Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
VA Nominee Commits To Stance Against Privatization, A Top Democratic Senator Says
The Associated Press: Dem Senator: Trump VA Pick Vows Not To Privatize Vets Care
President Donald Trump's pick to be Veterans Affairs secretary is promising not to privatize the agency, a key Democratic senator said Tuesday, taking a stance on a politically charged issue that his predecessor says led to his firing. The confirmation hearing of Ronny Jackson, Trump's White House doctor and a Navy rear admiral chosen to speed up improvements to the VA, is scheduled for next week. On Tuesday, he met privately with Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, as a part of visits this week to assure lawmakers he could effectively lead the government's second-largest department. (Yen, 4/17)
The Hill: Trump's VA Pick Pledges Opposition To Privatization, Senator Says
Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said Jackson pledged during a one-on-one meeting that he is against privatization. “He said all the right things, seems to have the same position on privatization that Shulkin had,” Tester told reporters. “He answered the questions right on privatization.” Political tensions about privatization could complicate the confirmation process. (Weixel, 4/17)
In other news —
The New York Times: An Army Veteran Confronts His Own Trauma With A Camera
It was a cold, sunny day last spring when retired U.S. Army Specialist Michael McCoy visited the war memorial in Cumberland, Md., to look for the name of Pfc. Albert M. Nelson. Mr. McCoy, who grew up in West Baltimore, and Mr. Nelson, who was from West Philadelphia, became close friends in 2006 just before Mr. McCoy’s second of two yearlong deployments to Iraq. Mr. Nelson was a bit of a joker and, at 31, a few years older than the other soldiers. He was a big brother figure, well liked, especially by Mr. McCoy. (O'Reilly, 4/18)
