Health Care — Presented by Evernorth Health Services — Abortion pill fight heads to conservative appeals court

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View Online Health Care Health Care   PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY EVERNORTH HEALTH SERVICES    The Big Story  Abortion pill fight heads back to court  Arguments about the future availability of a widely used abortion pill will be back in court on Wednesday, as the Biden administration attempts to reverse a decision that would take mifepristone off the market.  © AP The case is now before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, widely considered to be the most conservative federal appeals court in the country.  Oral argument is slated to begin at 2 p.m. ET in a New Orleans courtroom, where the administration will attempt to convince three Republican-nominated judges with hostile views on abortion to keep an abortion drug on the market.    Mifepristone is widely used across the U.S. to end pregnancy in the first 10 weeks of gestation. About half of all abortions nationwide are performed using mifepristone as the first of a two-drug regimen. It is also used to help manage miscarriages.  The case marks the highest-stakes legal battle on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.    Abortion rights advocates said they think it's an uphill fight. "This is one of the worst panels of judges that could have been assembled for those who believe that mifepristone should remain on the market," said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project. The appeal will be heard by James Ho, Cory Wilson and Jennifer Elrod. Ho and Wilson were appointed by former President Trump, and Elrod was appointed by former President George W. Bush.   Elrod has upheld several abortion restrictions since her appointment in 2007. Ho was listed by Trump as a potential Supreme Court pick ahead of the 2020 election.   In a 2018 case involving a Texas law that required the burial or cremation of any fetal remains, Ho in a concurring opinion called abortion a "moral tragedy."  The next year, he ruled on a challenge to Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban that became the vehicle for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe. Ho said he was "duty bound" to strike down Mississippi's law but scolded a lower court's opinion for its "alarming disrespect" of anti-abortion advocates.   Wilson, meanwhile, voted for Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban while serving as an elected Republican in the Mississippi legislature.   On a 2007 questionnaire, Wilson indicated that he supported overturning Roe and banning the use of taxpayer funds for abortion, except to protect the mother's life.   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. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Abortion rights groups add their weight to Supreme Court expansion push Abortion rights groups have jumped on board the Democrat-led push to expand the Supreme Court.  Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America, two of the country's leading abortion rights groups, appeared in front of the Supreme Court along with lawmakers on Tuesday for the reintroduced the Judiciary Act, which would expand the court by four justices and reduce the power of the conservative supermajority on the …  Full Story New research documents 1.6 million excess deaths among Black Americans in past 20 years New research documents 1.63 million excess deaths among Black Americans, compared with their white counterparts, over the last two decades.  A study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medicine Association, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found the excess deaths represented more than 80 million years of "potential life lost" in that period.  Excess deaths for Black Americans persisted …  Full Story Monopoly concerns push FTC to sue to block Amgen's more than $26B deal for Horizon The U.S. is attempting to block the proposed acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics for more than $26 billion by biotech drug developer Amgen on antitrust grounds. The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that the deal, announced in December, would give Amgen unfair leverage to block competition for Horizon medications. The FTC said the deal would entrench Horizon's monopoly position on treatments for thyroid eye disease and …  Full Story A MESSAGE FROM EVERNORTH HEALTH SERVICES     On Our Radar  Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: The FDA's vaccine advisory panel will hold a meeting Thursday over Pfizer's RSV vaccine for infants. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday will hear oral arguments over the approval of mifepristone, one of two abortion medications available in the U.S. A House subcommittee on health will hold a markup session on numerous bills having to do with drug price transparency, PBMs and a measure to amend the Social Security Act.  In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: North Carolina GOP takes first step to override veto of 12-week abortion limit RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's Republican-controlled Senate voted Tuesday to override the Democratic governor's veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy in the first of two steps necessary to enact the policy over Gov. Roy Cooper' s opposition. The vote came as abortion rights in the U.S. faced another tectonic … Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Experts recommend earlier mammograms, especially for women in Hawaii (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) MDH warns of 'alarming' rise in xylazine-involved deaths in Minnesota (KSTP) Last resort: Students in rural Colorado are left without options as specialized schools close (KUNC) What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Biden drug czar to summon naloxone makers to White House to discuss pricing (Stat) Life-saving or stigmatizing? Parents wrestle with obesity treatment options for kids (NPR) A 150-year-old law could help determine the fate of U.S. abortion access (The Washington Post) What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Marjorie Taylor Greene moves to impeach FBI director, US attorney for DC Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said on Tuesday that she will move to introduce articles of impeachment against FBI Director Christopher Wray and … Read more McCarthy credits Biden with changing 'scope' of debt ceiling talks Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday left a meeting on the debt ceiling with President Biden and other congressional leaders saying the structure … Read more What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: Good intentions alone won't solve the country's opioid crisis   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? 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