Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what’s going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue!
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RESTRICTS RESEARCH ON FETAL TISSUE FROM ABORTIONS: The Trump administration will block government scientists from acquiring new fetal tissue from abortions to use in medical research, a major victory for abortion opponents.
The decision comes after months of speculation, as well as backlash from anti-abortion groups that demanded President Trump fire the head of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, for saying that research using fetal tissue could provide useful study for treatments of devastating illnesses.
The ban applies to scientists at NIH, the government’s medical research agency, and would not apply to fetal tissue obtained from miscarriages, but to fetal tissue that was donated after elected abortions. The Department of Health and Human Services, which is the NIH’s parent agency, in September had already asked most government scientists to temporarily halt the acquisition of new fetal tissue while it reviewed the issue.
The new ban does not apply to outside groups that receive NIH grants to conduct their research, though HHS did announce it would not be renewing a multi-million dollar contract with the University of California, San Francisco, that used fetal tissue in HIV research.
UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood said in a statement that the university “strongly opposed” the “abrupt” decision, and said the scientists specifically required fetal tissue to conduct their research.
“UCSF exercised appropriate oversight and complied with all state and federal laws,” Hawgood said. “We believe this decision to be politically motivated, shortsighted and not based on sound science.”
From now on, other outside researchers who get government funding will undergo an ethical review process by an NIH advisory board when they apply to have their grants renewed.
Good morning and welcome to the Washington Examiner’s Daily on Healthcare! This newsletter is written by senior healthcare reporter Kimberly Leonard (@LeonardKL) and healthcare reporter Cassidy Morrison (@CassMorrison94). You can reach us with tips, calendar items, or suggestions at [email protected]. If someone forwarded you this email and you’d like to receive it regularly, you can subscribe here.
CONSERVATIVE GROUPS START COALITION AGAINST ‘MEDICARE FOR ALL’: A new group to oppose the creation of a fully government-financed healthcare system formed Thursday under the name Coalition Against Socialized Medicine. The coalition includes American Commitment, Citizens Against Government Waste, the Club for Growth, the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action for America, and the National Taxpayers Union.
The coalition said its mission was to “educate the public and aggressively oppose all efforts to advance socialized medicine, and instead promote market-oriented initiatives that will spur even greater innovations and improvements to our American healthcare system.”
MEASLES CASES SURPASS 1,000 AND AZAR URGES PARENTS TO VACCINATE: HHS Secretary Alex Azar urged all Americans to vaccinate against measles Wednesday as the confirmed number of cases reached 1,001. Azar said that surpassing the 1,000-mark is “a troubling reminder” that pockets of the population remain unvaccinated.
BIDEN SUPPORTS BAN ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS: Joe Biden’s campaign team said Wednesday that the Democratic contender supports the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for certain abortions. Biden is the sole Democratic candidate to have come out in support of the ban. Many 2020 candidates, including Sens. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, have all vowed to repeal the restriction.
OPIOID MANUFACTURER TO PAY $225M TO END INVESTIGATIONS INTO BRIBES, KICKBACKS: Insys Therapeutics will pay $225 million to end federal investigations into their allegedly illegal marketing tactics for its powerful fentanyl spray Subsys. The spray is designed to treat cancer patients in severe pain, but federal prosecutors say Insys bribed doctors and offered kickbacks to prescribe the drug more frequently.
MEDICAID ILLEGALLY PURCHASED ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION DRUGS FOR SEX OFFENDERS: A state audit revealed that the New York Medicaid system made $993,000 in payments for erectile dysfunction drugs, providing 47 state sex offenders with sexual treatments. While Medicaid will cover such drugs used to treat certain diagnoses, state auditors argued that the cases did not warrant the prescriptions. Health officials deny the charges, saying auditors “either ignored the law or the facts which undermines any value that can be associated with its findings.”
UN OFFICIAL CALLS US ABORTION POLICY ‘TORTURE’: The U.N. deputy high commissioner for human rights, Kate Gilmore, called increasingly stringent abortion bans “torture” and “extremist hate” against women. She also said the groups pushing stricter laws, which are largely conservative and religious, are ignoring science in favor of pushing their ideological agendas.
N.C. HOUSE FAILS TO BLOCK GOVERNOR’S VETO OF ‘BORN ALIVE’ BILL: North Carolina’s GOP-led House failed to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill requiring doctors to provide medical care for infants who survive abortions. Medical professionals who do not comply with the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would have faced felony charges, prison time, and up to $250,000 in fines. The veto override failed in a 67-53 vote Wednesday.
STACEY ABRAMS URGES HOLLYWOOD NOT TO CUT TIES WITH GEORGIA OVER ABORTION LAW: Stacey Abrams, a Democrat who lost her bid for Georgia governor, wants production companies, including Disney, Netflix, and WarnerMedia, to continue working in Georgia despite an abortion ban. She and other business leaders have begun a “#StayAndFight” movement to urge the companies to put their financial backing behind political candidates and groups challenging the law.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CUTS ENGLISH CLASSES FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IN SHELTERS: The Office of Refugee Resettlement will discontinue English-language lessons, recreational activities, and legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children in federal shelters. HHS spokesman Mark Weber said the programs are “not directly necessary for the protection of life and safety.”
OHIO DOCTOR FACES 25 COUNTS OF MURDER IN OVERDOSE DEATHS: Dr. William Husel of Ohio is accused of killing 25 patients, mostly elderly or severely ill, after prescribing between 500 and 2,000 micrograms of fentanyl several times to each person while working for the Mount Carmel Health System. A typical dose is between 25 to 500 micrograms.
The Rundown
The Intercept Joe Biden worked to undermine the Affordable Care Act’s coverage of contraception
The New York Times V.A. prepares for major shift in veterans’ health care
Stat Two more big states take aim at PBM pricing practices, which one lawmaker calls ‘the wild west’
Kaiser Health News On campaign trail, Joe Biden highlights nation’s lack of school psychologists
The CT Mirror Public option bill, already weakened by debate, dies in the Senate
Calendar
THURSDAY | June 6
Senate and House in session.
SATURDAY | June 8
June 8-12. Chicago. American Medical Association annual meeting. Details.
TUESDAY | June 11
8:30 a.m. Columbus Club at Union Station. Alliance for Health Policy half-day summit on “What’s Next on Social Determinants of Health Summit.” Details.
WEDNESDAY | June 12
2:30 p.m. Dirksen 226. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights hearing on “Your Doctor/Pharmacist/Insurer Will See You Now: Competitive Implications of Vertical Consolidation in the Healthcare Industry.” Details.
10:15 a.m. HVC 210. House Veterans Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Technology Modernization hearing on “Implementation of Electronic Health Record Systems at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.” Details.
10 a.m. 1100 Longworth. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on “Pathways to Universal Coverage.” Livestream.
2:30 p.m. Dirksen 226. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on “Your Doctor/Pharmacist/Insurer Will See You Now: Competitive Implications of Vertical Consolidation in the Healthcare Industry.” Details.
