Follow Us   © 1996-2018 News Communication Fears that cuts to Medicaid could exacerbate a national opioid epidemic that took more American lives last year than the Vietnam War have emerged as a huge threat to the Senate GOP's ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill.The legislation includes a $2 billion fund to help people with substance use disorders, but critics say that's not enough to make up for the deep cuts to Medicaid that would come if the bill becomes law.“It’s just unconscionable to me that anybody who is serious about dealing with this opioid addiction could be...…Follow Us   © 1996-2018 News Communication Fears that cuts to Medicaid could exacerbate a national opioid epidemic that took more American lives last year than the Vietnam War have emerged as a huge threat to the Senate GOP's ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill.The legislation includes a $2 billion fund to help people with substance use disorders, but critics say that's not enough to make up for the deep cuts to Medicaid that would come if the bill becomes law.“It’s just unconscionable to me that anybody who is serious about dealing with this opioid addiction could be...WW…

Follow Us   © 1996-2018 News Communication © Greg NashA House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Thursday unveiled eight bills it will examine during a hearing next week on enforcement-related measures to help combat the opioid crisis.Specifically, the hearing Wednesday will delve into how to help communities balance enforcement with patient safety; it’s the first of three hearings the panel will convene on opioid legislation.Energy and Commerce Chairman (R-Ore.) hopes for legislation to pass the House by Memorial Day weekend in an effort to staunch the opioid epidemic...…Follow Us   © 1996-2018 News Communication © Greg NashA House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Thursday unveiled eight bills it will examine during a hearing next week on enforcement-related measures to help combat the opioid crisis.Specifically, the hearing Wednesday will delve into how to help communities balance enforcement with patient safety; it’s the first of three hearings the panel will convene on opioid legislation.Energy and Commerce Chairman (R-Ore.) hopes for legislation to pass the House by Memorial Day weekend in an effort to staunch the opioid epidemic...WW…

The Obama administration vet, who helped craft the Affordable Care Act, will be charged with helping Biden expand the health care law.President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will play a leading role in crafting plans to expand on Obamacare. | Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden will nominate seasoned Democratic health policy broker Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to helm the trillion-dollar Medicare and Medicaid agency, according to four sources familiar with the selection.Brooks-LaSure, an Obama administration veteran who oversaw implementation of...…The Obama administration vet, who helped craft the Affordable Care Act, will be charged with helping Biden expand the health care law.President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will play a leading role in crafting plans to expand on Obamacare. | Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden will nominate seasoned Democratic health policy broker Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to helm the trillion-dollar Medicare and Medicaid agency, according to four sources familiar with the selection.Brooks-LaSure, an Obama administration veteran who oversaw implementation of...WW…

The White House will use the Defense Production act to make at least 61 million point-of-care coronavirus tests available by summer.The Biden team has spent its first few weeks in office trying to get a grip on the country's chaotic vaccine rollout. | AP Photo/Alex BrandonThe Biden administration announced new initiatives Friday to speed up Covid-19 vaccinations and increase the availability of tests and protective gear — even as top health officials pleaded with Americans to double down on basic public health measures like wearing masks.The White House will use the Defense Production Act...…The White House will use the Defense Production act to make at least 61 million point-of-care coronavirus tests available by summer.The Biden team has spent its first few weeks in office trying to get a grip on the country's chaotic vaccine rollout. | AP Photo/Alex BrandonThe Biden administration announced new initiatives Friday to speed up Covid-19 vaccinations and increase the availability of tests and protective gear — even as top health officials pleaded with Americans to double down on basic public health measures like wearing masks.The White House will use the Defense Production Act...WW…

About 15 miles from Capitol Hill, in an unassuming, unincorporated part of Maryland's Prince George's County called Cheltenham, deep in a tree-lined residential area, past a sign that reads, "Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Homeland Security," my ride drops me off by a security booth. Then I'm driven down a winding road, through a large open campus dotted with distant structures, to a brownish brick building that looks like a public elementary school. Inside it are life-size reproductions of key parts of the U.S. Capitol.This past March, at a House Appropriations Homeland Security...…About 15 miles from Capitol Hill, in an unassuming, unincorporated part of Maryland's Prince George's County called Cheltenham, deep in a tree-lined residential area, past a sign that reads, "Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Homeland Security," my ride drops me off by a security booth. Then I'm driven down a winding road, through a large open campus dotted with distant structures, to a brownish brick building that looks like a public elementary school. Inside it are life-size reproductions of key parts of the U.S. Capitol.This past March, at a House Appropriations Homeland Security...WW…

The requirements of Pfizer's shots create a "use it or lose it" situation.Part of a so-called freezer farm, a football field-sized storage facility for finished Covid-19 vaccines, is seen in October at a Pfizer facility in Puurs, Belgium. | Pfizer via APThe Trump administration hopes to start delivering millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines in December.But the short shelf life of Pfizer’s shots and uncertainty over how to get them to enough health care workers, frail seniors and other priority patients once vials with vaccines are taken out of cold storage and cracked open could mean...…The requirements of Pfizer's shots create a "use it or lose it" situation.Part of a so-called freezer farm, a football field-sized storage facility for finished Covid-19 vaccines, is seen in October at a Pfizer facility in Puurs, Belgium. | Pfizer via APThe Trump administration hopes to start delivering millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines in December.But the short shelf life of Pfizer’s shots and uncertainty over how to get them to enough health care workers, frail seniors and other priority patients once vials with vaccines are taken out of cold storage and cracked open could mean...WW…

While Trump promises tens of millions of vaccine doses next month, many states say they aren’t ready to administer them.A nurse applies a band-aid after administering the flu vaccination shot to a woman in October in Lakewood, Calif. | Mario Tama/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump says tens of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines, which hold the promise of blunting a pandemic that has killed nearly a quarter-million Americans, will be delivered to every state as soon as December.But interviews with more than two dozen experts who work in pharmacies, rural clinics and public health, as...…While Trump promises tens of millions of vaccine doses next month, many states say they aren’t ready to administer them.A nurse applies a band-aid after administering the flu vaccination shot to a woman in October in Lakewood, Calif. | Mario Tama/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump says tens of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines, which hold the promise of blunting a pandemic that has killed nearly a quarter-million Americans, will be delivered to every state as soon as December.But interviews with more than two dozen experts who work in pharmacies, rural clinics and public health, as...WW…

The politicization of mask-wearing shows how difficult it will be for Joe Biden to build consensus around even basic public health strategies after he’s sworn in.President-elect Joe Biden arrives at The Queen theater, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. | AP Photo/Carolyn KasterPresident-elect Joe Biden says he’ll personally call red state governors and persuade them to impose mask mandates to slow down the coronavirus pandemic. Their early response: Don’t waste your time.Almost all of the 16 Republican governors who oppose statewide mask mandates are ready to reject Biden’s plea,...…The politicization of mask-wearing shows how difficult it will be for Joe Biden to build consensus around even basic public health strategies after he’s sworn in.President-elect Joe Biden arrives at The Queen theater, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. | AP Photo/Carolyn KasterPresident-elect Joe Biden says he’ll personally call red state governors and persuade them to impose mask mandates to slow down the coronavirus pandemic. Their early response: Don’t waste your time.Almost all of the 16 Republican governors who oppose statewide mask mandates are ready to reject Biden’s plea,...WW…

The longer planning window could address concerns from governors who complained that limited shipment forecasts affect their planning abilities.Boxes containing shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines are unloaded from air shipping containers at UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky. | Michael Clevenger-Pool/Getty ImagesThe Biden administration is planning to provide states with estimates of their expected vaccine shipments likely months ahead of time rather than weeks, according to multiple sources with knowledge.The longer planning window, which is expected to start as soon as...…The longer planning window could address concerns from governors who complained that limited shipment forecasts affect their planning abilities.Boxes containing shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines are unloaded from air shipping containers at UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky. | Michael Clevenger-Pool/Getty ImagesThe Biden administration is planning to provide states with estimates of their expected vaccine shipments likely months ahead of time rather than weeks, according to multiple sources with knowledge.The longer planning window, which is expected to start as soon as...WW…

The directives on patient protections and billing that the president outlined aren't likely to yield new safeguards.President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 22, 2020. | Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump on Thursday moved to shore up one of his biggest campaign weaknesses with a symbolic pledge to protect people with preexisting conditions even if the Supreme Court overturns Obamacare.Trump also promised to send seniors $200 drug discount cards before the election to help cover prescription drug co-pays. And he said he would ban the practice...…The directives on patient protections and billing that the president outlined aren't likely to yield new safeguards.President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 22, 2020. | Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump on Thursday moved to shore up one of his biggest campaign weaknesses with a symbolic pledge to protect people with preexisting conditions even if the Supreme Court overturns Obamacare.Trump also promised to send seniors $200 drug discount cards before the election to help cover prescription drug co-pays. And he said he would ban the practice...WW…