Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Democrats' Vision To Boost Services For Child And Elder Care Fades
President Joe Biden鈥檚 vision for building a vast 鈥渃are economy鈥 has collapsed 鈥 and Democrats fear their party鈥檚 political advantage with parents and caregivers could end up as collateral damage. More than a year into his term, Biden鈥檚 plan to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into child and eldercare programs is on the congressional backburner. An expanded tax credit that dramatically reduced child poverty expired and is unlikely to be revived. And the administration鈥檚 ambitions for guaranteeing free pre-kindergarten and paid family leave are struggling to gain widespread traction in Congress. (Cancryn and Daniels, 3/12)
In other news about the Democrats' health care agenda 鈥
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health are scrambling to decide whether all its coronavirus research and development can continue after Congress dropped new funding from its sweeping budget bill. There are immediate implications for government trials on Covid-19 therapies, tests and vaccines that run out of funds as soon as this month, according to an internal email obtained by POLITICO. (Owermohle, 3/11)
When Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the Biden official who oversees the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs, sat down with New York government officials and reporters on Friday morning it was already, perhaps, a historic event. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if the CMS administrator has ever visited Washington Heights,鈥 said Mark Levine, the Manhattan borough president. Unfortunately, aside from the fact that the conversation was happening in the bustling neighborhood at Manhattan鈥檚 apex, little history was made. Instead there was broad agreement that high drug prices are a huge health problem, even if it isn鈥檛 clear what immediate steps can be taken to control them. (Herper, 3/11
On the brink of gaining control in Washington, Sen. Chuck Schumer said emphatically in 2020 that 鈥淚 am going to do EVERYTHING I can to end the federal prohibition on marijuana鈥 if Democrats took back the Senate. But 14 months since winning, Senate Democrats haven鈥檛 even succeeded at changing the little things. (Fertig, 3/13)
More from Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court 鈥
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) tested positive for a COVID-19 breakthrough case on Sunday, becoming the second lawmaker infected with the virus after attending the House Democratic retreat this past week. Lofgren, 74, wrote on Twitter that she聽got tested in accordance with post-travel protocol, and was experiencing mild symptoms. She said she is isolating and will work from home. (Schnell, 3/13)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said he's concerned efforts to politicize the court or add additional justices may erode the institution's credibility, speaking Friday in Utah at an event hosted by former Republican U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch鈥檚 foundation. (Metz, 3/12)
