Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senate Republicans Back Bill Allowing For Sale Of Over-The-Counter Birth Control
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) is leading a new push to allow women to buy birth control without a prescription, hoping to deliver on one of the biggest promises of his freshman Senate campaign last year. A half-dozen Senate Republicans have signed onto Gardner’s bill, which would require drug companies that sell contraceptives to file an application to sell their products over the counter. (Ferris, 5/26)
A pair of Senate Republicans introduced an over-the-counter birth control bill last week – something that the GOP first began floating during campaign season last year in an effort to show that they support women’s health – but some outside groups are questioning the effect it would actually have on costs, access and pregnancy rates. (Zanona, 5/26)
Veterans’ organizations on Monday applauded the Senate’s action on Friday clearing legislation (HR 2496) that made changes to the Veterans’ Choice program and provided additional funds that allowed work to continue on a costly health center construction project in Denver. The bill, which President Barack Obama signed into law, tweaked language in the law that created the Choice program last year (PL 113-146). The original text said that veterans could be eligible for VA-paid private medical care outside of VA facilities if they faced an unusual or excessive burden in traveling to a VA facility because of geographic challenges. (Adams, 5/26)
The U.S. Senate has approved bipartisan legislation to clarify the circumstances when veterans are allowed to get medical care from their hometown providers at the expense of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Access to local, non-VA health care is part of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which became law last year. It’s meant to assist veterans who live far from VA facilities or can’t get an appointment within 30 days. (Thompson, 5/26)
The growing painkiller and heroin abuse crisis -- which is also driving up hepatitis C cases -- prompts a flurry of legislative proposals -
With dozens of Americans fatally overdosing on prescription painkillers and heroin every day, Congress is taking steps to intervene by expanding access to addiction treatment, increasing the use of medication to reverse overdoses and other measures. Lawmakers’ flurry of legislation comes on top of similar treatment and prevention pronouncements by the Obama administration. (Villacorta, 5/26)
The rise in injection drug use across the country, especially the eastern U.S., is fueling an outbreak of hepatitis C. Outreach workers are offering clean needles and testing to contain the spread. (Gourlay, 5/26)
