President Joe Biden's Covid-19 symptoms have "diminished considerably," according to White House physician Kevin O'Connor, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Rhode Island.

• District of Columbia: President Biden's Covid-19 symptoms have "continue[d] to improve significantly" while being treated with Pfizer's antiviral pill Paxlovid, his physician at the White House said. Biden is currently experiencing a sore throat, and his other symptoms, including a runny nose, body aches, and cough, have "diminished considerably," according to O'Connor. "His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature all remain normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear," said O'Conner, adding that Biden is "experiencing no shortness of breath at all." O'Connor reported that Biden was likely infected with the highly contagious BA.5 omicron subvariant, which is currently responsible for roughly 75% to 80% of U.S. infections. (Chalfant, The Hill, 7/23; Saric, Axios, 7/24; Dam, Axios, 7/23; NPR, 7/23)

• Maryland: CMS last week announced the release of quality measures to help state Medicaid home and community-based service programs evaluate patient health outcomes. The reporting is currently voluntary, but CMS said it is urging states to integrate the quality assessments into existing requirements. "The use of consistent quality measures across the country is another step toward reducing health disparities and ensuring that people with disabilities, and older adults enrolled in Medicaid, have access to and receive high-quality services in the community," said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. (Devereaux, Modern Healthcare, 7/22)

• Rhode Island: CVS Health has asked pharmacists in some states to verify that certain prescriptions they provide will not be used to terminate a pregnancy. CVS spokesperson Mike DeAngelis on Thursday said that the company started enforcing the policy the first week in July in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Texas. Under the policy, CVS pharmacists in those states must verify that methotrexate and misoprostol will not be used to terminate a pregnancy. Both drugs have been used for medication abortions but are also prescribed to treat other conditions. According to DeAngelis, the company created the policy to comply with state laws that restrict the distribution of medications used for abortions. However, he added that the company will continue filling prescriptions for miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. "We will continue to focus on delivering care to our patients while complying with state laws and federal guidance that continues to evolve," DeAngelis said. (AP/Modern Healthcare, 7/21)