Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story IV fluid expiration dates extended Federal regulators have approved a change to the expiration dates for multiple types of intravenous (IV) and sterile fluids made at a key manufacturing plant recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene.  © Adobe StockAccording to Baxter International, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the change, allowing for fluids to be used up to two years after manufacturing instead of the typical one year.  “This extension only applies to products manufactured prior to the end of September 2024,” said Baxter’s statement. “Details have been communicated directly to customers.”   “We are encouraged to report that, barring any unanticipated developments, Baxter anticipated restarting the highest-throughput IV solutions manufacturing line this week,” Baxter added.  The company has said it didn’t expect to be at full capacity until the end of the year, but credited “the urgency, diligence and resiliency of the North Cove and broader Baxter teams” for exceeding expectations.   The U.S. health care system has been facing a nationwide shortage of IV fluids due to the temporary closure of Baxter’s North Carolina facility.   Fellow IV fluid manufacturers have ramped up their own production, and federal authorities have approved temporary imports of IV fluids products from abroad, all in an effort to mitigate the shortage.   Among the products manufactured at the Baxter plant were 50 percent of the country’s peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids. These are used by patients with renal failure who perform dialysis at home.   These dialysis products manufactured by Baxter were not listed among those for which expiration dates have been extended. Kidney care specialists have warned that PD fluids are more complex in making and ensuring access will be critical for patients living with kidney failure.   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:  Pfizer rides Paxlovid sales growth to better-than-expected third quarter (AP) -- A boost from COVID-19 treatment sales helped bush Pfizer to a better-than-expected third quarter and higher forecast for the year. Demand for the drugmaker’s Paxlovid treatment spurred by the latest COVID wave and a U.S. national stockpile delivery led to $2.7 billion in sales for the drug, Pfizer said Tuesday.  Full Story   Death from Lassa fever reported in IowaAn Iowa resident who returned to the United States from travel to West Africa died Monday of a rare hemorrhagic fever, health officials said.  The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the death of a “middle-aged eastern Iowa resident” was confirmed from Lassa fever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to confirm the diagnosis.   Lassa fever is a viral disease common in …  Full Story  George W. Bush’s daughter Barbara backs Harris, campaigns in Pennsylvania Barbara Pierce Bush, the daughter of former President George W. Bush, endorsed Vice President Harris’s presidential bid and spent part of the weekend campaigning for the Democratic ticket in Pennsylvania, “People” magazine reported. “I’m hopeful they’ll move our country forward and protect women’s rights,” she told the magazine.  Full Story  In Other News Branch out with a different read: Iowa resident dies of suspected Lassa fever: What is the rare viral disease? (NEXSTAR) — Health officials are investigating the death of an Iowa resident believed to have contracted Lassa fever, a viral disease rarely seen in the U.S. Full Story   Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: DeSantis administration threatens charges stemming from TV ad supporting abortion initiative (Politico)  State offers free help enrolling in health insurance to 1 million Oregonians (Oregon Capital Chronicle)  Doctors gather across Missouri to canvass for abortion amendment (Missouri Independent)  What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Trump’s latest policy announcement is aimed at women voters. It doesn’t stand up (The Independent)  Why is Harris so passionate about abortion rights? Her past work holds clues (The New York Times)  What Trump winning the election could mean for the CDC (The Washington Post)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Live updates: Harris to pledge ‘common ground’ in Ellipse speech; Trump stumps in Pennsylvania Vice President Harris will make her closing argument to voters one week before Election Day in Washington, D.C., as former President Trump heads to … Read more Early, mail-in votes raise questions about possible election results The first votes of the 2024 presidential election are rolling in, raising questions about what can be gleaned from the data in forecasting the possible … Read more What People Think Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: Harris’s plan for ‘Medicare at Home’ would revolutionize care in AmericaHarris will fight to protect health care for more than 4 million Hispanics    You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!