What We’re Reading: The Debt Ceiling and Health Care; FDA Cautious on OTC Birth Control Pill; NC Governor to Veto Abortion Ban

The Impact to Health Care if the US Government Defaults on Debt

If the US federal government breaches the debt ceiling, it could have disastrous consequences for health care, potentially affecting Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, according to Axios. If the government were to default, providers' bottom lines could suffer, which would ultimately result in patients facing more difficulties in receiving care. Despite these possibly alarming consequences, experts remain optimistic and expect that action will be taken before the deadline.

OTC Birth Control Pill Met With FDA Skepticism

In a document briefing, the FDA expressed skepticism about the possibility of switching a birth control pill from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC), according to NBC News. The assessment came ahead of a meeting scheduled for next week, where the agency's advisers will vote on whether to recommend selling a birth control pill called Opill over-the-counter. However, FDA staff is concerned about whether women can take the medication correctly, with missing doses being common, and whether the pill maker has provided sufficient data on the drug's effectiveness.

North Carolina Governor Vows to Veto Proposed 12-Week Abortion Ban

Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has vowed to veto a proposed 12-week abortion ban in North Carolina, which he says would effectively put an end to most abortions in the state, according to Politico. The legislation, passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, would restrict abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in addition to other restrictions. Cooper characterized the measure as harmful to women's health and hopes that at least 1 Republican would join him in preventing the measure from becoming law.