Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
From Workers' Religious Protections To Family Planning Funding, Mike Pence's Fingerprints Are All Over HHS
Sweeping new protections for religious health care workers and an overhaul of family planning programs to effectively cut out Planned Parenthood represent something unusual in the Trump administration: a clear spotting of the fingerprints of Vice President Mike Pence. From topics ranging from trade to the president’s scorched-earth attacks against the Mueller investigation, Pence has been the loyal foot soldier while often appearing uncomfortable amid the administration’s biggest fights. (Pradhan and Ollstein, 5/20)
Growing tensions over the Trump administration's policies that aim to strengthen religious freedom protections for health care workers have led to a partisan tug-of-war that will play out in a House floor debate Friday. The Trump administration has tried to strengthen religious liberty protections through numerous policies over the past several months. Those include providing federal funds to religiously affiliated foster agencies who don't allow LGBT people to adopt children and broadening religious and moral exemptions for employers who do not want to cover birth control. (Raman, 5/17)
In other news from both HHS and CMS —
HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan on Friday said the agency can and should take proactive steps to partner with the private sector to drive innovation in healthcare. Hargan hit on four areas where the Trump administration is hoping to create more opportunities for innovation—value-based care; engaging and empowering consumers; improved data exchange; minimizing regulatory and payment hurdles. Each were outgrowths of HHS' first Innovation and Investment Summit last December. (Weinstock, 5/17)
The CMS is doing a poor job in ensuring the public knows about major changes to Medicaid, including the installation of work requirements, a federal watchdog said Friday. The Government Accountability Office's report found that the CMS has limited transparency for amendments to existing Section 1115 waivers. That has allowed some states to score approval for their work requirements while skirting some rules, such as projecting how the changes will impact Medicaid enrollment. (King, 5/17)
Chris Traylor, the director of Medicaid and CHIP services, announced on Friday he will depart the CMS on May 31, leaving a position he was appointed to in January. Traylor said in an email to the CMS staff that he is leaving because of family issues that require him to return to his home state of Texas. (King, 5/17)
