Philip Morris International Inc. has halted a global social media campaign that featured a young international women promoting its new IQOS "heated tobacco" device, Reuters reports.
Why this matters: When the tobacco company hired 21-year-old Alina Tapilina, a Russian social media influencer, it violated the company's internal marketing standards that prohibit them from employing young celebrities or models who are under the age of 25, per CNBC. Earlier this year, CEO André Calantzopoulos said: "We at Philip Morris International do not, and will not, market or sell our products to youth," according to Reuters.
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) signed a bill on Friday prohibiting parents from claiming personal or philosophical exemptions for measles vaccines for children, reports the AP.
The big picture: Some states are trying to curb the measles outbreak by limiting vaccination exemptions. Oregon and California are both considering legislation that would also limit the exemptions. At least 8 states have considered removing personal exemptions for vaccines this year, but 17 allow personal and philosophical vaccine exemptions.
The White House said yesterday that it wants Congress to pass legislation protecting patients from receiving surprise medical bills after they visit the emergency room or unknowingly receive care from providers not covered by their insurance.
Between the lines: While the White House declined to say how it wanted billing disputes between insurers and providers resolved, it said that it's not enthusiastic about an arbitration process, which some industry groups favor.
