What We’re Reading: Abortion Rate Drops; Rebound of COVID-19 Symptoms; Marketplace Enrollment Opens

Abortion Rates Fall in Wake of Roe v Wade Decision

According to a report from the Society of Family Planning, the decision on Dobbs v Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization led to a 6% decrease in legal abortions between April and August 2022. This number amounted to 10,670 fewer abortions that occurred in July and August 2022, with the national abortion rate having decreased from 14 per 1000 women of reproductive age in April to 13 per 1000 in August. Despite the decrease overall, abortions in virtual-only clinics increased from 2830 in April 2022 (3% of all abortions) to 3780 in August 2022 (4.7% of all abortions), an increase of 33%.

Rebounding Symptoms in Patients With COVID-19

Thirty percent of patients with untreated COVID-19 found that their symptoms rebounded after they were symptom free for at least 2 consecutive days, according to CIDRAP. The researchers studied the effects of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir on rebounding symptoms. A total of 68% of patients reported symptom resolution, of which 44% (30% of all patients) reported having a reoccurrence of at least 1 of 13 symptoms. The most common symptoms to rebound were cough (44%), fatigue (35%), and headache (35%). The study took place before COVID-19 vaccines were available.

Open Enrollment for ACA Plans Begins This Week

Coverage for 2023 will be affected by the steps taken by the Biden administration and Congress to change the premiums and subsidies as open enrollment for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) begins this week, according to KHN. Among the changes in coverage this year, families who haven’t qualified for subsidies could now be eligible, as a new rule expanded the number of families with job-based insurance who can forgo their coverage and qualify for subsides to get an ACA plan instead. Varying state coverage for abortion, existing debts not preventing coverage, and easier comparison shopping are among the other changes in ACA coverage.