Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Deputy Director At CDC Resigns Months After Being Brought On To Restore Confidence
The Washington Post: CDC’s Deputy Director To Leave Trump Administration After Six Months
Jennifer Shuford, the CDC’s deputy director and chief medical officer, is leaving the administration after a short tenure, she confirmed to The Washington Post late Monday night. “I am leaving to spend more time with my family,” Shuford said in a statement. “I am so thankful to President Trump and Secretary Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to help lead CDC. It has been an amazing experience, and I will be forever grateful for it.” (Diamond and Sun, 10/26)
Updates from HHS and the FDA —
Modern Healthcare: HHS Finalizes Health IT Rule Cutting Certification Criteria
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the Health and Human Services Department finalized a rule Monday that will significantly dial back federal health IT certification criteria. HTI-5, or the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity Final Rule, reduces requirements for developers participating in the ONC Health IT Certification Program. The program sets security and interoperability standards for health information technologies, such as electronic health records. (Famakinwa, 10/26)
The Hill: RFK Jr. Pledges Healthier Meals At 250 Hospitals Nationwide In MAHA Push
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that more than 250 hospitals have signed a pledge to serve healthier meals to patients, advancing his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda’s focus on treating food as medicine. Speaking at a press conference hosted at the Corewell Health Lifestyle and Culinary Medicine Practice in Grand Rapids, Mich., Kennedy said he expects improvements in patient satisfaction, citing hospitals that have already launched similar changes. (Choi, 10/26)
The Washington Post: The FDA Rarely Inspects Much Of The Produce Americans Eat
Americans are eating more imported fruits and vegetables, but less than 10 percent of facilities that account for 90 percent of shipments have been inspected since 2009. (Gilbert and Roubein, 10/27)
On the immigration crisis —
AP: Lawyers Say ICE Has Mistakenly Detained A Mentally Ill US Citizen
For nearly a year, immigration authorities have detained and sought to deport a mentally ill man whose mother, lawyers and public records say was born in the United States and not Jamaica as he claims, a review by The Associated Press found. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has no authority to detain U.S. citizens, but has long done so, usually for hours or days, when officers mistake identities or can’t immediately verify citizenship. Immigration lawyers say a nearly 10-month improper detention would be rare but not unprecedented. (Foley, 10/27)
Developments from Capitol Hill —
Politico: Bernie Sanders Could Soon Get A Powerful Perch To Help Shape 2028
Bernie Sanders probably isn’t going to be president. But he might be about to get one last chance to define his legacy in Washington. The Vermont independent is poised to lead the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee if Democrats can flip the Senate next month — giving the 85-year-old leftist icon a powerful perch he could use to promote his political movement and shape a 2028 presidential contest in which he has indicated he’s unlikely to be a candidate. (Carney, 10/26)
The Washington Post: Illinois Man Allegedly Sent Threatening Letters Containing A White Substance To Congress Members
An Illinois man is facing federal charges for allegedly sending threatening letters containing a white substance to four members of Congress. An affidavit filed in Illinois’ Central District Court on Monday alleges Matthew G. Unglesbee sent the letters on Oct. 16 or 17. He is charged with sending false information and mailing threatening communications. The letters contained what the affidavit describes as a “granular white substance” that resembled chemical or biological toxins, although preliminary lab testing did not find such material. (Jira, 10/26)
