Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Congress To Close Loophole That Left Vets With Disabilities Working At FAA With No Paid Sick Leave
Newly-hired veterans working for the Federal Aviation Administration could soon qualify for paid sick leave, if their disability rating exceeds 30 percent. The House voted Tuesday to approve a bill aimed at closing a loophole in the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 that prevents those veterans from getting additional benefits. They would receive up to 104 hours of paid leave, under a bill sponsored by Democratic Rick Larsen of Washington state and Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey. (Hotakainen, 9/21)
More than 250 patients of the U.S. Air Force聽Academy鈥檚 GI Clinic are being notified of potential聽health risks associated with recent procedures. Gastrointestinal endoscopy patients, treated between June and September, are being warned of a 鈥渧ery low鈥 health risk after 鈥渄iscovery of a diversion from standard pre-cleaning聽protocols for a scope used in endoscopy procedures,鈥 according to an Air Force Academy news聽release Wednesday. The precautionary notification is to service members, retirees, veterans and family members. (Nicholson, 9/21)
Marijuana pioneer Colorado is poised to add post-traumatic stress disorder to its medical marijuana program, joining 18 other states that consider PTSD a condition treatable by pot. A panel of state lawmakers voted 5-0 Wednesday to endorse the addition of PTSD to Colorado鈥檚 2000 medical pot law. The vote doesn鈥檛 have legal effect; it鈥檚 just a recommendation to the full Legislature, which resumes work in January. But the vote indicates a dramatic shift for a state that has allowed medical pot for more than a decade but hasn鈥檛 endorsed its use for PTSD. (Wyatt, 9/21)
