Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Former Congressman Alleges Capitol Physicians Failed To Alert Him To Cancer Threat
Former Rep. Steve LaTourette, gravely ill with pancreatic cancer, has filed a claim against the government over the treatment he received from his Capitol doctors, claiming they failed to pass along critical information about a lesion on the organ and the need for follow-up monitoring. LaTourette, R-Ohio, filed administrative claims against the government earlier this month in anticipation of filing a lawsuit later. But papers filed with a federal court in Washington last week say LaTourette 鈥渋s likely to succumb to rapid physical and cognitive deterioration鈥 and urge that he be allowed to testify now since he may not be able to when any lawsuit is filed. (Taylor, 5/28)
Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt visited a community health clinic in north St. Louis Thursday and pledged support for the model, which uses federal funds to provide basic healthcare services for people who are uninsured or living in poverty. The Affordable Care Act included an increase in funding to community health centers over the past five years. Congress has extended the funding for another two years. (Bouscaren, 5/28)