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House conservatives long opposed to medical research using fetal tissue applied fresh pressure on the Trump administration to end government funding for such work at a hearing Thursday spotlighting antiabortion scientists who contend alternatives exist. The hearing before subcommittees of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee grew testy at times over whether cells from sources other than aborted fetuses are as useful as fetal tissue in advancing therapies and possible cures for diseases from HIV to cancer. (Goldstein, 12/13)

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, chaired by government affairs subcommittee Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), looked to add pressure this week as the Trump administration tries to reach a decision about how to move forward. Republicans argue taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for research projects that use fetal tissue when alternatives exist, especially when their money is already going to Planned Parenthood. (Hellmann, 12/13)

The discussion by two House Oversight Committee subcommittees — Healthcare, Benefits, and Administrative Rules as well as Government Operations — fell along party lines, with Republicans expressing concerns about the source of fetal tissue. “Obviously the 800-pound gorilla in the room is that we know aborted tissue is being used,” said Rep. Jody B. Hice, R-Ga. “You can make the arguments for or against abortion,” said Mark Meadows, who is chairman of the Government Operations Subcommittee. “What my constituents have a problem with is buying baby brains and baby eyes to do research when they find it abhorrent.” (Raman, 12/13)

Congress' newly passed farm bill has a holiday present for rural hospitals: debt refinancing. The bill headed to President Donald Trump's desk includes a provision that would allow rural hospitals to refinance substantial debt through lower-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rural hospital lobbyists acknowledge the provision won't change much overnight for the 44% of rural hospitals which operate at a loss. The USDA requires applicants to show levels of financial viability that the really struggling hospitals likely can't currently meet. (Luthi, 12/13)