Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House Legislation Aimed At Curbing Opioid Crisis Won't Include New Funding
House Republican leaders are not planning to include new funding in their legislative response to the national opioid epidemic, a leadership aide confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday. (Ferris, 4/20)
A second Yolo County death related to illicit fentanyl painkillers was announced Wednesday, bringing the region鈥檚 total number of fentanyl cases to 13 deaths among 54 overdoses. Yolo County spokeswoman Beth Gabor said the deaths were among three overdoses that occurred in Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland in recent weeks. 鈥淭his is concerning that it鈥檚 so widespread in Yolo and in Sacramento,鈥 said Gabor. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just in one community.鈥 (Buck, 4/20)
Gov. Jack Markell is signing legislation to create a state commission that will review drug overdose deaths in Delaware. The Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission being established with Thursday's bill signing is similar to commissions the state already has in place to review child deaths and deaths of domestic violence victims. (4/21)
The day Jim O'Neill died, he and his wife Cindy fought about how many prescription drugs he was taking. Cindy left their Wildwood house to get a bite to eat and received a text from Jim: "I'm so sorry." "I just figured 鈥 he's on my side of the story," she said. "And I get home later that evening and I can't find him anywhere. Searched everywhere. Found him on our porch swing with a shotgun between his knees." (Sunthrup, 4/20)