Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Workers Who Object To Abortions, Treating Transgender Patients Would Be Legally Insulated Under HHS Rule
Politico: Administration To Shield Health Workers Who Refuse To Perform Abortions Or Treat Transgender Patients
The Trump administration is planning new protections for health workers who don't want to perform abortions, refuse to treat transgender patients based on their gender identity or provide other services for which they have moral objections. Under a proposed rule — which has been closely guarded at HHS and is now under review by the White House — the HHS office in charge of civil rights would be empowered to further shield these workers and punish organizations that don’t allow them to express their moral objections, according to sources on and off the Hill. (Diamond and Haberkorn, 1/16)
In other news about the administration —
The Hill: CDC Director To Miss Fourth Hearing Because Of Potential Ethics Issues
The director of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has had to cancel another appearance before Congress because of ethics issues, a committee aide told The Hill. This is the fourth time that CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald has been unable to testify because of potential conflicts of interest. Fitzgerald was appointed to the position in July. (Hellmann, 1/16)
Bloomberg: Former Health Secretary Tom Price Gets A New Gig As Adviser
After resigning amid scandal from his powerful post as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price has a new gig. Jackson Healthcare, a Georgia-based provider of health-care staffing and technology services, said on Tuesday that the former cabinet secretary and Georgia congressman had joined the company’s advisory board. (Levingston, 1/16)
