Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Faces Pressure From Vets' Group To Keep McDonald In VA's Top Spot
The Washington Post: Trump Is Under Pressure To Keep Obama’s VA Secretary
Trump was harshly critical of VA on the campaign trail, calling it “the most corrupt agency” and charging that some veterans are “being treated worse than illegal immigrants.” Keeping McDonald, 63, would run counter to Trump’s promise that he would upend the status quo to provide better care for veterans. (Rein, 12/12)
The New York Times: Veterans Groups Urge Trump To Keep Obama’s V.A. Secretary
The nation’s largest veterans groups are urging President-elect Donald J. Trump to keep President Obama’s secretary of veterans affairs, Robert A. McDonald, out of concern that his rumored candidates’ inexperience and ideological leanings could cripple the massive veterans health care system. (Philipps, 12/12)
Reuters: Trump Considering Dr. Scott Gottlieb To Head FDA
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a partner at one of the world's largest venture capital funds and a former deputy commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to run the agency, according to sources close to the transition team. (Clarke, 12/12)
Meanwhile, Trump's selection to head the Department of Health and Human Services has triggered in-fighting within the American Medical Association, which was among the first groups to endorse Rep. Tom Price —
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Tom Price’s Promotion Sparks A Medical Backlash
One of the first groups that rallied to Georgia Rep. Tom Price’s defense when he was tapped as Donald Trump’s new health secretary is also one of his most stalwart allies: The American Medical Association. And their strong endorsement has provoked a backlash from some doctors. More than 5,500 healthcare providers have signed a petition penned by a trio of physicians – Drs. Jane Zhu, Navin Vij and Manik Chhabra, that contends the “AMA has not aligned with the well-being of patients.” They called their piece “The AMA Does Not Speak for Us.” (Bluestein, 12/12)
And community clinics in California brace for changes likely to come with the new administration and Congress —
KQED: Awaiting Trump, Community Clinics Plan For An Uncertain Future
One key piece of the Republican plan is turning Medicaid into a block grant program, which could mean less money for California to run Medi-Cal. A lot of people who have benefited from the Medi-Cal expansion are worried about losing their coverage, and the community clinics that serve many of them are concerned that they’ll have to cut back on some of their services. (Plevin, 12/12)
