Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Confusion Over PACT Act Has Led To $6.8M In Improper Disability Claims
Military.com: Misdated PACT Act Disability Decisions Costing Government, Veterans Millions
A sampling of disability claims filed under the 2022 PACT Act found that roughly one-quarter listed incorrect start dates, resulting in improper payouts of about $6.8 million to some veterans and shortchanging an estimated 2,300 others, the Department of Veterans Affairs' internal watchdog found. In a report released Tuesday, the Veterans Affairs Officer of Inspector General concluded that the legislation's complexity, along with inadequate guidance from the Veterans Benefits Administration, led claims adjudicators to assign the wrong "effective date" to an estimated 26,000 claims, resulting in overpayment by the government in the first year of the legislation. (Kime, 4/15)
On emissions, transgender care, and tariffs —
AP: Trump Exempts Nearly 70 Coal Plants From Emissions Rule
The Trump administration has granted nearly 70 coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene. A list quietly posted as of Tuesday on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website lists 47 power providers — which operate at least 66 coal-fired plants — that are receiving exemptions from the Biden-era rules under the Clean Air Act, including a regulation limiting air pollution from mercury and other toxins. (Daly, 4/16)
Axios: Trump Administration Moves To Limit Trans Care In ACA Plans
The Trump administration is seeking to limit coverage of gender-affirming care for adults and minors in Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance plans beginning next year. Why it matters: The rule, if finalized, would not ban marketplace plans from covering gender-affirming care services. But it could raise out-of-pocket costs for patients, add administrative burdens for insurance companies and inject confusion into state operations, health policy experts say. (Goldman, 4/15)
Modern Healthcare: J&J Predicts $400M Tariff Costs, Mostly On Medtech Business
Johnson & Johnson is predicting tariffs will cost it $400 million this year, largely affecting its medtech business. Joseph J. Wolk, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said during the company’s earnings call Tuesday the financial hit could change due to the fluid nature of the tariffs. (Dubinsky, 4/15)
On federal funding and DEI —
The New York Times: Trump Threatens Harvard’s Tax Status After Freezing Funds
President Trump threatened Harvard University’s tax-exempt status on Tuesday after the school rebuffed his administration’s demands for a series of policy changes, a dramatic escalation in the feud between the president and the nation’s richest and oldest university. ... White House officials said Tuesday that the Internal Revenue Service would make its decision about Harvard’s tax-exempt status independently, but the president has made clear in private that he has no intention of backing down from the fight with the university. Federal law prohibits the president from “directly or indirectly” telling the I.R.S. to conduct specific tax investigations, and it is unclear whether the agency would actually move forward with an investigation. A spokeswoman for the I.R.S. declined to comment. (Pager, Duehren, Haberman and Swan, 4/15)
Boston Globe: Harvard Funding Cuts Will Largely Spare Affiliated Hospitals, Trump Official Says
Teaching hospitals affiliated with Harvard University will not be affected by the federal government’s decision this week to freeze $2.2 billion in funding to the university, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education. (Saltzman, Weisman and Damiano, 4/15)
Boston Globe: Harvard Scientist Ordered To Halt Multicenter TB Trial In Funding Freeze
A top scientist at Harvard who has spent years unraveling the mysteries of tuberculosis woke up Tuesday morning and discovered an order from the federal government telling her to halt her research. (Damiano, 4/15)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Sen. Raphael Warnock At CDC: ‘Now Is Not The Time To Be Silent’
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock told a group of protesters assembled in front of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that “now is not the time to be silent.” Warnock made his comments at what has now become a weekly rally outside the Clifton Road facility in the face of massive cuts to the agency by President Donald Trump’s administration. Tuesday’s rally was the largest gathering yet, as retired scientists, recently fired staff and supporters stood on both sides of the CDC’s main entrance, and on both facing corners across the street. (Scaturro and Hart, 4/15)
