 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Fallout persists from abortion pill approval |
The Food and Drug Administration is facing new pressure from lawmakers and anti-abortion groups, who are feeling betrayed after the agency approved a second generic version of the abortion drug mifepristone. |
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary on Friday demanding information about how the drug was approved and what role he personally played in the process. "This decision appears to ignore the science while advancing a highly questionable ideological agenda. And I fear this decision may render moot your promise to conduct a safety review of mifepristone," Hawley wrote. Hawley's letter was preceded by a post on X stating that he had "lost confidence in the leadership" at FDA. "The FDA approving one more tool to kill babies is a betrayal," Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wrote on X. "This is not what Commissioner Makary and Secretary Kennedy indicated they would do in their confirmation hearings." A group of House conservatives called on Kennedy to fire the division leaders responsible for greenlighting the drug as part of any shutdown-related layoffs. "It is clear that rogue actors within the FDA are working to undermine both the sanctity of life and the Administration's commitment to protecting it," the lawmakers, led by Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) wrote. "For this reason, we respectfully urge that you consider the director of the Office of Generic Drugs, the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and other bureaucrats responsible for this reckless decision as part of your reduction-in-force evaluations." The White House defended the decision as one they were legally required to make. FDA approvals are meant to be rooted in science and independent of political bias. They are conducted by scientists and other experts and involve technical and often lengthy discussions with the drug's sponsor. "It's not an endorsement of this drug by any means. They are just simply following the law," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday. "By law the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services must approve a generic drug application if the application demonstrates the drug is the 'same' as the brand name drug." |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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| How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Proponents of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda are outraged over the Trump administration's deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, with some saying it goes against the movement's ethos of cutting out "Big Pharma" from the federal government.
On Tuesday, President Trump proudly announced from the Oval Office that Pfizer would be complying completely with his "Most Favored Nation" executive order — the company agreeing to sell its products in the U.S. at its lowest global prices in other developed countries and receiving relief from tariffs in exchange ... |
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Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is raising concerns over the lack of details given about President Trump's "most favored nation" (MFN) pricing deal he announced with Pfizer this week, calling on the company's CEO to explain how it plans to execute the agreement.
In a letter to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, provided to The Hill, Gallego asked for clarity in his agreement with the Trump administration ... |
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Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced Friday that Costco will begin selling monthly supplies of Ozempic and Wegovy for $499 to uninsured members.
The discounted price comes as more Americans have become aware of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, which have become increasingly popular as people have touted body transformations and health benefits ... |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- As of Friday evening, Democrats voted down a fourth attempt to end the shutdown, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) failing to pick up any additional votes for a clean, seven-week extension.
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Branch out with a different read: |
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Most Trump supporters back ObamaCare subsidies' extension: Survey |
A new survey has found that a majority of Republicans and Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters back the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits at the center of the government shutdown fight.
The poll, released Friday and conducted by the nonpartisan health policy research organization KFF, indicated that 59 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of supporters of the MAGA movement favor extending the tax credits ... |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- How New Mexico became a sanctuary state for health care (The New Yorker)
- Mississippi Health Department fires preventive health and health equity employees (Mississippi Today)
- Despite expected shortages, primary care providers trend upward in Louisiana. See data. (NOLA.com)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- 1.4M lawfully present immigrants could lose subsidized health coverage (Stateline)
- The CDC still hasn't issued COVID vaccine guidelines, leaving access in limbo (NPR)
- Health centers face risks as government funding lapses (KFF Health News)
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you next week! |
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