Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Covid Testing Effort Gets More Than $1.6 Billion Boost From White House
NBC News: White House Boosts Funding For Covid Tests As Infections Continue To Surge
The Biden administration is accelerating investments in Covid-19 testing to combat a fourth wave of infections washing over states and regions with low vaccination rates as those rates stall and some people resist a return to mask mandates, three administration officials said. The administration said Thursday that it is directing $1.6 billion in Covid testing to high-risk settings like prisons and homeless and domestic violence shelters, the officials said. The administration announced a $398 million boost in funding for small rural hospitals last week for testing and reducing infection. (Przybyla, 7/22)
CIDRAP: White House Announces New COVID-19 Funds
Today the Biden administration announced sweeping new funding aimed at beating back COVID-19 in vulnerable communities, including congregate living settings, and infusing rural health clinics with resources to help spread vaccination education. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will invest more than $1.6 billion from the American Rescue Plan into testing materials for homeless shelters, treatment and recovery facilities, domestic violence shelters, and federal, state and local correctional facilities, the administration said today. Early detection of cases in these communities can stem outbreaks. (Soucheray, 7/22)
The Hill: White House Announces New Funds For COVID-19 Testing And Vaccination Amid Delta Surge
The administration announced the release of about $100 million for rural health clinics to do vaccine outreach, given that many rural areas have lower vaccination rates and local health clinics can be a trusted source of information about vaccines. “This funding will give trusted messengers in rural communities the tools they need to counsel patients on how COVID-19 vaccines can help protect them and their loved ones," said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. (Sullivan, 7/22)
Politico: Biden Administration Sends More Cash To Hard-Hit Areas As Delta Variant Surges
Officials see local outreach as essential to increasing immunizations. The $100 million funding influx announced Thursday will give nearly 2,000 rural health clinics more resources to reach unvaccinated communities, Biden administration Covid-19 czar Jeff Zients said. The funding was originally allotted in the American Rescue Plan and will amount to nearly $50,000 for each clinic. Zients said the administration is also now providing CDC assistance to Missouri, Illinois and Colorado, while FEMA will be setting up mobile vaccination clinics in North Carolina. (Owermohle, 7/22)
In other news from the Biden administration —
NBC News: Biden Administration Officials Fear Lifting Covid Restrictions At Border Could Trigger Migrant Surge
Biden administration officials are worried that lifting the Covid-19 restrictions blocking undocumented immigrants from crossing into the U.S. from Mexico would trigger a surge in migration that could overwhelm the system, according to two U.S. officials familiar with internal discussions about the issue. The public health order barring border migration, known as Title 42, has expelled back to Mexico almost 1 million immigrants trying to cross the southern border since the Trump administration put it in place in March 2020. (Ainsley, 7/22)
