Hyde Amendment, Opioids Divide Senators In Health Budget Hearing
Those were two of the issues on which Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies from the two parties did not agree while considering the HHS spending plan for fiscal 2022.
Bloomberg Law:
Abortion Politics Complicate Senate’s Push To Boost Health Funds
Senate Democratic leaders are making the case to end the decades-old restriction on federal funding for abortions, setting up a battle over health agency funding this year. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who heads the Senate panel responsible for the bulk of federal health spending, said ending the funding restriction, called the Hyde amendment, would be a “critical step” toward opening up abortion services for people of color and those unable to pay for health services on their own. (Ruoff, 6/9)
MedPage Today:
Senate Hearing On HHS Budget Showcases Divide Among Democrats, Republicans
Wednesday's Senate hearing on the HHS budget for fiscal year 2022 left no doubt on the areas in which Republicans and Democrats don't see eye to eye when it comes to healthcare. ... The opioid epidemic was one issue mentioned by several senators. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the full Appropriations Committee, asked HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the hearing's lone witness, for his thoughts on developing alternatives to opioids for chronic pain management. (Frieden, 6/9)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
USA Today:
Senate Hearing Raises More Questions Over Name, Image And Likeness
Altogether, 18 states have passed [name, image and likeness] laws. Four others have had bills pending on governors’ desks, including two more that would take effect July 1, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced during the hearing that his state’s legislature had just completed passage of a bill. That leaves NCAA schools staring at a chaotic situation that it wants Congress to resolve. However, in addition to explicit nullification of competing state laws, the NCAA wants a variety of other considerations, including protection from antitrust lawsuits related to athlete compensation. That is prompting some in Congress to demand greater benefits for athletes, especially regarding health care. (Berkowitz, 6/9)
The Hill:
Capitol Police Welcome Emotional Support Dog To Force
Capitol Police have added another member to their force in the form of an emotional support dog. "We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of our Department!" the Capitol Police tweeted on Wednesday. Along with the announcement, the department shared three photos of the young dog."2-year-old Lila is our first full-time emotional support black lab," they added. (Polus, 6/9)
And more on opioids from state governments —
Politico:
Republicans Rebel Against A Powerful Anti-Opioid Tool
Recent efforts to shutter needle exchanges in Republican-led areas could indicate renewed GOP backlash to the controversial programs aimed at preventing outbreaks of HIV and hepatitis, public health experts are increasingly warning. West Virginia, which has been ground zero for the deadly opioid epidemic, this spring approved sweeping new requirements that have already forced the planned closure of one needle exchange program and left the future of several others in doubt. The needle exchange in Washington state’s Grays Harbor County, a purple region that twice voted for former President Donald Trump, shut down after the local government axed funding. And last week, Indiana’s Scott County moved to eliminate a program it created in the aftermath of a 2015 HIV outbreak that drew national attention. (Goldberg, 6/10)
