 Health Care |
Health Care |
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COVID conspiracies creeping back |
As new coronavirus cases rise with the onset of the respiratory viral season, unfounded claims surrounding the virus are beginning to crop up once more. |
Claims like the imminent return of COVID-19 lockdowns and other broad mitigation efforts grew online in the past months, spurred by a rise in cases around the country. According to the most recent data made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hospital admissions for COVID-19 have begun to decline in the past week, as have emergency department visits. As experts put it, rumors about the virus are often fueled by deeper-seated concerns over issues like government overreach, The Hill's Ella Lee and Alex Gangitano report. Tara Kirk Sell, scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told The Hill that part of addressing misinformation is taking on these concerns that people have. The Biden administration has recently moved to directly answer questions about COVID-19 that have been made online. Officials have taken to responding to inaccurate statements on social media while also watching for unapproved products promoted online as treatments against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
"[The Department of Health and Human Services] works to ensure that public health guidance and messaging are based on facts and science and that we are transparent about what we do and don't know because we know how important it is for people to have accurate, science-based information to protect themselves and their loved ones," a spokesperson told The Hill.
Even after the end of the national health emergency, COVID-19 continues to be a source of political ammunition, and President Biden is likely to be on the defense on the 2024 campaign trail. Presidential candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (D) often rage against viral mitigation methods to both hit at the administration and engender support from their bases. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, I'm 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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Americans will once again be able to order free COVID-19 tests through the mail after the Biden administration announced last week it would relaunch its free at-home COVID testing program ahead of a possible surge this winter. Starting Monday, those interested can head to a government website to order four free COVID tests directly to their home. Each household is allowed up to four tests, intended to be … |
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| A new study published Monday links COVID-19 antiviral created by Merck with new mutations of the virus that have been sequenced around the world. Molnupiravir, known commercially as Lagevrio, is one of two COVID-19 antivirals authorized for treating coronavirus infections along with Paxlovid from Pfizer. The drug works by inducing mutations in the virus’s cells as it replicates, resulting in random mutations that are … |
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Former President Trump is trying to have it both ways on abortion, reflecting the difficulties Republicans face as they try to navigate the issue since Roe v. Wade was overturned. In the past week, Trump has dodged questions about national restrictions, blamed the anti-abortion movement for the GOP losses in last year’s midterm elections and criticized states such as Florida and Georgia for their six-week bans. … |
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A MESSAGE FROM PLASMA PROTEIN THERAPEUTICS ASSOCIATION |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- The second GOP presidential debate will take place this Wednesday, with fewer candidates expected to take part this time. Former President Trump has again opted to skip this event. Here's how to watch.
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Making the Grade: Solving the U.S. Math Problem, Sept. 26, 3:30-5:30 p.m. ET | National Press Club Holeman Lounge & streaming A recent study by NWEA found that middle and elementary school students' math progress stagnated last year. Join The Hill as we convene lawmakers, math advocates and educators to discuss the state of U.S. math education and why it's no longer acceptable to laugh off being "bad at math." Speakers include: - Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.), co-sponsor of Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act
- Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), member of the House Financial Services Committee
- Rebecka Peterson, 2023 National Teacher of the Year
- Tim Hudson, Chief Learning Officer at Dreambox
- Josh Recio, Course Program Specialist, Secondary Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin; and more.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Former New Zealand prime minister and pandemic prep leader says we're unprepared for the next one |
NEW YORK (AP) — If another pandemic happens, the world will again be unprepared. That's the bleak assessment of former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, who co-chaired the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, after the U.N. General Assembly held a high-level summit aimed at heading off another pandemic. The upshot: … | |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Governor Roy Cooper announces Medicaid expansion in NC to begin December 1 (WTVD)
- Health care provider set to lay off hundreds, blaming state's Medicaid policies (WHNT)
- Getting help from Texas HHS? Watch out for this data breach letter (KENS)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Massive Kaiser Permanente strike looms as talks head to the wire (KFF Health News)
- Lee, administration officials issue plea for five-year PEPFAR (Roll Call)
- Pediatric cancer drugs in shortage as drug supply crisis drags on (NBC News)
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A MESSAGE FROM PLASMA PROTEIN THERAPEUTICS ASSOCIATION |
Hundreds of thousands of Americans rely on medicines made from donated plasma to treat a wide range of life-threatening conditions. Learn more at UniquelySavingLives.org or see us on Capitol Hill on 9/27! |
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Judge Aileen Cannon agreed Monday to a Justice Department (DOJ) request to hold hearings to examine potential conflicts of interest of two attorneys … Read more |
| Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is ramping up the pressure on Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to avoid a government shutdown by moving … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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