Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In San Francisco, Comprehensive Parental Leave Law Takes Effect
Most new parents with jobs in San Francisco will be eligible for six weeks of fully paid leave starting this week, the result of the most comprehensive parental leave law offered anywhere in the country. The law, unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors in April, seeks to encourage bonding between parents and their new children, and applies to mothers and fathers who have a baby together by birth, adopt or become foster parents. It also extends to same-sex couples. (Green, 1/2)
Only about one American private-sector employee in 10 works for an organization that provides paid leave for new parents. But a growing number of major employers in Minnesota are offering the benefit, figuring it's not just a nice thing to do but also a smart business move. (Moylan, 12/29)
News outlets also report on the challenges that remain in terms of child care assistance, pregnancy options and birth control coverage issues -
A group of Maryland lawmakers is pushing Gov. Larry Hogan and the General Assembly to increase financial assistance for families struggling to cover child-care costs, noting that the state ranks among the least generous in the nation for such aid. (Hicks, 1/2)
Affordable homes with ample lots lure many families to the San Bernardino County town of Apple Valley in the Mojave Desert. But amenities are limited 鈥 no department stores, no Costco and, more important, few affordable medical care options for pregnant women. For Cassandra Lindstrom, that meant scheduling the birth of her second baby at a hospital at least an hour away over busy Cajon Pass. 鈥淚 was worried that I wouldn鈥檛 make it in time and (would) give birth on the freeway,鈥 she said. (Canto. 1/1)
Advocates for reproductive rights and low-income patients are looking to the states to preserve birth control coverage gains under Obamacare, a contentious piece of the law that鈥檚 expected to be high on Republicans鈥 target list this year. The health care law requires most insurance plans to cover a number of preventive services for women at no cost. But many of the specifics, including that insurance cover all FDA-approved forms of contraception without imposing out-of-pocket costs on women, were left up to the Obama administration to define through guidelines. That leaves an opening for President-elect Donald Trump to unravel them through administrative action. (Pradhan, 1/3)
