CDC on Monday issued a health alert saying providers should prioritize available doses of Beyfortus — a monoclonal antibody developed by Sanofi used to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — for babies at highest risk of the disease in response to supply issues, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

• District of Columbia: Democratic lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill that would require employers to provide at least seven days of paid time off after an employee experiences a pregnancy loss. The bill, introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), would require employers to provide employees seven days of paid leave each year for a miscarriage, unsuccessful adoption or surrogacy, or a medical issue affecting pregnancy or fertility, and employees would not be required to provide proof of loss to their employer. "When at the last minute you find out you've lost that child or your ability to be a parent to that child, you need to be able to grieve," Duckworth said. "That's really the impetus for this." (Goldman, Axios, 10/26)
• Georgia: CDC on Monday issued a health alert saying providers should prioritize available doses of Beyfortus — a monoclonal antibody developed by Sanofi used to protect infants from RSV — for babies at highest risk of the disease in response to supply issues. "Based on manufacturing capacity and currently available stock, there are not sufficient 100-mg dose prefilled syringes of [Beyfortus] to protect all eligible infants weighing [11 pounds or more] during the current RSV season," CDC said. "Additionally, supply of the 50-mg dose prefilled syringes may be limited during the current RSV season. CDC continues to work with the manufacturer to understand how it may accelerate [Beyfortus] supply." (Malhi, Washington Post, 10/24; Branswell, STAT, 10/24)
• Pennsylvania: The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Washington Health System last week signed a definitive merger agreement. Under the merger, which is still subject to regulatory approvals, UPMC would appoint a third of Washington Health's board to its system board, and Washington Health would be renamed UPMC Washington. If the deal is approved, it would leave just two independent health systems in the Pittsburgh area — ACMH Hospital in East Franklin and St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon. (Kacik, Modern Healthcare, 10/24)