FDA on Thursday announced it will place a nationwide ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes and other tobacco products, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Idaho, and New Jersey.

• District of Columbia: FDA on Thursday announced it will place a nationwide ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes and other tobacco products in response to rising rates of people using the products, especially teenagers. The ban could take years to implement, but the decision starts the rule-making process and comment period by FDA, Axios reports. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner, said the ban "will help significantly reduce youth initiation, increase the chances of smoking cessation among current smokers, and address health disparities experienced by communities of color, low-income populations, and LGBTQ+ individuals, all of whom are far more likely to use these tobacco products" (Fernandez, Axios, 4/29).

• Idaho: Gov. Brad Little (R) on Tuesday signed into law a bill banning abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, except in cases of rape, incest, and medical emergency. Any health care providers who violate the law will be charged with a felony punishable by two to five years in prison (Schnell, The Hill, 4/27).

• New Jersey: Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center has named Alec Grabowski as COO. Grabowski most recently served as COO of Summerville Medical Center in South Carolina and previously also served as interim hospital president at Summerville. Grabowski will succeed Tim O'Brien, who was promoted to CEO of Hackensack in August 2020 (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 4/27).