Trump Officials Still Delaying Funds

The Host

For the second 12 months in a row, Trump administration officers are delaying the distribution of tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} in health-related grant funding as political appointees search to make sure the funding adheres to the administration’s priorities — regardless of guarantees to Congress that the cash can be spent as directed.

In the meantime, 4 years after the Supreme Court docket overturned the federal proper to abortion, almost half the states have banned or considerably restricted the process. However whereas most voters say they help abortion rights — and majorities in a number of states have accepted poll measures to enshrine them — that sentiment has not translated into main features for Democrats working for workplace.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Maya Goldman of Axios, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being and Politico Journal, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Well being Information.

Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:

• Federal funding for well being grants and worldwide humanitarian support just isn’t reaching its recipients, demonstrating that congressionally approved and appropriated funding remains to be encountering roadblocks underneath the Trump administration. At the very least a number of the cash is being tied up in evaluation, with political appointees requiring private signoff on any and all disbursements. Whereas many lawmakers have made their frustrations identified, Congress has few levers to make sure the cash goes the place lawmakers say it ought to.
• This week marked the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court docket case that overturned the constitutional proper to an abortion. But analysis reveals there have been extra abortions carried out within the U.S. final 12 months than there have been within the 12 months earlier than the court docket’s determination. Entry to treatment abortion and telehealth prescribing are credited for that improve — two strategies that activists who oppose abortion have focused of their persevering with efforts to eradicate it.
• In vaccine coverage information, a examine exhibiting the effectiveness of the covid vaccine that was spiked by Trump administration officers was just lately revealed in a peer-reviewed medical journal. And Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth reinstated a flu vaccine mandate for the navy after a big flu outbreak at Lackland Air Pressure Base in Texas.
• Amid considerations over healthcare affordability, two states are taking measures to deal with costs. A brand new Indiana regulation imposes value controls on hospitals, and Colorado has acquired federal approval to import medicine from Canada — although Canadian distributors have proven no real interest in working with American states.

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Plus, for “further credit score” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you must learn, too: 

Julie Rovner: The Washington Submit’s “Tennessee To Prohibit Medical Help for Critically Unwell Undocumented Youngsters,” by Silvia Foster-Frau.  

Maya Goldman: Stat’s “Trump Administration Targets Incapacity Integration Mandate in DOJ Memo,” by O. Rose Broderick.  

Rachana Pradhan: KFF Well being Information’ “Arrests of Immigrant Mother and father Create Psychological Well being Disaster for Youngsters,” by Claudia Boyd-Barrett.  

Joanne Kenen: The Washington Submit’s “Why Trump’s Algae Drawback Is A lot Greater Than the Reflecting Pool,” by Sarah Kaplan.  

Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:

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