• Nevada: According to state and federal health authorities, a Nevada dairy worker was infected with a new version of bird flu. This version of the virus, which is called D1.1, has circulated broadly in wild birds and was detected on dairy farms in Nevada for the first time last month. It is different from the version of the bird flu virus (B3.13) that led to numerous dairy cow outbreaks and almost 70 human infections last year. Previously, the D1.1 version of the virus infected a Louisiana man, leading to his death, and severely sickened a teenager from Canada. The Nevada patient is currently recovering from the infection, and close contacts and other farm workers are being contacted and monitored for any symptoms. According to CDC, there is currently no evidence of the Nevada patient spreading the bird flu virus to other people. "Combined with the mild nature of the individual's illness, this case does not change CDC's low risk assessment for the public," the agency said. (Sun, Washington Post, 2/10)
• Ohio: A federal appeals court in Ohio has ruled against a $650 million opioid settlement against CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and Walmart. The settlement originally stemmed from a lawsuit filed by two Ohio counties in 2018. In 2021, a federal jury found that an oversupply of addictive pain medication and the diversion of these drugs to the black market was due in part to the pharmacies and created a public nuisance in Lake County and Trumbull County. In 2022, a federal judge ordered the companies to pay a combined $650.9 million to help the two counties address the harms caused by the opioid epidemic. However, the Ohio Supreme Court in December ruled 5-2 in favor of CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, saying that they could not be held liable for the opioid epidemic under a state nuisance law. Writing for the majority, Justice Joseph Deters said that while the opioid epidemic "undoubtedly has far-reaching consequences for their communities and for the state as a whole, … [c]reating a solution to this crisis out of whole cloth is, however, beyond this court's authority." After the ruling, Peter Weinberger, an attorney with Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, which represents the counties, said the decision "will have a devastating impact on communities and their ability to police corporate misconduct" and "undermines the very legal basis that drove this result." (Landi, Fierce Healthcare, 2/4)
• Ohio: Kroger has signed a new deal with Express Scripts after severing ties two years prior. Through the partnership, Express Scripts members will be able to access their prescriptions at Kroger pharmacies. According to Modern Healthcare, the new partnership applies immediately to Medicare prescription drug plans and TRICARE military health plans. Express Scripts' commercial and Medicaid clients can also choose to add Kroger pharmacies to their networks. "Express Scripts works to create flexible pharmacy network options — from large chain pharmacies to regional pharmacies to independent pharmacies and home delivery — that help ensure members can easily access the medications they need, when and where it’s most convenient," the company said in a news release. (Berryman, Modern Healthcare, 2/5)

The fight against COVID-19 has pushed healthcare to quickly adopt virtual tools at a rate much faster than normal. Some of the most promising pandemic-related health technologies go beyond just telehealth — for example, analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). Read on to learn three ways AI can be used to help with future pandemics.