Health Care — CDC to end program giving free COVID tests for some

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View Online Health Care Health Care The Big Story  CDC moves up expiration date for uninsured COVID vaccine program  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is ending a federal program to provide COVID-19 vaccines for free earlier than planned as funds run out.  © AP The federal government's Bridge Access Program unveiled last year in anticipation of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ending along with free coronavirus vaccines and treatments.    It worked by partnering with pharmacies — CVS, Walgreens and eTrueNorth — to provide vaccines to the uninsured. The program was set to last until the end of this year, but the CDC said this week its expiration has been expedited to August.    The program has provided more than 1.4 million free COVID-19 vaccines since it launched in September 2023 at a cost of more than $1 billion. There are an estimated 25-30 million uninsured adults in the U.S.     "Due to Congressional rescissions of COVID-19 funds in the FY 2024 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, difficult decisions had to be made about the future of CDC activities supported by those funds," a CDC spokesperson told The Hill.    The FY 2024 government funding bill rescinded unobligated COVID-19 funding. But according to CDC, the agency was planning to use its share of that money to support the upcoming Fall 2024 respiratory virus season, "including purchase of updated vaccines and the underlying infrastructure to distribute, administer, and promote uptake."    "After August, there may be a small amount of free vaccine available through health department immunization programs, but supply would be very limited," the spokesman said.    The Food and Drug Administration is meeting next month to discuss choosing the next strains to target with this year's SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. While the CDC is advocating for a Vaccines for Adults proposal included in the White House's budget request, the appropriations process won't be complete in time for the fall vaccine rollout.  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: Americans split on abortion pill restrictions ahead of Supreme Court ruling Americans are split on whether women should be required to have an in-person visit with a doctor before receiving abortion pills ahead of the Supreme Court ruling that will determine access to mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medication abortion.  Around 50 percent of respondents in the new Reuters/Ipsos poll said they were for a requirement to have women see a doctor in person first, before getting abortion pills. …  Full Story Fall trial set for pharmacist in 11 Michigan meningitis deaths after plea deal talks fizzle A judge set a fall trial Friday for a pharmacist charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of 11 Michigan residents who died in a 2012 meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroids from a Massachusetts lab.  Full Story English fishing village told to boil water after a parasite outbreak sickens over 45 people A scenic fishing village in southwestern England was under instructions to boil its tap water for a third day on Friday after a parasite sickened more than 45 people in the latest example of Britain's troubled water system.  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read: Tick season has arrived. Protect yourself with these tips Tick season is starting across the U.S., and experts are warning the bloodsuckers may be as plentiful as ever.   Another mild winter and other favorable factors likely means the 2024 tick population will be equal to last year or larger, some researchers say. Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: California promised a higher minimum wage for health care workers. Will Newsom delay it? (CalMatters)  Reproductive health care clinic is a step closer to opening in Las Cruces (Source New Mexico)  Indiana scores poorly on health care cost survey (WISH-TV)  What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Private programs provide access to birth control. They can also deprive women of choice (Time)  America is hurtling toward a gray trap (Axios)  Animal studies lend support to an innovative HIV vaccine strategy — but there's still a long way to go (Stat)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Abnormally hot summer even more likely in latest NOAA forecast: Here's where New predictions for the summer season, released by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center this week, show weather is likely to heat up in almost every corner … Read more Greene fracas at hearing leaves lawmakers shaking their heads A Thursday night hearing's descent into chaos earned rebuke from both sides of the aisle after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) attacked another … Read more What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: Biden's HHS is trying to twist the Hyde Amendment to mandate abortion funding The Constitution is the best and most difficult way to protect abortion rights    You're all caught up. See you next week!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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