Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Axing Trump Policy That Makes It Harder To Punish HHS Rule Breakers
Modern Healthcare: HHS Proposes Withdrawing Trump 'Good Guidance' Rules
The Biden administration on Tuesday announced plans to withdraw Trump-era rules that make it harder for regulators to punish individuals and organizations for not following Health and Human Services Department guidance. The rules, issued in the final months of the Trump administration, ban HHS from penalizing individuals and organizations for noncompliance with agency guidance and requires the agency only carry out civil enforcement actions using standards that are publicly stated. HHS proposed withdrawing the rules Tuesday, arguing it creates "unnecessary hurdles" to issuing guidance and bringing enforcement actions and is inconsistent with the goals of the Biden administration. (Hellmann, 10/19)
In other news about the Biden administration —
NPR: Dr. Rachel Levine Becomes The Country's First Transgender Four-Star Officer
Dr. Rachel Levine is once again making history, becoming the first openly transgender four-star officer to serve in any of the country's eight uniformed services. During a ceremony Tuesday, Levine was sworn in as an admiral — the highest-ranking official of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Levine's appointment to the USPHS Commissioned Corps also made her the organization's first female four-star admiral. Previously she became the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate for a federal office. (Franklin, 10/19)
Indianapolis Star: Rep. Jim Banks Faces Criticism For Tweets About Dr. Rachel Levine
Indiana Congressman Jim Banks is facing criticism after sharing a pair of derogatory tweets about the nation's first openly transgender four-star officer. The LGBTQ Victory Fund, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ officials, called the tweets bigoted. Dr. Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary of health, was sworn in as an admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps on Tuesday, making her the first openly transgender four-star officer and first female four-star officer. (Lange, 10/19)
