Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story The need for clean water after Helene With Hurricane Helene dissipated, the recovery process is underway. Experts are warning of the spread of waterborne pathogens as many residents stand to be without clean water for weeks.© AP Helene’s destruction has left thousands across North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee without access to clean water. It may be weeks before access is restored.   In that time, residents in those states could be exposed to mold that thrives in moisture. Legionella, giardia and E. coli spread through contaminated water and cause waterborne illness.   The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warns that tap water may well be contaminated following a disaster like a hurricane. The agency recommends following local health advisories on boiling or treating water.  Without access to clean water, local media in affected states have reported residents are unable to clean their personal medical equipment or flush their toilets.   The Hill’s deputy managing editor Katie Wadington is reporting on the ground in her home state North Carolina. Clean water, medication and food are resources residents in the area say they are in desperate need of.   “Western North Carolina’s needs are vast and varied. Utilities are gradually being restored,” Wadington reports. “I continue to see posts on social media about people who are in desperate need of food, water, medication and more.”   The absence of clean water also prevents businesses from opening back up, with restaurants and pottery studios left unable to operate.   Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.  Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:  Trump, Vance try out new tone on abortion Former President Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) are seeking to soften their stance on abortion and blunt Democratic attacks in the final month before the election.  Trump on Tuesday, during the vice presidential debate, declared he would veto any national abortion ban legislation, after previously refusing to say whether he would do so.  “Everyone knows I would not support a federal abortion ban, …  Full Story  Melania Trump in new video: ‘No room for compromise’ on abortion rightsFormer first lady Melania Trump released a video expressing her support for abortion rights and teasing her forthcoming memoir, in which she reportedly describes being a passionate supporter of a woman’s right to control her own body. “Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to these essential rights that all women possess from birth. Individual …  Full Story  Record number of kindergartners had vaccine exemptions last year: CDCThe number of vaccine exemptions reported among U.S. kindergarteners reached another record high during the 2023-24 academic year, the record set last year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3.3 percent of kindergarteners were exempted from one or more vaccines in the past school year, an increase over the prior year, in which 3 percent of kindergarteners were exempted. “During the 2023-2024 …  Full Story   In Other News Branch out with a different read: Mounjaro and Zepbound no longer in shortage After nearly two years, federal regulators announced the shortage of the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound has been resolved. Full Story   Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: Governor Kathy Hochul picks Georgia firm to run N.Y. home health care program over objections (Gothamist)  California dairy worker appears to be state’s first bird flu case (USA Today)   Thousands of bodies sent to Texas medical school—1,800 names released (NBC News)  What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: What to know about the Marburg virus disease outbreak (The New York Times)  Why fears of human-to-human bird flu spread in Missouri are overblown (The Washington Post)  JD Vance talked about reinsurance during the VP debate. How does it work? (STAT News)   What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: 5 things to know about the port strike Dockworkers and longshoremen in East Coast ports are now on strike in a major labor action with real consequences for the U.S. and international economy. … Read more Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years behind bars in voting system data scheme A Colorado county clerk was sentenced to nine years in prison Thursday after spearheading a data breach scheme in the 2020 presidential election. District … Read more  You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Health Care newsletter Subscribe