Politics of Washington & Health

Associated Press

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Apr 23

Seattle hospital won’t turn over gender-affirming care records in lawsuit settlement with Texas

apnews.com/article/seattle-hospital-texas-records-paxton-e1d308835657c40e2e176d7f11d7f749

Quick Glance: Seattle Children’s to Exit Texas Due to Gender-Affirming Care

Seattle Children’s Hospital will forego its ability to do business in Texas as part of an agreement with the state’s Attorney General to stop inquiries into gender-affirming care for Texas patients.

Last year, Attorney General Ken Paxton attempted to compel Seattle Children’s to turn over information about gender-affirming care that Texas patients may have received at the facility. The hospital sued Paxton, stating that the office doesn’t have jurisdiction over patient records in Washington.

Seattle Children’s will 'voluntarily withdraw its registration to transact business in the State of Texas' by the end of the week. Paxton’s office will rescind its civil investigative demand and its request for a sworn written declaration served to the hospital in November.

Paxton also requested information on patients from Texas who received gender-affirming care services at the Seattle hospital, including diagnoses details, prescribed medications, and other treatment protocols. Additionally, his office asked for similar records from a telehealth clinic in Georgia.

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Apr 25

The Supreme Court heard nearly two hours of heated arguments Wednesday on the tension between Idaho’s near-total abortion ban and a federal law requiring ... Show more

Supreme Court wrestles with the fallout of Dobbs in arguments on emergency abortions - POLITICO

Quick Glance: Supreme Court Divided on Emergency Abortion Access: Highlights

The Supreme Court seems divided on access to emergency abortions in states with near-total bans.

The 1986 Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act could impact abortion access in emergencies.

The debate raises questions about fetal personhood and abortion rights conflict.

The court's decision could affect abortion access in 14 states with strict abortion bans.

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Apr 22

Biden moves to block abortion records from investigators: Updated privacy rules are meant to protect patients seeking an abortion, as well as health care ...

axios.com/2024/04/22/biden-abortion-records-patients-hipaa-investigations

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Apr 19

Most Seattle-area renters report big rent hikes in the past 12 months: Fifty-three percent of Seattle-area renters saw their monthly rent jump more than $100 in ...

seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/most-seattle-area-renters-report-big-rent-hikes-in-the-past-12-months/

Quick Glance: Majority of Seattle-area Renters Report Significant Rent Increases in Past 12 Months

While rents in the Seattle area and nationally surged in the early pandemic years, the rental market seems to have calmed since 2023, providing some relief to local tenants.

However, recent survey data from the US Census Bureau suggests that the majority of renters in the Seattle area may not agree with these reports.

Out of the estimated 658,000 individuals who experienced rent hikes, approximately 113,000 had a relatively minor increase of under $100. A significantly larger group - around 306,000 - saw their rent rise between $100 and $249 per month.

Established in 2020 as a response to the pandemic, the initiative aimed to inform authorities and policymakers about the pandemic's effects on communities nationwide and offer data to support recovery post-pandemic.