Healthcare — Democrats weaponize Big Beautiful Bill

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View Online Healthcare Health Care The Big Story  Democrats weaponize Big Beautiful Bill Democrats in some of the most competitive races are looking to make Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” an albatross to hang on vulnerable incumbents.  © AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr. A year after Republicans muscled the massive reconciliation bill to Trump’s desk, Democratic candidates in the most competitive Senate races are blasting their Republican opponents over their support for the tax cuts package, The Hill’s Helen Huiskes reports.    The legislation cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and more than $180 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Vulnerable Republicans warned of the political consequences of those cuts as the bill was being debated but eventually voted for it anyway.    A year later, national Democrats and candidates in the key swing races are making sure voters know how many people in their states have lost SNAP benefits since enactment, which hospitals and clinics have closed, and how the Republican on the ballot is complicit in all of it.    Republicans hailed H.R. 1 as the biggest legislative achievement of President Trump’s first year. But GOP lawmakers almost immediately struggled to sell the bill to voters and ended up rebranding it as the Working Families Tax Cut Act.    Republicans still insist the tax cuts for higher-wage earners and corporations in the package are going to be a central facet of their midterm messaging, but Democrats are digging in with ads and campaign trail messages with a few months to go before Election Day.  Welcome to The Hill’s Healthcare 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 healthcare sector this week and beyond: Faith groups urge White House to release funding for HIV/AIDS prevention Five faith-based organizations are calling on the White House to release funding for HIV/AIDS prevention abroad that Congress already appropriated.  In a letter sent to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, the groups urged full funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and Gavi.   “These funds are urgently needed now. …  Full Story Collins calls on OMB to rescind parts of controversial proposed grant rule Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called on the Trump administration to withdraw some proposed changes to the federal grantmaking process, joining a growing chorus of opposition to a sweeping new proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  Collins on Monday sent a letter to OMB Director Russell Vought asking the agency to withdraw portions of the rule that she said would potentially harm small and rural communities …  Full Story Abbott orders Texas officials to investigate hospital over ‘birth packages’ for foreign nationals Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed state officials on Tuesday to “immediately” launch an investigation into a state hospital for allegedly seeking to profit from “birth tourism” practices.  Abbott said in a letter to Stephanie Muth, the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, that Mission Regional Medical Center has advertised “BIRTH PACKAGES IN SOUTH TEXAS” in foreign countries “in an …  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read: Gene therapy for children with sickle cell disease approved by FDA (NewsNation) — A new treatment for children aged 2 or older with sickle cell disease has been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). In a Wednesday news release, the FDA announced it had approved Casgevy, the first gene therapy for children with the disease. “Casgevy is a gene therapy consisting of the patient’s own (autologous) hematopoietic (blood) stem cells, administered as a one-time single dose for … Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on healthcare: Oregon eyes $421 million in Medicaid cuts, including fewer benefits and limits on treatments (Oregon Public Broadcasting)  Ohio gut illness cases near 200, state health department warns (The Columbus Dispatch)  Mass General Brigham, nurses called to talk at State House amid biggest nursing strike in Mass. (Boston Globe)   What We're Reading  Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets: Patients face a thicket of red tape trying to maintain consistent health coverage (KFF Health News)  Trump administration pursues more durable changes to science policy after setbacks in court (Stat)  Almost $1 billion later, the US still can’t make a medical glove (Bloomberg) What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: Republicans can improve healthcare and lower costs HUD is right about recovery, wrong about fentanyl test strips   You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Healthcare page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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