Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
White House Urged To Create National Patient Safety Team
The White House should create a national patient safety team to help reduce high levels of dangerous care in the medical system, presidential advisers recommended Thursday. Progress in addressing preventable harms like medication errors and hospital-acquired infections has been "unacceptably slow," necessitating a White House-led initiative to improve patient safety, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology wrote in a report. (Goldman, 9/8)
In other news from the Biden administration 鈥
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will hold a confirmation hearing next month for Monica Bertagnolli, President Biden鈥檚 nominee to run the National Institutes of Health, he said Friday. Sanders, whose health committee oversees the confirmation of the NIH nominee, had refused to hold a hearing on Bertagnolli until the Biden administration promised more drug pricing reform. (Wilkerson, 9/8)
As questions over elected official official鈥檚 physical and mental fitness to serve swirl after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell鈥檚, R-Ky., second freezing episode, Cassidy, also a physician, said he thinks it should be a 鈥渉ouse rule鈥 for candidates to release their medical records.聽鈥淚 think if you want to be the President of the United States, or a senator or House member then there is a responsibility over and above that of just offering yourself,鈥 Cassidy said on NBC鈥檚 鈥淢eet the Press.鈥澛(Tran, 9/10)
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz fumed at President Joe Biden鈥檚 administration, claiming it plans to strictly curb Americans鈥 alcohol consumption. In an interview with Newsmax, the Texas Republican accused the Biden administration of limiting Americans to only two beers a week. ... The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism鈥檚 director said the U.S. may consider recommending adults consume only two drinks per week. But even if such a recommendation is issued, it will be a recommendation, not a mandate. (Barahi, 9/10)