Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The Flip-Side Of Title X Funding Controversy: Anti-Abortion Facility Takes Heat Over Contraception Language In Rules
Politico: Anti-Abortion Clinics Caught In Tumult Over Trump Family Planning Rules
A faith-based chain of clinics that won $5.1 million federal family planning funds by positioning itself as an alternative to Planned Parenthood now unexpectedly finds itself faced with the prospect of offering contraception and counseling that includes discussing abortion — activities antithetical to its very existence. The nonprofit Obria Group received the Title X grant in March as a sweeping Trump administration revamp of the program was churning forward. New rules would, among other things, bar health providers in the program from offering or referring patients for abortions — a restriction critics call a "gag rule." Since then, a series of federal court injunctions have frozen the changes, prompting abortion-rights groups to demand Obria comply with existing standards. (Colliver, 5/3)
The Wall Street Journal: In Reversal, NIH To Allow Doctors To Speak To Investigators
The leadership of the National Institutes of Health has reversed course and will allow two senior doctors to speak with federal investigators regarding patient-safety issues in a nationwide trial of treatment for the bloodstream infection sepsis. The NIH, the U.S. government’s premier health-research agency, has been blocking the two critical-care doctors from speaking with government investigators about safety issues in the study of 2,320 patients. The NIH’s stance, which has led to a dispute with dozens of its senior researchers over medical freedom of speech, was detailed by The Wall Street Journal earlier this week. An NIH spokeswoman said Friday the NIH has reversed its position. (Burton, 5/3)
Modern Healthcare: VA Proposes Drastic Cut To Federally Funded Union Time
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie on Thursday set out new proposals to cut federally funded union time as the Veterans Affairs Department looks to renegotiate its collective bargaining agreement. The proposals include an annual cap on the time all union workers can get paid by the VA to perform union work to 10,000 hours per year. Another provision would give "frontline supervisors" more authority over workers. (Luthi, 5/3)
Kaiser Health News: FDA To End Program That Hid Millions Of Reports On Faulty Medical Devices
The Food and Drug Administration announced it is shutting down its controversial “alternative summary reporting” program and ending its decades-long practice of allowing medical device makers to conceal millions of reports of harm and malfunctions from the general public. The agency said it will open past records to the public within weeks. (Jewett, 5/3)
