Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Bogged Down By Immigration Crisis, Azar Tries To Keep Agency On Track: 'At HHS There’s Always Something Else, OK?'
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, whose department has recently become entangled in the fight over separating undocumented children from their families, is pushing to keep focus on his agenda. Mr. Azar took office in January with a set of explicit goals after his predecessor, Dr. Tom Price, resigned under an ethics cloud. Since HHS is charged with caring for underage illegal immigrants, the agency has been pulled into the immigration debate. Now Mr. Azar is trying to keep his agenda moving ahead by relying on a close-knit team of top policy advisers. (Armour, 7/18)
In more news on the crisis —
Kaiser Health News: From Crib To Court: Trump Administration Summons Immigrant Infants
The Trump administration has summoned at least 70 children under 1 year old to immigration court for their own deportation proceedings since Oct. 1, according to new Justice Department data provided exclusively to Kaiser Health News. These children, who may be staying with a sponsor or in a foster care arrangement, need frequent touching and bonding with a parent and naps every few hours, and some are of breastfeeding age, medical experts say. They’re unable to speak and still learning when it’s day versus night. (Jewett and Luthra, 7/18)
