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Louisiana's health insurer for state workers, teachers and retirees will soon cover weight loss surgery for people who are obese, under a bill signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards. Sen. Regina Barrow, a Baton Rouge Democrat, had previously tried to get the Office of Group Benefits to cover gastric bypass surgery and other types of weight loss surgeries, to lessen the health conditions associated with obesity. But lawmakers had raised concern about the costs. Barrow made some adjustments to the legislation and won unanimous support from the House and Senate in the recently ended legislative session. The governor agreed to the idea and signed the bill, which will take effect Aug. 1. (6/26)

To mark National HIV Testing Day, South Carolina health officials are offering free testing for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases later this week. The free testing is Tuesday at several local health departments across the state, the Department of Health and Environmental Control said in a statement. (6/27)

The federal government has given Maine a $7 million boost to help prepare for another public health crisis. Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King said the Maine Department of Health and Human Services has received the money from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About $1.8 million of the money is for preventing and controlling emerging diseases and the rest is for preparing and responding to public health emergencies. (6/27)

Lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement Sunday afternoon on a revised $8.5 billion two-year state budget that will provide $300 COVID-19 relief payments to most Maine workers. The budget bill negotiated by the Legislature’s budget committee will likely go before both chambers on Wednesday. A deal was largely in place over the past week, but the budget panel formally reached an agreement over the weekend after weeks of negotiations. (Piper, 6/27)

West Virginia Chief Justice Evan Jenkins has suspended many of the court health protocols that arose last year from the coronavirus pandemic. Jenkins’ administrative order contained some exceptions. Courts should continue using remote technology when possible for hearings and proceedings, Jenkins’ order said. They should also continue avoiding the use of call dockets to cut back on extended waiting periods in lobbies, common areas and court rooms, he wrote. (6/28)

More than $30 million of federal funding could be directed toward expanding child care capacity in Montana under recommendations approved by a state health advisory commission. The commission approved up to $31 million for the state health department to administer grants to expand child care in the state, the Montana State News Bureau reported Thursday. The commission, which is made up of three members of the executive branch and seven lawmakers, is tasked with directing coronavirus relief dollars. (6/27)

Des Moines area families whose children are going through mental health crises will soon have more options when seeking help. Starting July 1, young residents of Polk County will be offered new, short-term mental health crisis services either in their homes or at a residential program. The new crisis services are meant to be an alternative to sending children to a psychiatric hospital unit, said Liz Cox, executive director of Polk County Health Services. Until now, she said, many children with relatively mild issues, such as anxiety or low-level depression, have been served well with occasional counseling. Children in critical situations, such as actively attempting suicide, could be taken to a hospital. But there have been few intermediate alternatives. (Leys, 6/27)