Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Horrified' Senators Question IHS Official Over Reports Of Unsafe, Poor Care At Hospitals
The Wall Street Journal: Lawmakers Grill Indian Health Service Leader On Failing Care
The Indian Health Service’s top official dodged frustrated lawmakers’ questions about unsafe care at the federal agency and whether proposed budget cuts would worsen the situation during a tense Senate committee hearing Wednesday. Members of the Senate Indian Affairs and Senate Appropriations committees repeatedly cited two articles published last week in The Wall Street Journal on the agency, which provides health care to 2.2 million tribal members. (Weaver and Frosch, 7/12)
Kaiser Health News: Senators Grill Top Indian Health Officials About Trump Budget
Leaders of the Indian Health Service struggled Wednesday at a Senate hearing to defend the Trump administration’s plans to slash funding to the agency, which is reeling from quality of care problems at several of its hospitals, a doctor shortage and facilities showing their age. The lack of answers infuriated both Democrats and Republicans on the Appropriations subcommittee. (Galewitz, 7/12)
CQ Roll Call: Senate Appropriators Tear Into Indian Health Leaders
Appropriators Wednesday fumed over the Trump administration’s budget request for the Indian Health Service, with one top lawmaker noting he was leaving the hearing with his “hair on fire” after the agency’s top official failed to give clear answers to basic budget questions. “If you guys don’t advocate for a budget, how the hell are we supposed to fix it?” Sen. Jon Tester said in a heated exchange, after acting Indian Health Service Director Rear Admiral Michael D. Weahkee would not answer yes or no when asked if the budget request cut funding for hiring staff at the agency. (Mejdrich, 7/12)
