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FERTILITY
Infertility Treatments: Sort Of Tax Deductible
What: USA Today talks to tax experts about whether infertility treatments are tax deductible. The IRS says some treatments are, but it’s complicated – especially for LGBTQ couples.
Why it matters: Treatments can cost tens of thousands of dollars, so deductions definitely make a difference.
Source: USA Today
Veterans Get Expanded Fertility Benefits – With a Big Catch
What: Thanks to ongoing litigation, Veterans Affairs (aka the health care system for military veterans) will now offer fertility treatments, including IVF and sperm or egg donations, to single veterans, same-sex couples, and married couples who can’t use their own embryos.
Why it matters: There’s a catch, though – veterans can only access the benefit if fertility issues are due to serious injury or illness.
Source: Military.com
BIRTH CONTROL
Why One Doctor Is Happy Pharmacists Can Prescribe Birth Control
What: An op-ed from a doctor who says she is cheering for states that gave pharmacists the ability to prescribe birth control directly to patients, without a doctor’s order.
Why it matters: “It is true that many medications should only be prescribed in a doctor’s office, after a thorough physical exam, medical history and even lab tests. But oral contraceptives are not among them. The benefit for the patient is clearly on the side of expanded prescription authority for pharmacists.”
Source: CNN
ABORTION ACCESS
Tracking the 13 States That Could Vote on Abortion
What: Kaiser Family Foundation’s policy briefing on the 13 states that could have ballot referendums on abortion access.
Why it matters: As they write: “Since [Roe fell], 6 states – California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont, and Ohio – have voted on abortion related constitutional amendments, and the side favoring access to abortion prevailed in every state.”
Source: KFF
France Close to Making Abortion Constitutional Right
What: It’s the opposite of America – France is one step closer to protecting access to abortion as a constitutional right.
Why it matters: It shows how the United States is a stark outlier among wealthy democracies. And the effort began as a direct response to Roe being overturned in America.
Source: CNN
WELLNESS + BEAUTY
How We Got Botox from Sausages
What: An ophthalmologist had some free time during COVID and decided to delve into the history of Botox. The result is “Death to Beauty”, a book tracking the now-ubiquitous beauty treatment from botulism’s early discovery in contaminated German sausages in 1817.
Why it matters: It all started with another ophthalmologist—Alan Scott, who tinkered with the substance on his own to treat patients with crossed eyes.
Source: Michigan Daily
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