Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senate Rejects Democratic Effort To End AI-Powered Prior Authorization In Medicare
Modern Healthcare: Senate Blocks Repeal Of CMS’ WISeR Prior Authorization Model
The Senate has rejected an attempt to repeal an artificial intelligence-powered program that introduced prior authorization requirements to fee-for-service Medicare. The upper chamber voted down a Democratic measure to repeal the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Model, known as WISeR, on Thursday. The bill failed on party-line 46-50 vote in the majority-Republican Senate. (McAuliff, 7/16)
KFF Health News: Insurers Hedge On Trump-Backed Pledge To Improve Denials Process
One year after the Trump administration announced that dozens of health insurers had signed a six-part pledge promising to reduce barriers to doctor-recommended care, some insurers now say they won’t implement all the promised initiatives. Meanwhile, patients, their advocates, and clinicians say little has improved. “It has never been this bad for patients,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), a physician who co-chairs the GOP Doctors Caucus. (Sausser and Rayasam, 7/17)
On military health —
Military.com: House Officially Delays 60-Bill Veterans Package As Major Veterans Service Organizations Split Over Benefits
The House on Thursday abruptly delayed a vote on the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA), shelving one of the largest veterans legislative packages in years after Republican leaders apparently failed to secure enough support amid a growing fight over disability compensation that has divided many of the nation's largest veterans organizations. (Lindsay, 7/16)
Stat: Hegseth Call For Military Testosterone Screenings Divides Experts
Medical experts are divided on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement that U.S. service members will undergo testosterone deficiency screenings with their annual physical exams. (Merelli, 7/16)
Military.com: Marine Corps Officially Issues New Rules To Prevent Heat And Cold Injuries
The Marine Corps issued updated interim rules July 9 to help commanders prevent heat and cold stress injuries during training and operations. (Billard, 7/17)
On the immigration crisis —
The Hill: Trump Administration Revives Public Charge Rule For Green Card Applicants
The Trump administration is reviving a policy that would allow immigration officers to deny green cards to applicants who use public benefits like Medicaid, housing assistance or food stamps. The policy governs how officials can apply the “public charge” test, which is used to determine whether applicants are likely to rely on government support. A final rule issued Thursday reverses the 2022 Biden-era policy that only allowed authorities to consider a green-card applicant’s use of cash benefits. The new version provides no limits. (Weixel, 7/16)
AP: ICE Officer Who Killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero Has A Violent History, Family And Records Say
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine this week is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood and never should have been given a badge and gun to patrol American streets, several of his close relatives told The Associated Press. David Brouillette has a history of terrifying and violent behavior, according to those relatives. They accuse him of attacking women in his life over the years, and one shared a voicemail with the AP from last winter in which he told her that he thought someone should slit her throat. (Brook, Sisak, Swinhart and Galofaro, 7/17)
AP: ICE's Hiring Spree Draws Fresh Scrutiny After Maine Shooting
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been rapidly expanding its workforce, hiring thousands of new officers as part of the Trump administration’s attempt to ramp up immigration arrests and deportations. The supersizing of ICE -- fueled by an infusion of billions of dollars granted by Congress — has raised concerns about the agency’s hiring practices and whether officers being brought on are receiving proper vetting. Those concerns have been rejected by the Department of Homeland Security. (Santana, 7/17)
More from the Trump administration —
The Washington Post: Exclusive: FDA Raised Conflict Of Interest Concerns Ahead Of New Peptide Panel
As the Trump administration was assembling a key panel to review a slate of controversial peptides, FDA officials expressed concerns about appointing those who worked for peptide-related businesses and clinics, according to two individuals familiar with the matter. The Food and Drug Administration said such members could represent potential conflicts of interest, the individuals said. Despite the flags, officials from the Department of Health and Human Services selected multiple people who promote peptides or work for companies that sell peptides to the panel, an unusual process given FDA staff typically choose their own advisers, said one of the individuals, along with another person familiar with the matter. Those people, like several others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. (Roubein, 7/17)
WUSF: RJK Jr. Lauds TGH For Going Healthy With Patient Meals
The food you get while recuperating at Tampa General Hospital might be tasting better these days. At least, it's likely to be better for you. It's the first hospital to sign a healthy food pledge that may be adopted by other medical centers. (Newborn, 7/17)
KFF Health News: Trump’s CDC Nominee Praises Vaccines, Without Vowing Independence From Kennedy
Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed support for vaccines — including mRNA-based covid shots — in a Senate hearing on Wednesday, though she didn’t dispel concerns the agency has lost any independence from the White House. “I have been vaccinating people throughout my entire career in uniformed services. I believe in vaccines,” Schwartz said at the hearing. “I do believe that mRNA technology is safe and effective.” (Spears, 7/16)
