Situation Report

White House announces rule that would cut insurance red tape over mental health and substance use disorder care | CNN The Biden administration announced a final rule on Monday meant to expand access and lower costs for care for mental health and substance use disorders. Most provisions in the rule will apply to group health plans and health insurance issuers for plan years starting January 1 or after. Carma Hassan, Jamie Gumbrecht CNN

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US COVID activity remains elevated as some indicators decline Though most indicators showed downward trends, deaths were up compared to the previous week. CIDRAP

The nation's COVID activity remains high, but there are more signs of decline in many areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest updates.

Test positivity showed another small decline and is at 16.4% nationally, but is higher in the Midwest and Middle Atlantic. Emergency department visits declined 10.2% from the previous week, but are still at the moderate level in some of the southeastern states....

World sees hottest summer recorded for second consecutive year Summer temperatures broke records for the second consecutive year, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Newly released data found that 2023 experienced the hottest J… zbudryk The Hill

Summer temperatures broke records for the second consecutive year, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.