtable meeting Tuesday morning at Illinois Valley Community College to discuss opioid overdose prevention. "It's not only an epidemic here in Illinois, but the federal government well understands it's a problem that needs to be attacked," Sanguinetti said. "We have a big problem, and I have three kids at home, so it hits home for me." Other participants in the discussion included state Rep. Jerry Long (R-Streator), La Salle County state's attorney Karen Donnelly, La Salle County coroner Bill Wujek, Community Partners Against Substance Abuse, Perfectly Flawed Foundation CEO Luke Tomsha, Illinois Valley Community Hospital emergency department medical director Dr. Paul Bonucci and more.
Kincaid police helps addicts find treatment
Fox Illinois, 6/18/18
The Kincaid Police Department is here to guide some on the road to recovery who are struggling with drugs but are willing to accept help. The police aren't going to ask where the drugs came from; they just want to help people get better. Drug addiction is a serious problem throughout the country. "Every community has a drug problem but I think we are very proactive in the drug problem and how we do it is by helping [people with addiction]," Kincaid Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler said. Together, the Kincaid Police Department and Edinburg Police are helping citizens with the safe passage program. "They walk in, they say 'I have a meth problem or heroin problem,' and what we do is we have the resources to get them treatment," Wheeler said. The Edinburg Police Chief said the number of crimes have gone down since they started enforcing this program in January.
This Chicago Court Uses Peace Circles To Dole Out Justice
WBEZ, 6/19/18
An experimental court on Chicago's West Side resolves cases with peace circles instead of judges and juries - and officials say it could expand into other communities. The Restorative Justice Community Court brings young adults accused of nonviolent crimes, such as drug possession or vandalism, face-to-face with their victims and neighbors. Here's how it works: The Cook County State's Attorney's Office diverts qualifying nonviolent misdemeanor and felony cases from traditional court to the Restorative Justice Community Court at UCAN, a nonprofit youth development group in North Lawndale where the court operates on Thursdays. Right now, the restorative justice court only takes residents from North Lawndale and Garfield Park between 18 and 26 years old who want to participate. In exchange for an admission of guilt and a willingness to discuss what motivated the crime, participants are allowed to join the program. The participant, victim, community members, and court staff come together for a confidential conversation in a peace circle to talk about the crime. The community members - not the judge - then work out a legal agreement called a "repair of harm agreement." The participant is connected with social service agencies to help them take GED classes or find a job, and stay crime free. The repair of harm agreement usually takes six months to a year to complete, at which point the participant's charges are formally dropped with the potential to have their record expunged.
Quincy law enforcement trying multiple methods to curb opioid overdoses
Herald-Whig, 6/18/18
Three opioid overdose deaths in rapid succession in 2015 showed a gap in tracking in the city of Quincy. Until part way through 2015, the Quincy Police Department didn't track the number of opioid overdose calls it responded to. It does now. The jump made the Quincy Police Department explore how they could reduce overdoses, Deputy Chief of Operations Doug VanderMaiden said. "And for a while, it was just us communicating with the ambulance personnel because early on we didn't even know we had a major issue," VanderMaiden said. "In communicating with our dispatchers, now we go to all those calls, where before it might have just been an ambulance call for medical assistance and they go to the hospital and we might not be involved." Other solutions down the road included providing the opioid-reversal drug naloxone -- often referred to by its brand name Narcan -- to patrol officers.
A River Runs Through Them
U.S. News & World Report, 6/21/18
Two Illinois counties are close geographically, but miles apart when it comes to health. In Peoria's black neighborhoods, like the East Bluff or South Side, poverty, drugs and fast-food restaurants are abundant, Robinson says, while the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle - access to fresh food, quality health insurance, basic knowledge of how to stay healthy - are scarce. In Tazewell County - just across the Illinois River from Peoria, seat of the county of the same name and home to some 60 percent of county residents - the scene is far different.
Research, Reports, and Studies
Few Mass Shooters Have Mental Health Issues: FBI
The Crime Report, 6/20/18
A common element among attacks by armed gunmen opening fire in public places lies with the shooters, who are frequently motivated by grievances in their lives, wielding guns they obtained legally and targeting specific victims when they open fire, says an FBI study reported by the Washington Post. The study, which examined dozens of active shooters between 2000 and 2013, found that contrary to the public perception of the episodes as being fueled by mental health issues - an assertion frequently given voice by politicians, including President Trump - law enforcement officials were able to verify that only about 25 percent of the attackers had diagnosed mental health issues.
Are Prison Populations Decreasing? Depends On Where You Look
NPR Illinois, 6/14/18
The number of people incarcerated in American prisons is the lowest it's been in decades. But a new report from The Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit research group that wants to limit mass incarceration in the United States, tells a more complex story. In "The New Dynamics of Mass Incarceration," researchers found that in some states, the incarcerated population has shifted away from prisons and into local jails, which primarily hold people arrested, but not yet convicted, of a crime. The report finds many jail populations are on the rise.
After An Overdose, Patients Aren't Getting Treatments That Could Prevent The Next One
NPR | WBUR, 6/18/18
More than 115 Americans are dying every day from an opioid overdose. But a study out Monday finds that just three in 10 patients revived by an EMT or in an emergency room received the follow-up medication known to avoid another life-threatening event. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, followed 17,568 patients who overdosed on opioids between 2012 and 2014 in Massachusetts. It looked at survival rates over time and whether or not patients received medicines that treat addiction.
Responding to Addiction and Overdose: Public Policy Do's and Don'ts
Addiction Policy Forum, 6/19/18
The Addiction Policy Forum has released a new report, 'Responding to Addiction and Overdose: Public Policy Do's and Don'ts'. The United States is in the midst of a public health crisis of substance misuse, addiction, and overdose. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, 63,600 people died from a drug overdose in 2016. That is 174 people a day, the equivalent of a plane crash every single day. Over twenty million Americans are living with a substance use disorder. "We frequently hear from policymakers who are looking for practical, life-saving solutions," says Mark O'Brien, Addiction Policy Forum's Vice President of State and Local Affairs. "They care about the issue personally, and their constituents are demanding steadfast action." 'Responding to Addiction and Overdose: Public Policy Do's and Don'ts' provides a menu of options for policymakers to implement a comprehensive response to addiction. It identifies policies that work ('Do's') and policies that can be harmful ('Don'ts')
Science Says: What makes something truly addictive
Associated Press, 6/21/18
Now that the world's leading public health group says too much Minecraft can be an addiction, could overindulging in chocolate, exercise, even sex, be next? The short answer is probably not. The new "gaming disorder" classification from the World Health Organization revives a debate in the medical community about whether behaviors can cause the same kind of addictive illness as drugs. The strictest definition of addiction refers to a disease resulting from changes in brain chemistry caused by compulsive use of drugs or alcohol. The definition includes excessive use that damages health, relationships, jobs and other parts of normal life. Brain research supports that definition, and some imaging studies have suggested that excessive gaming might affect the brain in similar ways. Under a looser definition, addiction is considered "a disease of extreme behavior. Any behavior carried to extreme that consumes you and keeps you from doing what you should be doing becomes an addiction as far as life is concerned," said Dr. Walter Ling, a UCLA psychiatrist. In its widely used manual for diagnosing mental illness, the American Psychiatric Association calls excessive video gaming a "condition" but not a formal diagnosis or disease, and says more research is needed to determine if it qualifies as an addiction.
Health & Justice in the News
is a summary of recent news stories relating to criminal justice, mental health, addiction, recovery, and related issues. It is compiled and published by TASC each Monday and Thursday.
Some headlines and text have been altered by TASC for clarity or emphasis, or to minimize discriminatory or stigmatizing language. Opinions in the articles and op-eds do not necessarily express the views of TASC or our staff or partners.
