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A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to stop deporting minor immigrants on the grounds that they are a coronavirus threat. The government has already expelled nearly 9,000 children who crossed the border alone, seeking protection, citing a public health order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since March, immigration agents have been ejecting nearly everyone — children and adults — who shows up at the U.S. border asking for asylum. The government had insisted that it had to turn youngsters back to prevent the possible infection of border agents, youth shelter workers and other immigrants in custody. (Burnett, 11/18)

The emergency declaration — challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, Texas Civil Rights Project, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Oxfam — was invoked in March under the Public Health Service Act. The Trump administration used it to deport thousands of minors, arguing in court that it must do so during the pandemic to prevent infecting border agents. (Best, 11/18)

Senior Trump administration officials sent starkly different messages on Wednesday as they prepared Americans for their first pandemic Thanksgiving — with the federal government’s top health official urging deference to local coronavirus guidelines and the White House press secretary describing those same directives as “Orwellian.” The fierce criticism of state-level mitigation efforts from Kayleigh McEnany, President Donald Trump’s top spokesperson, came in an interview on Fox News’ "Fox & Friends." She was asked by co-host Steve Doocy specifically about “suggestions and guidelines” from some governors that residents not gather in large groups when celebrating next Thursday. (Forgey, 11/18)

Thousands of Army veterans removed from the service due to mental illness or sexual assault trauma were handed a legal victory on Wednesday that offers a chance for them to change the status of their dismissal. The new legal settlement — the result of a class-action lawsuit brought by two Connecticut veterans against Army leadership more than three years ago — orders service officials to review tens of thousands of denied discharge upgrade requests from the past nine years, applying more lenient guidelines. (Mitchell, 11/18)

The White House budget office is reviewing a final rule that could establish a long-awaited dispute resolution process for the 340B drug discount program. The move comes amid heated conflict in recent months between providers and drugmakers over providers' use of contract pharmacies. Community health centers sued last month to force HHS to expedite creation of such a process, as providers have limited ability to directly sue drugmakers in court. (Cohrs, 11/18)

KHN: Surprise Federal Drug Rule Directs Insurers To Reveal What They Pay For Prescription Drugs 

Health insurance companies will have to give their customers estimated out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and disclose to the public the negotiated prices they pay for drugs, under an unexpected new Trump administration rule. The administration said those requirements, part of a broader rule issued Oct. 29 forcing health plans to disclose costs and payments for most health care services, will promote competition and empower consumers to make better medical decisions. (Meyer, 11/19)