Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Vows To Revamp VA With 10-Point Plan Centered On Privatization
The Associated Press: Trump: Plan To Revamp Veterans Care Will Save Lives
Republican Donald Trump pledged Monday to expand programs that allow veterans to choose their doctor and clinics — regardless of whether they're affiliated with Department of Veterans Affairs — and still receive government-paid medical care. In a policy speech announcing a 10-point plan for veterans, Trump said he "begins with a simple promise: Every veteran will get timely access to top-quality care." (Daly and Colvin, 7/11)
The Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump Says He Would Make VA System More Privatized
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on Monday said that as president he would press for an extensive overhaul of the Department of Veterans Affairs, making it a more privatized system of care and giving veterans a direct line to the White House. During a campaign speech in Virginia Beach, Va., Mr. Trump presented a 10-point plan for the embattled department, calling for greater privatization of veterans’ care than presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. (Kesling, 7/11)
Stat: For Trump, The Issue Of Abortion Looms As Republican Convention Nears
During nearly every Republican convention in recent history, the GOP presidential nominee has offered, at the very least, a strong hint that he would oppose abortion. It has been a sure-fire applause line, and an effective way to fire up the Republican base. But with Trump, as is often the case, there are no sure things. Trump is a former supporter of abortion rights, and clips of him talking about his belief in “choice” are easy enough to find. (Nather, 7/11)
Politico: Republicans Building Stronger Anti-Abortion Plank In Platform
Republicans are considering strengthening the already strict anti-abortion language in their party platform by condemning Planned Parenthood and calling for Supreme Court justices who will reverse decisions in favor of abortion rights. Platform committees that are meeting in Cleveland before next week's Republican National Convention have given preliminary approval of the Planned Parenthood condemnation, according to attendees. (Haberkorn, 7/11)
Meanwhile, hospitals in both Philadelphia and Cleveland are gearing up for the conventions —
Stat: Hospitals Gird For Party Conventions, With Surgeons On Call And Enough Supplies For A Siege
The Republican National Convention is coming to town next week, and Dr. Robert Wyllie is ready with a binder 6 inches thick, crammed full of plans for dealing with any potential medical emergency. ... Across both Cleveland and Philadelphia, where the Democrats will convene at the end of July, hospitals are girding for the presidential nominating conventions. Both cities can expect a slew of relatively minor problems: exhaustion, dehydration, misplaced medications, a delegate or two — or 20 — having too much to drink. Then there are the big fears: terrorist attacks, riots, shootings, fistfights. (Keshavan, 7/12)
