National – The National Safety Council (NSC) and NCCCO Foundation released a new report, Addressing Heat Stress in the Crane Industry, aimed at addressing the growing threat of heat-related injuries among crane workers. Based on a survey of more than 2,000 industry professionals, the report found that 75% are likely to experience heat stress, making it the leading cause of workplace injuries. To mitigate these risks, the report recommends practical solutions including scheduled rest breaks, access to cooling stations, acclimatization protocols, and the use of wearable technology.
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released Advanced Practitioners and Workers’ Compensation Claim Outcomes. The report discusses how the type of initial care provider, advanced practitioners (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) versus physicians, affects outcomes for injured workers. The study analyzed data from 29 states, covering over 80% of workers’ compensation benefits paid in 2022.
Indiana – The Indiana Workers’ Compensation Board announced that claim adjustment applications must be filled out electronically starting Friday.
Ohio – The Ohio Board of Pharmacy released guidance on compounding GLP-1 drug products. The guidance clarifies that compounding of GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic™, Rybelsus™, Wegovy™) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro™, Zepbound™) is no longer permitted in Ohio unless specific federal exceptions apply. The guidance also prohibits the use of unapproved substances like retatrutide and cagrilintide in compounding and outlines strict sourcing and documentation requirements for active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more, check out the Board’s FAQ one pager.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy created a rule tracer for licensees to track the status of pharmacy rules as they move through the five-year review process. Check out the rule changes here.
Back in April, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy enacted a new rule OAC 4729:5-5-26, which officially took effect on June 30, 2025. As a reminder, this rule governs delivery services provided by outpatient pharmacies and applies to all such facilities, including non-resident pharmacies that ship medications into Ohio. To support compliance, the Board has updated two inspection guidance documents: the Outpatient Pharmacy - Inspection Guide and the Non-Resident Terminal Distributor of Dangerous Drugs - Inspection Guide.
Oregon – Governor Tina Kotek signed two bills into law this week:
SB 537 - aims to strengthen workplace safety in health care settings by mandating comprehensive violence prevention measures. Under SB 537, hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice programs must establish safety committees with equal employee-employer representation, conduct regular safety inspections, and implement workplace violence prevention programs based on security assessments. Annual training for staff and contracted security personnel is required, and facilities must maintain detailed incident records for five years and submit annual reports to the Department of Consumer and Business Services.
HB 2548 – directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to allocate funds to the Center for Public Service at Portland State University to conduct a comprehensive study on farmworker labor standards in Oregon. The study will analyze the working experiences of farm workers and evaluate the adequacy and availability of workplace protections. It will assess wages, harassment, health insurance, retirement benefits, and access to legal remedies, as well as workers’ compensation requirements for agricultural employers. Findings must be submitted to the legislature by September 15, 2026.
Industry Watch
Senate Confirms Monarez To Head CDC
Inside Health policy - The Senate voted on party lines to confirm Susan Monarez’s nomination to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tuesday (July 29) -- agreeing to put at CDC’s helm a microbiologist and former HHS and White House official who has said she supports vaccines but who has also sidestepped answering how she feels about some of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s controversial views. Republican senators Bill Haggerty (TN) and Dan Sullivan (AK) did not vote, bringing the vote to 51-47.Monarez received support from Senate health committee Republicans during her nomination hearing, with chair Bill Cassidy (LA) specifically praising Monarez’s record on vaccines. Check out the article here.
Pharma firms will face 15% tariffs in Trump’s E.U. trade deal
STAT+ - President Trump’s tariffs on pharmaceuticals coming from the European Union will be set at 15% and will not go into effect until a national security investigation has been completed, according to a White House official familiar with the plans.
Once the Section 232 investigation is finished and its associated tariffs are levied, they will remain at 15% for the E.U., the person said. They noted that the structure and implementation details remain unknown. The Section 232 investigation, which aims to understand the national security implications of relying on other countries for key imports, is ongoing, and it could yield higher tariffs for non-E.U. countries. Check out the full article, here.
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