Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Where Vance Stands On Abortion Access, Health Investments, Opioids
Former President Donald Trump has selected as his running mate first-term Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who has opposed abortion rights and some LGBTQ+ rights in his time in political office. (Panetta, 7/15)
Sen. J.D. Vance, who was tapped to be former President Trump鈥檚 running mate on Monday, has a history of investing in health care companies 鈥 and of pursuing health care policies that are sometimes at odds with his party鈥檚 base. (Zhang and Owermohle, 7/15)
Vice President Harris is prepared to debate former President Trump鈥檚 vice president pick, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), the Biden campaign said Monday. Biden campaign spokesperson TJ Ducklo noted on a call with reporters that Harris has been on the campaign trail focusing on reproductive health, gun violence and the economy, arguing she is ready for a debate. (Gangitano, 7/15)
Also 鈥
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX.O) sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, seeking a court declaration that a fertility support program for patients who are prescribed its gene editing therapy Casgevy does not violate federal anti-kickback laws. Casgevy is approved for the treatment of two genetic disorders - sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia - in the United States. (7/15)
Financially troubled Steward Health Care, which operates eight hospitals in Florida, is under federal investigation over fraud and corruption allegations related to public hospitals it manages in Malta. (Mayer, 7/15)
Academic health systems are targeting graduate medical education funding in a new lawsuit, signaling how providers may challenge more regulations in the wake of recent Supreme Court rulings. Hospitals belonging to the UNC Health, UChicago Medicine and Yale New Haven Health systems sued Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra Friday, alleging the federal government underpaid hospitals for graduate medical education under an allegedly flawed reimbursement calculation. (Kacik, 7/15)
A year-old law seems to have done little to curb a surge in violence against health care workers that began during the pandemic, despite increasing charges for assaults on nonmedical staff 鈥 such as custodial, security or administrative workers 鈥 who are providing emergency medical care. According to Maine鈥檚 Judicial Branch, there have been 12 charges of 鈥渁ssault on an emergency medical care provider鈥 in 2024 鈥 on track to meet similar numbers as the last five years. There were 27 charges in 2023 and 25 in 2022, for example. (Foust, 7/15)