High Court Hears Cases on Novel Texas Law, but Outcome May Not Affect Abortion Access
The arguments before the justices did not deal directly with the state鈥檚 ban on abortions after six weeks. Instead, they centered on the unique mechanism in the law that gives state officials no role in enforcing the ban.
Texas Abortion Law Gets Speedy High-Court Hearing Monday
The Supreme Court justices, who accepted the case only 10 days before the arguments will be made, may skirt the issue of abortion and concentrate instead on the legality of the law鈥檚 unusual tack to let private citizens enforce it.
Collins鈥 Skillful Piloting Helped NIH Steer Clear of Political Minefields
Dr. Francis Collins, who announced he is stepping down as chief of the National Institutes of Health, used his communication skills and political insights to help protect the highly acclaimed federal research institutes through difficult times.
Democrats Roll the Dice on Sweeping Abortion Rights Bill 鈥 Again
Capitol Hill lawmakers mobilize to support a bill that would write abortion protections into federal law. Unlikely to succeed, the exercise follows a tactic that proved unsuccessful in 1992.
Why Doesn鈥檛 Medicare Cover Services So Many Seniors Need?
When the program began half a century ago, backers believed the benefits would expand over time, but politics and concerns about money have stymied most efforts. Now congressional Democrats are looking to add vision, dental and hearing care.
As Congress Wrestles With Plans to Expand Medicare, Becerra Says Any One Will Do
In an interview for KHN鈥檚 鈥淲hat the Health?鈥 podcast, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra says the administration is eager for Congress to make changes to Medicare that will provide more benefits and make more older adults eligible for the program. He also said a priority will be making permanent the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans.
Biden Is Caught in the Middle of Polarizing Abortion Politics
The president, one of the last of a disappearing group of politicians who sought moderate compromises on abortion policy, is frustrating supporters. They wanted faster changes in federal rules. But abortion opponents 鈥 including Catholic bishops鈥 are also taking him to task.
Corte Suprema se niega a revocar ACA, por tercera vez
Por 7 a 2 votos, los jueces ni siquiera llegaron a los m茅ritos del caso, resolviendo que los estados e individuos demandantes, dos personas de Texas cuentapropistas, carec铆an de 鈥渁rgumentos鈥 para llevar el caso a los tribunales.
Supreme Court Declines to Overturn ACA 鈥 Again
Justices rule that Republican state officials and individuals did not have standing when they brought a suit arguing that a change in the tax penalty for not having insurance invalidated the historic health care law.
Expanding Insurance Coverage Is Top Priority for New Medicare-Medicaid Chief
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the new head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the administration will focus on getting more people insured and is interested in finding a way to alleviate the gap keeping low-income families in states that haven鈥檛 expanded Medicaid from enrolling in Affordable Care Act health plans.
Democrats Disagree About How to Spend Potential Prescription Drug Windfall
After a year of uncharacteristically being on the same page when it comes to health care, Democratic lawmakers are at loggerheads about what to do next. Most agree the time is ripe to tackle high drug prices. But they divide over whether to take savings from that to move to a 鈥楳edicare for All鈥 insurance system, enhance the current Medicare program or strengthen benefits under the Affordable Care Act.
Biden Moves to Overturn Trump Birth Control Rules
Return to pre-Trump policy is second win of the week for abortion-rights backers.
Democrats Could Undo Trump Policies Faster, But They鈥檙e Not. Why?
The little-used Congressional Review Act allows a new administration and Congress to fast-track the repeal of regulations and other executive actions of the previous administration. But neither lawmakers nor the president are making any attempt to use it now.
How Much of Trump鈥檚 Health Agenda Has Biden Undone?
In his campaign, President Joe Biden promised to undo policies, particularly health policies, implemented by former President Donald Trump. Yet, despite immense executive power, reversing four years of action takes time and resources.
Biden Takes the Reins, Calls for a United Front Against Covid and Other Threats
On health care, President Joe Biden made it clear that combating the covid-19 pandemic will be his top priority. 鈥淲e must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e will get through this together.鈥
Biden鈥檚 First Order of Business May Be to Undo Trump鈥檚 Policies, but It Won鈥檛 Be Easy
President Donald Trump made substantial changes to the nation鈥檚 health care system using executive branch authority. But reversing policies that Democrats oppose would take time and personnel resources, competing with other priorities of the new administration.
Becerra, un candidato para el HHS con habilidad pol铆tica pero sin experiencia en salud
La experiencia de Xavier Becerra no proviene de la salud o la ciencia. Pero tiene una larga trayectoria pol铆tica ligada a las luchas por la equidad en salud.
In Becerra, an HHS Nominee With Political Skill But No Front-Line Health Experience
Despite his lack of front-line experience, Democrats see the California attorney general as an important ally to shepherd a progressive agenda on the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, reproductive health services and immigration.
What Biden Can Do to Combat COVID Right Now
Although President-elect Joe Biden is free to meet with people who will be vital to carry out his administration鈥檚 fight against COVID, he and his transition team are blocked from conferring with federal officials because the Trump administration refuses to acknowledge Biden won the election. That could have a critical impact on Biden’s efforts to help fight the coronavirus.
What to Know as ACA Heads to Supreme Court 鈥 Again
Republican state officials and the Trump administration argue that the justices should overturn the entire law. At issue in the case is Congress鈥 decision to reduce to zero the penalty for not having health coverage.
