Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
StemExpress Accused Of 'Systematic Violations' By Head Of House's Fetal Tissue Special Panel
The Washington Post: House Fetal Tissue Panel Sharpens Focus On California Firm, Demands HHS Probe
The chairwoman of a special House committee investigating links between abortion clinics and medical researchers is accusing a firm that transfers fetal tissue between the two of violating federal privacy laws and ethics regulations. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who leads the select investigative panel established last year, alleges that California-based StemExpress engaged in “systematic violations” of federal health privacy laws and accuses it of “fraudulently using invalid consent forms” in its dealings with Planned Parenthood abortion clinics. (DeBonis, 6/2)
The Hill: Lawmakers Consider Adding Mental Health Bill To Opioid Conference
Lawmakers are considering adding a mental health reform bill to the work of a conference committee focused on opioid legislation, according to congressional aides. The idea is to add a mental health bill from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to the product coming out of the conference committee that is reconciling the differences between House and Senate bills on the opioid crisis. (Sullivan, 6/2)
