Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senators Demand RFK Jr. Reverse Stance On Research Grant Cancellations
MedPage Today: Senators Blast RFK Jr. Over AHRQ Grant Cancellations
More than two dozen Democratic senators called on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to rescind recent grant cancellations by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). "We write to express our profound concern and unequivocal opposition to the recent mass cancellations of lifesaving health research grants" from AHRQ, and the "year-long refusal to faithfully execute" the fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026 appropriations laws, wrote Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), along with 28 of their colleagues, in a letter to Kennedy. (Henderson, 8/17)
Axios: Trump Administration Puts 'America First' Twist On Drug Reviews
The Trump administration's push to reshore drug development is becoming part of efforts to renew the user fee system that pays for review of new medicines. Why it matters: "America First" incentives the administration is proposing would add a political twist to what's been a bipartisan process, but could gain favor as policymakers look for ways to reduce dependence on China. (Bettelheim, 8/18)
Axios: FDA Considers Doctor-Like Assessment For AI-Enabled Medical Devices
The Food and Drug Administration is considering evaluating generative AI-enabled medical devices through a "competency-based approach," similar to how doctors are evaluated, the agency writes in a discussion paper first shared with Axios. Why it matters: Emerging medical technologies are challenging the existing framework for overseeing medical devices, prompting calls for new approaches. (Owens, 8/18)
Military.com: Pentagon 'SHINE' Program Researches Traumatic Brain Injury Treatments
The Department of Defense (DOD) has launched a new research program to develop treatments for traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A new program called Selective Harnessing of Intrinsic Neuroplasticity Engineering (SHINE) is pushing through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the research arm of the DOD, developing non-invasive tools to "enhance the brain's ability to adapt and rewire itself" when it is injured. (Plummer, 8/18)
