New Lawsuit Challenges Idaho Abortion Laws'
Lack of Clarity
| The lawsuit's narrow intent is accurately explained in the video produced by KTVB, as shown above. | |
The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the lawsuit on behalf of four women, two physicians, and the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians.
On Monday, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit against the State of Idaho on behalf of four women and two physicians who argue that patients needing an abortion to treat an unsafe pregnancy have been harmed by the state's near-total abortion ban. The Idaho Academy of Family Physicians is also listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit on behalf of its members and patients.
Idaho's near-total ban on abortions at any stage of pregnancy has exceptions for a physician's medical decision to "prevent the death of the pregnant woman," or rape and incest victims who provide a police report documenting the crime and are no more than 12 weeks pregnant.
Physicians have expressed concern about the vagueness of the law language, stating that it does not provide sufficient clarity on how close a patient must be to 'death' for an abortion to be legally performed. The lawsuit highlights the fact that practicing medicine can be complex and nuanced, and that the law should take this into account.
Physicians violating Idaho's abortion ban are subject to losing their medical license, going to jail for up to five years, and being civilly liable for at least $20,000.
"It is an impossible ask of physicians," Dr. Emily Corrigan told KTVB. "In my decade of medical training, I was never taught how to sort out vague laws that were not written using medical terminology."
Although the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the abortion ban in January 2023, this lawsuit is not aimed at overturning the state's law. The court must distinguish between a physician's sound medical judgment and a felony, and this is precisely what the case seeks to achieve.
Abortion has long been a political wedge issue in the Idaho Legislature and IMA witnessed many aspects of this during the 2023 legislative session. However, since the legal and medical wording of protecting the health and/or the life of the mother remains unclear in the current law language, more controversy and legal proceedings will most likely continue to occur.
**To view the KTVB article, select the button below.
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CDC Recommends New COVID Boosters for All
By Kaiser Family Foundation
Everyone over six months should get the latest COVID-19 booster, a federal expert panel recommended on September 12, after hearing an estimate that universal vaccination could prevent 100,000 more hospitalizations yearly than if only the elderly were vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 for the motion after months of debate about limiting its recommendation to high-risk groups. A day earlier, the FDA approved the new booster, stating it was safe and effective at protecting against the COVID variants currently circulating in the U.S.
After the last booster was released in 2022, only 17% of the U.S. population got it, compared with the roughly half of the nation who got the first booster after it became available in the fall of 2021. Broader uptake was hurt by pandemic weariness and evidence that the shots don’t always prevent COVID-19 infections. However, those who did get the shot were far less likely to get very sick or die, according to data presented at Tuesday’s meeting.
The virus sometimes causes severe illness even in those without underlying conditions, causing more deaths in children than other vaccine-preventable diseases, as chickenpox did before vaccines against those pathogens were universally recommended.
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID has ticked up modestly in recent weeks, CDC data shows, and infectious disease experts anticipate a surge in the late fall and winter.
Moderna and Pfizer, and its German partner, BioNTech, made the vaccines, which have decided to charge up to $130 a shot. They have launched national marketing campaigns to encourage vaccination. The advisory committee deferred a decision on a third booster, produced by Novavax, because the FDA hasn’t yet approved it.
**To view the entire article, select the button below.
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2023 IMA House of Delegates Documents Now Available!
The 2023 IMA Annual Meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 13, and adjourn on Sunday, October 15, at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Meeting reports and resolutions are now available on the IMA Annual Meeting webpage under the HOD Documents tab. Additional information will be posted on the website 15 days prior to the meeting. These materials should be printed or saved to your computer prior to the meeting, as printed documents will not be available on-site.
If you have not already done so, there is still time to register as a delegate! Your advanced registration for social functions is required. You can register as a delegate for Annual Meeting HERE.
If you have any questions about the HOD reports and resolutions, please contact the IMA at 208-344-7888 or [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your time and participation at the 2023 IMA Annual Meeting!
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Register Now for the Upcoming Idaho Rural Hospital and Clinic Value-Based Care Learning Event
You're invited to join the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care and Aurrera Health Group in Boise this November for the Idaho Rural Hospital and Clinic Value-Based Care in-person learning event.
The day will feature a keynote address from Ms. Tequila Terry from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation on investments in rural health; breakout sessions on promising practices in transforming care; listening sessions; and a panel discussion featuring Dr. Jonathon Schott from St. Luke's Family Medicine and Lenne Bonner, CEO of St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Healthcare.
Find event details and register below.
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Date:
Thursday, November 9, 2023
All-Day, In-Person Event
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Location:
Holiday Inn Boise Airport
2970 West Elder Street
Boise, ID 83705
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Please note there are two Holiday Inn hotels in Boise, Idaho. This event will be held at the "Boise Airport" location. Travel reimbursements will be available for Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic staff.
Register now!
If you haven't already, please register using the button below. Watch for a calendar invite to follow!
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The Next DEA Drug Take Back Day Is October 28
Twice a year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts a drug take-back day to build awareness about properly disposing unused or outdated prescriptions. The event encourages the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
While preventing unused medications from getting into the hands of those who might misuse them, it is important to remember that unwanted prescription medications should be disposed of appropriately.
For safe disposal of controlled substances, let patients know about the DEA’s next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 28. For year-round disposal of controlled substances, locate a convenient collection site.
Unless you’re an authorized collector, your team should not accept medications from patients.
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Get the 2023 IMA Directory of Idaho
Physicians Today!
Take advantage of this opportunity to get the most comprehensive Directory of Idaho physicians. Order your copy now!
As an IMA member, you can receive this complimentary Directory; additional copies can be purchased at a discounted price of $40. If you're not a member, the cost is $125.
The Directory includes the office address and telephone number of every physician currently practicing in Idaho, listings by location of practice and specialty, and a directory of Idaho hospitals. This information is only available here.
Your order will be shipped soon! To pre-order your 2023 Directory today, click the button below.
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Order Your 2024 ICD-10-CM Complete Official Code Set Today!
The newest codes in the ICD-10 book will take effect as of October 1 and your billing staff will need to start using these new codes ASAP! The books are already at the IMA office and can be picked up, shipped, or delivered today! The 2024 ICD-10-CM files contain information on the ICD-10-CM updates for FY 2024. These 2023 ICD-10-CM codes are to be used for discharges occurring from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, and for patient encounters occurring from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023.
As part of your membership, the Idaho Medical Association offers most coding, billing, and reference manuals at a significant discount. This saves you and your office money when you provide your staff with the tools to help you ward off unwelcome challenges to your revenue. The order form for 2024 publications is available here. If you have questions or if there is a type of book you don’t see but would like to purchase, please contact Rebecca Adams at [email protected] or 208-344-7888.
CPT ® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association
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ClearView Eye Clinic (Ophthalmologist)
Partnership opportunity for ophthalmologist/cataract surgeon.
Solid growth exceeds current physician capacity in this thriving 2 MD / 1 OD, two-office practice. The current search for a partnership track surgeon is only the second time this opportunity has become available in the last 20 years. This position includes a generous reimbursement package, including salary and production bonus, along with medical/dental insurance, profit-sharing, and 401k.
Contact: Teri Paluso or David Leach, MD
Phone: (208) 746-5100
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Associates in Family Practice (Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner)
Associates in Family Practice is seeking a Certified Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner, serving three locations in Gooding, Wendell, and Hagerman, Idaho.
If you would like more information and to apply, email [email protected] or call (208) 539-1959.
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