The Georgia state Supreme Court temporarily reinstated the state's six-week abortion ban after it was overturned by a lower court earlier this month, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Georgia, and North Carolina.

• District of Columbia: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra last week announced that enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces is on track to set a record after Congress renewed subsidies through 2025. With employers and insurers struggling with higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs, millions of consumers are enrolling in ACA plans. Between Nov. 1 and Nov. 19, 3.4 million people signed up for individual coverage—a 17% increase from 2021, according to HHS data. In addition, the number of new enrollees rose by 40%. "So far, we're on pace to see another record," Becerra said. "I think we're going to continue to see sign-ups and this may be a very good Christmas for a lot of Americans." ACA's open enrollment period ends Jan. 15. (Gonzalez, Axios, 11/22)

• Georgia: The Georgia state Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily reinstated the state's six-week abortion ban after it was overturned by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney earlier this month. Under the law, abortions are banned around six weeks—typically before most people are aware of a pregnancy. While the law had been blocked since 2019, it went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in July. After the ban was overturned, the Georgia attorney general appealed the decision, asking the state Supreme Court to issue a temporary "stay" of the ruling and reinstate the law. "While disappointing and deeply frustrating, we were not surprised when the Kemp administration filed a petition for an emergency stay following last week's ruling," said lead plaintiff Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. (Gonzalez/Hurt, Axios, 11/23)

• North Carolina: Green Sprouts on Wednesday issued a recall of roughly 10,500 bottles and cups over lead poisoning concerns, according to a statement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). According to CPSC, children and toddlers are at risk of being exposed to a solder dot in the base of these bottles and cups that contains lead. So far, the company is not aware of any injuries, but it has received seven reports of the base of the cups breaking off, exposing the lead dot. "Lead is toxic if ingested by young children, and can cause adverse health effects," the commission said. "There is negligible risk to the health and safety of users. We are undertaking the costs and challenges of this recall voluntarily because our customers' health and safety must come first," the company said. "As we approach the redesign of these products, whose benefits for keeping drinks cold safely have made them a popular choice for parents, we will ensure that lead is not used as a soldering material, no matter whether it would be accessible." (Rubin, New Yor Times, 11/27)