 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Biden makes his pick for new CDC director
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President Biden announced Mandy Cohen as his pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after current director Rochelle Walensky steps down later this month. |
While Cohen is coming into the role after some time in the private sector, she is no stranger to government work: - She previously served in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Obama administration.
- Cohen also served as North Carolina health secretary for several years, leading the state through the passage of Medicaid expansion and the COVID-19 pandemic before leaving the role at the start of 2022.
The position of CDC director is not confirmed by the Senate and won't be until 2025, meaning Cohen can start working immediately after Walensky's departure at the end of this month. Depending on the length of her tenure, Cohen may be the last CDC director who experiences such a smooth ascension to the top spot at the health agency. When Walensky announced her upcoming exit, she cited the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency as a "tremendous transition." In her wake, Walensky will be leaving Cohen with an agency in the midst of a transition of its own. During her tenure as CDC head, Walensky faced criticisms of unclear guidance coming out of the agency, leading to a department-wide reorganization with a focus on streamlining internal communication. Among the tasks Cohen is expected to take on is the first COVID-19 vaccine campaign meant to mirror annual flu shots. The FDA's vaccine advisory panel unanimously voted to recommend updated shots on Thursday and manufacturers are already preparing supplies for the fall. |
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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U.S. pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) on Friday became the latest organization to file a legal challenge against the the Medicare drug price negotiation program established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This suit echoes the complaints filed by Merck & Co. and the Chamber of Commerce, alleging the IRA provision that gives Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices is a violation of the First and … |
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| The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told vaccine manufacturers on Friday their fall COVID-19 update should target the XBB.1.5 strain of omicron. That variant is currently responsible for about 40 percent of all infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine companies have been working on XBB-specific vaccines, so they will be ready by the end of the summer. Company representatives … |
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The American Medical Association (AMA) said the use of the body mass index (BMI) metric on its own has done "historical harm" as an “imperfect measure” of bodily health. The AMA said in a post on its website this week that BMI has been widely used because it is easy to measure and inexpensive while providing specific cutoff points for someone being considered overweight or obese. But it does not directly assess … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- Health care leaders and federal officials will be gathering at the 2023 VA Healthcare Summit for two days to discuss issues affecting the Department of Veterans Affairs starting on June 18.
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A MESSAGE FROM CONSUMERS FOR QUALITY CARE |
When Hospitals Act Like Big Businesses, Patients Lose
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Across the country, hospitals are prioritizing profits over patients. Join us on June 22 for a panel discussion on the need to recenter our hospital system around patient care, followed by a screening of the documentary film InHospitable. Register now. |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Federal judge blocks much of Indiana's ban on gender-affirming care for minors |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge issued an order Friday stopping an Indiana ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender minors from taking effect as scheduled July 1. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana sought the temporary injunction in its legal challenge of the Republican-backed law, which was enacted this spring … | |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Doctor lands in the doghouse after giving Covid vaccine waivers too freely (KFF Health News)
- America's unlikeliest abortion clinic has opened in its reddest state (The Washington Post)
- Long-term care providers rally in Pennsylvania capitol (WGAL)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Ozempic, Wegovy-maker hires lobbying firm to push for Medicare coverage (Politico)
- Tech luminaries give RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine message a boost (KFF Health News)
- White House 'naloxone summit' omitting prominent advocates for lower costs (Stat)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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The Justice Department on Friday filed a motion seeking to block former President Trump from releasing any classified materials that will be shared … Read more |
| MSNBC pundit Joe Scarborough suggested Friday that former President Trump held on to government secrets after leaving the White House for financial … Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you next week! |
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