Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS Cuts Funding For Grants To Prevent Teen Pregnancies
Bloomberg: RFK Jr.'s HHS To Divert Funds From Teen Pregnancy Grant Program
The Department of Health and Human Services is canceling millions of dollars in teen pregnancy prevention grants as it restructures priorities for the reproductive health program. The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, housed under HHS’ Office of Population Affairs, funds local grants to reduce unintended pregnancies among tweens, teens, and young adults. (Raman, 6/24)
The Hill: Senate Democrats Raise Concerns Over Moms.Gov's Anti-Abortion Links
Ten Democratic senators, along with one independent, on Wednesday flagged “profound concerns” with the Trump administration’s website for new and expecting mothers, with the lawmakers saying the site drives families toward crisis pregnancy centers (CPC) for treatment. Moms.gov, launched on Mother’s Day, features resources from 2,750 pregnancy centers, which Planned Parenthood calls “crisis pregnancy centers” that it says are traditionally run by anti-abortion advocates. (Fields, 6/24)
On abortion —
Chicago Tribune: New Illinois Law Shields Abortion Records From Out-Of-State Access
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a measure into law Wednesday shielding patients from having electronic medical records related to abortion and other reproductive health services received in Illinois disclosed without their consent to out-of-state providers. (Petrella, 6/24)
The New York Times: Support Builds On The Right For Prosecuting Women Who Get Abortions
In its quest to outlaw abortion across the country, the antiabortion movement has been largely unified around a core idea: Women who get the procedure should be spared punishment, while doctors and others who make it available should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But a growing number of conservative leaders are starting to argue that the only way to stop women from ending their pregnancies could be to arrest them. (Kitchener, 6/24)
The Hill: Abortion Rights Group Launches Multi-Million Dollar Midterm Campaign
A major reproductive rights group is launching a multimillion-dollar midterm election campaign to mobilize voters and flip key battleground districts by electing Democrats who support abortion rights. Reproductive Freedom For All (RFFA) is investing $23.5 million this year, the most it has ever spent on a midterm election. (Weixel, 6/24)
Other news about reproductive and infant health —
Stateline: Four Years After The Dobbs Decision, Miscarriage Management Is Muddled
Mylissa McNeill never expected to be a mother. But when she learned she was pregnant in the spring of 2022, at age 41, she and her partner were happy and excited at the prospect of parenting a little girl they planned to name Maeve. (Resnick, 6/24)
CIDRAP: ‘Everyone Who Has A Cervix Is At Risk’: Transgender People Often Miss Out On Cervical Cancer Screenings
Carsen Rhys Beckwith has had a complicated relationship with their body. As a teenager, they were horrified when they developed the curves typically associated with a female body. Beckwith didn’t want to be perceived as a woman; they wanted to present themself as masculine. The anxiety caused Beckwith, who identifies as transmasculine and nonbinary, to develop a serious eating disorder that threatened their health. (Szabo, 6/24)
NBC News: Nara Organics Infant Formula Recalled Due To Botulism Months After First Ever Infant Formula Botulism Outbreak
Angel Carter had breastfed her baby, Ashaan, exclusively from the day he was born. But last November, when Ashaan was 9 months old, it was time for Carter to transition her son to a sippy cup. (Edwards, 6/24)
