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Politico
17-07-2025
- Health
- Politico
Tribes still waiting on Kennedy's health promises
Presented by Driving the Day WHAT'S THE PLAN? Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly said that he wants to fix the way the government provides care to American Indians and Alaska Natives. He has yet to explain how. Whenever he's been asked about tribal health care during congressional hearings, he's become impassioned about the need to do better by America's Indigenous people. He's stressed his famous family's long history of concern and his involvement in founding a newspaper that covers tribes. But, in his first few months as health secretary, he has failed to outline a comprehensive plan that would drastically improve Native American health. Some leaders in tribal health care are noticing. Still waiting: 'We're looking at the lives of real people, Indian people,' said Phyllis Davis, chair of the Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board. 'I don't know if anybody really knows him well enough to understand what he wants to do, and I wish — for him — that he took more time to learn more about who we are.' HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told POLITICO that 'HHS and Secretary Kennedy remain fully committed to supporting the Indian Health Service and its mission to provide high-quality, culturally competent care to American Indian and Alaska Native communities,' noting that HHS will continue to work with tribes to improve their health care. The budget request: When Trump released his proposed budget for 2026, some Native leaders were disappointed. Unlike the deep cuts the budget called for at other health agencies, the IHS would receive a $1 billion increase if Congress agrees, with most of the funds going toward reimbursing tribes for administrative and facility costs. Still, tribal health leaders told POLITICO that real improvement would take tens of billions more. The budget proposal also didn't include advance appropriations for IHS — the government has, in recent years, provided the tribes with early access to their funds — a provision tribal leaders say helps prevent disruptions to care during government shutdowns. They also said other programs Republicans are cutting will likely have a negative impact on their health. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Trump signed on the Fourth of July slashes more than $1 trillion over a decade in health care spending, mostly from Medicaid, the federal-state insurer of low-income people, which many American Indians rely on. And the administration sent termination notices to nearly everyone working on a program at the CDC to improve chronic disease in Native Americans. 'Tribes rely on these other agencies to fill the gaps where IHS cannot,' said Jerilyn Church, CEO of the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board, citing years of inadequate funding. WELCOME TO THURSDAY PULSE. If you're not up to date on the RFK Jr./ostrich debacle, I must recommend this story. Send your tips, scoops and feedback to khooper@ and sgardner@ and follow along @kelhoops and @sophie_gardnerj. At the White House A NEW ADDITION TO SCHEDULE 1 — President Donald Trump signed a bill into law Wednesday that Congressional Republicans say will make it easier to jail and prosecute fentanyl traffickers, POLITICO's Carmen Paun reports. The details: The HALT Fentanyl Act adds fentanyl derivatives to Schedule 1, which also covers drugs such as heroin and LSD that have 'no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,' according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The substances have been on Schedule 1 since 2018 but only on a provisional basis. 'It's a big deal, as they will tell you, meaning anyone caught trafficking these illicit poisons will be punished with a mandatory, 10-year minimum sentence in prison,' Trump said at a White House bill-signing ceremony attended by people who lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning or overdoses, as well as lawmakers and some Republican governors. Why it matters: The law delivers on one of Trump's campaign promises to crack down on fentanyl traffickers and Mexican cartels that produce the drug, which drove a record rise in fatal drug overdoses in the U.S. during the pandemic. The CDC estimates that nearly 113,000 people died of an overdose, most of them driven by fentanyl, between August 2022 and August 2023. The number of deaths has decreased since, with the CDC estimating that more than 78,000 people died of a fatal overdose between February 2024 and February 2025. In Congress BANNING FDA-APPROVED DRUGS? A group of House Democrats plans to introduce legislation clarifying that states can't ban the prescription or use of drugs and vaccines that the FDA has already approved, POLITICO's Lauren Gardner reports. The bill, by Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), would confirm that the FDA approvals of medicines preempt any attempts by states to forbid or restrict their sale or use. It would also ensure that preemption applies despite a 1993 law intended to protect religious freedom. Key context: The preemption argument has come into the spotlight as states have clashed with the federal government and drugmakers over abortion pills. The legislation comes after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected a bid by the manufacturer of generic mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortion, to overturn West Virginia's ban on the procedure by arguing the FDA's approval of the drug preempts state prohibitions on its use. The company, GenBioPro, first leveled the argument in a separate case challenging Mississippi's telehealth abortion ban, though it abandoned the case in 2022. Why it matters: The bill's clear tie to state restrictions on medication abortion all but ensures it won't advance in the Republican-controlled Congress. But the issue of whether a drug's approval by a federal agency preempts state-level efforts to ban or limit it will likely persist in future legal challenges concerning mifepristone — and potentially other medicines.. What's next: Ross said she expects a companion bill to be introduced in the Senate but declined to say who would sponsor it. OZ'S BIPARTISAN GAGGLE — CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz is scheduled to meet with Democrats and Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee next Wednesday, as lawmakers look to tackle year-end health care legislation, building on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, POLITICO's Benjamin Guggenheim reports. The details: According to a notice of the meeting viewed by POLITICO, Ways and Means Committee members are invited 'to discuss the priorities' of CMS, including issues 'involving health care matters' that fall within the panel's jurisdiction. The conversation could turn to what's next for Ways and Means and its counterpart in the Senate, the Finance Committee, where Republicans are actively discussing overhauling the operations of pharmaceutical benefit managers, the intermediaries that negotiate drug prices among pharmacies, manufacturers and health plans. WHAT WE'RE READING The Associated Press' Patrick Whittle and Geoff Mulvihill report on how a major medical provider in Maine is getting hit by an item in Republicans' sweeping policy and tax bill intended to block Medicaid dollars from flowing to Planned Parenthood. The Wall Street Journal's Liz Essley Whyte reports on the personality clashes behind the departure of two top aides to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. STAT's Bob Herman and Tara Bannow report that CMS is proposing 'efficiency' pay cuts that would hit highly paid specialists the hardest.
Politico
15-07-2025
- Health
- Politico
Choppy waters ahead for health insurers
Presented by With Lauren Gardner and Ruth Reader Driving the Day TRIPLE THREAT — Insurers face a number of pressures that could lead to a jump in out-of-pocket health costs for Americans: cuts to Medicaid, federal policy changes that could hit Obamacare enrollment and medical costs rising faster than expected, Kelly reports. Several health insurers were already on unstable financial footing even before President Donald Trump signed into law the 'big, beautiful bill' — which could lead to millions of people losing coverage. The looming changes now create more uncertainty that could lead to a downturn for the health insurance industry and a jump in premiums for Americans purchasing coverage. 'You have this perfect storm here of very large changes happening all at once,' said Ellen Montz, a managing director with advisory firm Manatt Health and a former CMS official during the Biden administration. 'They're looking at pricing, what is potentially coming down the pike, and we're going to see some very large, both gross and net, premium increases.' Both Centene and Molina Healthcare slashed their yearly financial guidance over the past few weeks amid unexpectedly high medical costs in Medicaid and Obamacare plans. And health insurance giant UnitedHealthcare lowered its guidance in May because of higher-than-anticipated Medicare Advantage costs. 'As we see these cost pressures continue to mount, as we see them go unaddressed and continue to snowball in their effect, the inevitable result is that we will see higher premiums,' said David Merritt, senior vice president of policy and advocacy at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Why it matters: The Congressional Budget Office estimated that an earlier version of the 'big, beautiful bill,' combined with the expiration of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies at the end of this year and new Trump administration Affordable Care Act policies that make it more difficult to enroll, could cause nearly 17 million people to become uninsured. Cushioning the blow: Insurers are pushing Congress and the Trump administration to mitigate some of the fallout, warning lawmakers in competitive districts that their constituents will face widespread coverage disruptions if the policies are implemented. The industry's most pressing concern is the expiration of the enhanced subsidies — which Congress must extend within the next few months to avoid 'very sudden' and 'severe' cost hikes and coverage losses nationwide, said Mike Tuffin, the CEO of health insurance trade group AHIP. So far, few Republican lawmakers have expressed interest in extending the subsidies, which CBO has estimated at $335 billion over 10 years. 'We know over the last 30 years that when people's coverage is disrupted, their access to health care is disrupted, there's an immediate political response, and both parties have seen that in the past, and we want to prevent that,' Tuffin said. What's next: Insurers will start posting their 2025 second-quarter earnings over the next few weeks, which will provide some insight into how they might adjust to rising medical costs. It may also shed light on how they're factoring in looming federal changes to their pricing. First up is Elevance Health, which will report its earnings Thursday. WELCOME TO TUESDAY PULSE. U.S. ice cream makers are pledging to stop using artificial dyes by 2028 — another win for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again initiative. Send your tips, scoops and feedback to khooper@ and sgardner@ and follow along @kelhoops and @sophie_gardnerj. In Congress AUTISM SPEAKS ON THE HILL — Advocates from the group Autism Speaks will head to the Capitol today to urge lawmakers to fund recently reauthorized research and service programs in the wake of the GOP megabill's steep Medicaid cuts. While the group will acknowledge their concerns about how those cuts could impact autism programs in the states, it plans to focus on the annual appropriations process 'since that's the next thing up, and something that we want to try to ensure that we're at least maintaining the levels of funding for those programs,' David Sitcovsky, Autism Speaks' vice president of advocacy, told Lauren. Congress reauthorized the Autism CARES Act in December, which Autism Speaks says is the primary federal funding source for monitoring, research, services and training programs in the autism community. The law's programs are spread across the CDC, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the NIH. The group plans to underscore in their meetings that autism is a lifelong condition — not just a childhood disorder, as often emphasized by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — for which many people need support as they age. 'It seems like most [of the] conversation about autism has been framed around childhood, and and I think what were really trying to do … is to remind people that [it's a] lifelong issue, and there are many adults who need better understanding and supportive services now,' said Dr. Andy Shih, Autism Speaks' chief science officer. At the Agencies DOC PAY OVERHAUL — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing a boost in funding to doctors who participate in alternative payment models based on the quality of care delivered instead of individual services, POLITICO's Robert King reports. 'We're making it easier for seniors to access preventive services, incentivizing health care providers to deliver real results, and cracking down on abuse that drives up costs,' CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said in a statement Monday when the agency released its proposed physician fee schedule that details changes to Medicare pay for 2026. What it means: Doctors participating in the models would receive a 3.83 percent boost to their payments starting in 2026. Doctors not participating in such models would get a 3.62 percent increase. Why it matters: If finalized, the rule would represent a departure from how CMS traditionally reimburses doctors. The agency typically has one rate update that applies to all doctors serving Medicare patients, regardless of whether they participate in an alternative payment model. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have sought to shift Medicare reimbursement away from payments for individual items or services. TECH TROUBLES — The Department of Veterans Affairs told a House panel Monday that it has implemented DOGE-directed cuts to optimize its IT infrastructure. But lawmakers say they want assurances that the agency's past problems with IT modernization won't be its future, Ruth reports. 'For years, this committee has highlighted the wasteful spending, the overbudget projects, poor outcomes that seem to come with all IT projects at the VA,' said Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), chair of the House Veterans Affairs' Technology Modernization Subcommittee. Since the beginning of the year, the VA's Office of Information and Technology has lost 1,100 employees — mostly from buy-out and early retirement offers — and its 2026 budget has shaved $500 million from its operating funding. Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) said she's concerned the cuts will undermine the agency's efforts. Eddie Pool, the VA's acting assistant secretary and chief information officer, assured lawmakers that more than three-quarters of the people who left the agency were going to retire soon. Why it matters: Veterans Affairs is in the midst of its latest attempt to update its IT infrastructure, including its electronic medical records system. The agency has been attempting to modernize since 2001 and has failed to do so multiple times, according to the Government Accountability Office. Carol Harris, the GAO's director of IT and cybersecurity, testified that the VA's IT office hasn't adequately taken stock of its workforce. For example, she said, it doesn't have an inventory of employees' current cybersecurity skills and competencies. The agency also hasn't comprehensively identified its current and future human capital needs, Harris added. The GAO has 26 open recommendations for improving the VA's IT and cybersecurity that it said the office still needs to complete. What's next: President Donald Trump recently announced his pick for chief information officer at the VA, Ryan Cote, who served as the Transportation Department's CIO in the first Trump administration. His confirmation hearing hasn't been scheduled yet. Health Costs MEDICAL DEBT RULE TOSSED OUT — A federal judge has overturned a Biden administration rule that would have removed $49 billion in medical debt from the credit reports of 15 million people, POLITICO's Katherine Hapgood reports. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan of the Eastern District Court in Texas said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule 'exceeds the bureau's statutory authority' and violates the law on permissible purposes of consumer reports. The decision aligns with the Trump administration's stance on the issue. The rule was finalized by then-CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, but the bureau under the Trump administration reversed its position on the rule and joined credit-reporting groups in challenging it. The rule had been set to take effect at the end of July. WHAT WE'RE READING POLITICO's Grace Yarrow and Rachel Shin report on how the White House doesn't plan to crack down on pesticides in farming. STAT's Lev Facher reports on an elite rehab center using GLP-1s to treat a range of addictions.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gary Lineker names date he'll retire from presenting amid Match of the Day saga
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has given a definitive answer on whether or not he will continue to work in sports broadcasting after next summer's World Cup Gary Lineker has revealed that he will not pursue another broadcasting gig once his final BBC commitments are concluded next year. The outgoing Match of the Day host will bow out from his current role at the end of the season after 26 years. Lineker, 64, will give up his spot on the iconic football highlights show at the end of this month but will continue to front the BBC's coverage of the FA Cup next season, as well as the 2026 World Cup in the summer. But while Lineker will stick around for one more year after giving up his primary gig, the former England captain has ruled out prolonging his broadcasting career. "Once I've done the World Cup, I won't be a football presenter again. I'll focus more on my podcast empire," Lineker told The Telegraph in an interview during his final weeks at the Match of the Day helm. Lineker, who is set to be replaced by three alternating presenters in the form of Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, has enjoyed tremendous success away from the Match of the Day studio as the co-owner of Goalhanger Productions, a podcast production company. Since its inception in 2018, the company has grown rapidly and boasts a number of leading shows, including The Rest is Football - which Lineker stars on alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards - and The Rest is Politics. Lineker's interview comes at a time where the BBC have faced calls to sack the renowned sports broadcaster after he shared a a pro-Palestine video featuring an 'anti-Semitic' rat emoji from the campaign group, Palestine Lobby, on Monday. Lineker issued an apology for sharing the post on Wednesday night, saying: 'On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in. 'Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.'
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
History in frames: marking moments in print with The Hindu's front pages
In an age of digital memories and fleeting social media feeds, some stories are worth being remembered the old-fashioned way — through print. A growing number of readers are now turning to The Hindu's archives to mark their most personal milestones, one front page at a time. 'Relive the News, Relive the Day', an initiative launched by The Hindu, allows readers to request a framed reprint of the newspaper's front page from any date, going back as far as 1880. 'It's history you can hold,' says a spokesperson from The Hindu. 'Each front page captures not just the news of the day, but the tone, the design, even the priorities of the time.' While The Hindu's archives have long been a research treasure trove for scholars and journalists, the recent personal turn has found resonance with families, history enthusiasts, educators, and even corporate clients looking for distinctive retirement gifts. Each front page is a faithful reproduction from The Hindu's vast and meticulously maintained archives. Printed on premium paper and set in an elegantly minimalist frame, this is more than decor— it's a conversation starter, a tribute, and a timeless gift. As demand grows, The Hindu has made it easy for readers to order their framed front pages online. A simple search by the date reveals the front-page preview and allows for quick ordering with nationwide delivery. This is how you can order: Visit [or] scan the code below. Enter the date of your choice using the calendar given. Preview your front page. Enter your address details and place your order. If no edition was published on your selected date — such as on certain public holidays or during weekly non-publication days — you will be prompted to choose an alternative.
Politico
28-01-2025
- Health
- Politico
The Trump-Tedros tiff timetable
Presented by The Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance Driving the Day TRUMP'S WHO GRIEVANCES — President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization is the latest in a five-year grudge against Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reports POLITICO's Carmen Paun. Trump has long said that Tedros, the WHO's director-general, treated China better than the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic, Carmen reports. Trump has said Tedros covered up China's responsibility for the virus — a claim Tedros denies. Why it matters: If Tedros can't heal this rift, the international health body could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in annual U.S. contributions. The U.S. pays about a quarter of the WHO's main budget, calculated at $130 million for this year. China's mandatory dues are $87.6 million. 'This is too important to be left to personal grudges,' Larry Gostin, a Georgetown University professor who directs a center that assists the WHO on legal matters, said. 'They're going to have to put aside their problems personally with one another and really get down to the business of strengthening WHO and also reforming it significantly.' The White House didn't respond to a request for comment, but the WHO told POLITICO it is committed to continuing reforms to its operations. A former U.S. health official granted anonymity to speak frankly said Tedros and Trump have some key similarities, noting that Tedros is strong-willed and demands loyalty. The beef between Trump and Tedros kicked off a few months into the pandemic. Trump wrote in a letter to Tedros that the WHO leader parroted inaccurate claims from China about how the virus spread and used 'political gamesmanship' to attack the U.S. for the border closure. Tedros, who became director-general in 2017, has called the accusations untrue and unacceptable, rejecting the allegation that he takes orders from China. What's next: Over the past few years, Tedros has called on China to share more information on how the pandemic started, whether through an unintentional lab leak in Wuhan or natural transmission from a bat to a human. And the WHO also published a timeline of its actions. But in recent days, Trump has floated that he would reverse his position to leave the WHO, albeit with some caveats. We would have to clean it up a little bit,' he said during a Las Vegas rally Saturday. WELCOME TO TUESDAY PULSE. This is CMS reporter Robert King filling in for Chelsea today, and I am still smarting from the Commanders' loss on Sunday to the Eagles. I will definitely be rooting for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in two weeks. Are you going to join me? Send your tips, scoops and Super Bowl predictions to rking@ or @rking_19 and cciruzzo@ and @ChelseaCirruzzo. In Congress KENNEDY BACKERS TARGET SENATORS — Supporters of HHS secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are increasing the grassroots pressure on senators ahead of his confirmation hearing Wednesday, POLITICO's Daniel Payne reports. Calley Means, who Trump transition officials have considered for an administration post, said on X that seven senators should be called, including Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. Means is also targeting key Republicans such as Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. 'This is the most important request I have ever made,' according to the post from Means, who co-founded a company that allows tax-advantaged health savings to be spent on exercise, nutrition and supplements by offering patients letters of medical necessity. But the request comes as Democratically aligned groups ramp up their own pressure campaign to sink Kennedy's nomination. The group Protect Our Care has run a million-dollar ad campaign targeting several Republican senators. Another group, 314 Action, which highlights the importance of scientific voices in policymaking, launched a $250,000 round of digital ads. Both groups have called attention to Kennedy's prior anti-vaccine statements. BUT ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS ARE HOLDING THEIR FIRE — Amid the heated campaigns on both sides over Kennedy, most anti-abortion groups are holding their fire, Daniel reports with POLITICO's Alice Miranda Ollstein. While the group Americans Advancing Freedom, co-founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, has opposed Kennedy's confirmation, others are waiting to learn his position during his confirmation hearings this week. Kennedy has previously supported abortion rights, sparking lingering concerns from some groups. 'We just need some reassurance,' said Marjorie Dannenfelser, leader of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, during the March for Life last week. 'His answers to senators have basically been, 'My policies will be the Trump administration's policies.'' But others are happy with his answers so far. The group Students for Life America hopes their claim that abortion pills contaminate wastewater could resonate with him. 'Is he a 100 percent, dyed-in-the-wool pro-life activist? No, we all know that,' Kristan Hawkins, the group's president, said. 'But I feel confident enough in the position that I'm arguing about drinking water pollution — that's going to perk up his ears.' RFK JR. OPEN TO TAKING AWAY DRUG PATENTS — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is open to a key progressive proposal to lower drug prices: seizing patents of high-priced pharmaceuticals, POLITICO's Sophie Cai and Adam Cancryn reports. President Donald Trump's health secretary nominee indicated favorability with the proposal last week during a closed-door meeting with staffers on the Senate Finance Committee, according to three people familiar with the exchange granted anonymity to speak freely. Kennedy is expected to go before the committee Wednesday for his confirmation hearing. Democrats and former President Joe Biden have long supported seizing patents for high-cost drugs and licensing them to other manufacturers that could make and sell them for less. Kennedy's spokesperson, Katie Miller, disputed the characterization of the conversation. 'This is once again another example of POLITICO carrying Democrats' water. After POLITICO was told this did not occur the way Democrats have described it, they're still seeking to publish it in an attempt to denigrate Bobby Kennedy and create a story where there is not one,' she said. 'The fact remains, this did not occur. This is a smear campaign against Donald J. Trump.' Republicans have long blasted the policy, saying it would kill American innovation. Public Health FALLING HEALTH AGENCY TRUST — Less than half of the public trusts Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who will face confirmation hearings this week to lead HHS, to make the right recommendations on health issues, according to a new KFF poll. The survey, by the nonprofit health policy research arm, asked a nationally representative sample of more than 1,300 adults about their trust in public health agencies. KFF had previously recorded a decline in trust during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Overall, public trust in key health agencies, including the CDC, the NIH and the FDA, has declined since June 2023: — Just over half the public, 53 percent, trust the FDA to make the right recommendations on health issues, down from 65 percent. — The share of people who trust state and local health officials fell from 64 percent to 54 percent. — Trust in the CDC dipped only slightly — from 66 percent to 61 percent. Why it matters: Trust in public health agencies is sure to be discussed in Kennedy's confirmation hearings, which kick off Wednesday with the Senate Finance Committee. Kennedy has pledged to clear out HHS departments, accusing some bureaucrats of being influenced by pharmaceutical and food industry giants and resisting reform. Some public health experts, however, have worried that Kennedy's rhetoric on vaccines, including repeating false claims, will further erode trust in public health agencies. Other findings: The KFF survey also found that the share of parents who say they keep their children up to date on childhood vaccines dropped 8 percentage points to 82 percent. One in 6 adults now say they delay or skip shots for their children. WHAT WE'RE READING STAT News reports on the NIH being allowed to continue its clinical research but not report the results to the public. POLITICO reports that top career staff at USAID have been placed on paid leave. The Associated Press reports that state lawmakers want more vaccine exemptions despite a decline in child vaccinations.
