Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Prominent Anti-Abortion Leader Appointed To High-Level HHS Position
The Washington Post: Trump Appoints Antiabortion Champion To HHS Post
President Trump announced Friday that he will appoint Charmaine Yoest, one of the nation’s most prominent antiabortion activists, to a high-level post in the Department of Health and Human Services. Yoest, a former Reagan administration official who until last year was president of Americans United for Life, will serve as assistant secretary of public affairs. In that position, she will help develop a communications strategy for the sprawling agency that includes Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act and family planning programs. (Somashekhar, 4/28)
Stat: Appointment Of Yoest At HHS Adds To Anti-Abortion Ranks
Yoest, formerly president and CEO of the law firm Americans United for Life, is currently a senior fellow at American Values, a conservative group that on its website laments America’s “culture of death.” She also spent three years as a policy analyst and then vice president of the Family Research Council, another advocacy group opposed to abortion rights. (Facher, 4/28)
Politico Pro: Anti-Abortion Activist Expected To Lead HHS Family Planning Agency
The Trump administration is expected to name anti-abortion activist Teresa Manning to oversee federal family planning funding, according to several sources familiar with the appointment. Manning, a law professor and former employee of two prominent anti-abortion groups, is expected to be named deputy assistant secretary for population affairs at HHS. (Haberkorn, 4/30)
And in Texas —
The Associated Press: Austin Abortion Clinic Reopens Following High Court Ruling
A medical provider whose legal challenge led the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down much of Texas' tough abortion law has reopened an Austin abortion clinic. Whole Women's Health reopened in the state capital Friday. It had been among roughly 20 abortion clinics that closed after Texas passed a law in 2013 requiring such facilities to make costly upgrades to meet the standards of ambulatory surgical centers. (4/28)
