• California: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently signed a bill that prevents healthcare providers, as well as any contracted collection agencies, from sharing information about patients' medical debt with credit reporting agencies. The law will go into effect in January and expand these protections to credit reports used to screen for employment and tenancy. Over the last two years, at least eight states have passed legislation banning medical bills from consumer credit reports. The Biden administration also proposed similar federal protections in June, but it's unclear when they will be implemented. "Nobody chooses to get sick, and then your credit gets ruined," said Chi Chi Wu, a senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. "That's why we encourage states to keep adopting laws. In case something goes wrong at the federal level, the states could protect their own consumers." (Work, KFF Health News, 9/24)
• Maryland: FDA recently expanded its approval of AstraZeneca's nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist for at-home use in individuals up to age 49 starting in the fall of 2025. FluMist was first approved in 2003 for people ages five to 49, and approval was later expanded to children as young as two. Although FluMist will still be available through physicians and pharmacies, the expanded approval means that consumers will be able to buy it directly for home use through an online pharmacy. "Today's approval of the first influenza vaccine for self- or caregiver-administration provides a new option for receiving a safe and effective seasonal influenza vaccine potentially with greater convenience, flexibility, and accessibility for individuals and families," said Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "Getting vaccinated each year is the best way to prevent influenza, which causes illness in a substantial proportion of the U.S. population every year and may result in serious complications, including hospitalization and death." (Goldman, Axios, 9/23; Bassett, MedPage Today, 9/20)
• Maryland: FDA has named Ross Segan as director of the Office of Product Evaluation and Quality (OPEQ), which is part of the agency's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). Segan replaces William Maisel, who retired from FDA this spring after 14 years with CDRH and five years as OPEQ's director. Segan, a former surgeon in the U.S. Army, held senior positions at several large healthcare companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Covidien, and Olympus Corp. Most recently, he founded and was the managing director of Medical Scientific Advisors. "I am committed to servant leadership and, most importantly, I am passionate about patients having access to innovative medical technology that is clinically relevant, effective, and safe," Segan said. (Kelly, MedTech Dive, 9/24)

As temperatures get colder and fall approaches, millions of Americans will start getting their series of vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Here's how to best time your shots, according to experts.