Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In Scathing Note, Oversight Chairman Slams HHS' 'Posture Of Nonchalance,' Threatens Subpoena
Modern Healthcare: GOP House Oversight Chair Blasts HHS Dysfunction
HHS Secretary Alex Azar received a scathing note from a GOP lawmaker on his first day on the job, and was given one week to respond to House oversight committee information requests on the Puerto Rico public health crisis, opioids, Medicare and more. In a letter addressed to Azar on Monday, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) blasted HHS for its "posture of nonchalance" that he dates back to October 2016 in the department's responses to the committee's special inquiries. (Luthi, 1/30)
The Hill: Oversight Chairman Threatens To Subpoena HHS For Withholding Information
"Rather than work in good faith to accommodate the committee's oversight and investigative requirements and constitutional prerogatives, and despite the committee's effort to accommodate HHS's legitimate interests, the department has missed mutually-agreed deadlines, produced meager and incomplete sets of information (much of which is available publicly), and taken a posture of nonchalance with respect to the committee's requests," Gowdy wrote. "The department's pattern of nonresponsiveness and wanton disregard for the committee's requests for information undermines our ability to perform our oversight duties of the department and its programs. (Hellmann, 1/30)
Meanwhile —
The Hill: Trump Health Chief Faces An Early Test On Enforcing ObamaCare
President Trump’s new health secretary, Alex Azar, is facing an early test of his willingness to enforce the Affordable Care Act. The governor of Idaho moved last week to allow insurers in the state to sell plans that do not meet several ObamaCare requirements, including ones that deal with pre-existing conditions. (Sullivan, 1/31)
