What Happened, What You Missed: October 9-13, 2023
Sanders, AHA Disagree over Charity Care Standards According to a new report by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Bernie Sanders, most non-profit hospitals don’t provide enough charity care to justify their tax-exempt status. To rectify this, Sanders’ report recommends tying tax exemption to a certain level of charity care, setting better standards for […]
What Happened, What You Missed: April 25-29
Moderna Requests Authorization for COVID-19 Vaccine in Children under 6 Moderna announced on Thursday that it has begun the application process for emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in children six months to six years of age. Moderna also released revised clinical trial data on Thursday that showed its two-shot regimen is 51% effective at […]
Uncertainty over Medicaid Coverage Looms for Millions
An abrupt end to the public health emergency (PHE) on April 16 could shock the health care system – absent any new laws or regulations to extend the PHE’s popular emergency provisions. Last week’s blog post discussed some of the important Medicare telehealth waivers currently in place due to the PHE, and how ending the PHE would affect access to these […]
Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Primary Elections
The 2022 primary season kicks off in Texas on March 1, and with the start of primary season comes some big questions about which direction either party will go. Democrats will be duking out over what direction the party will take after its agenda has largely stalled in Congress, while Republican candidates face tough questions […]
What Happened, What You Missed: February 14-18
Administration Working on New Masking Guidelines On Wednesday, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters that the administration is working with public health experts and business leaders to updates its pandemic guidance. The guidance will focus on hospitalizations rather than case numbers as metrics for determining when Americans should wear masks indoors. The […]
Is There a Place for Earmarks in the FY22 Omnibus Package?
Earmarks returned to the appropriations process last year for the first time since Congress banned the practice over a decade ago. However, as lawmakers keep kicking the can down the road on Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations with continuing resolution after continuing resolution (also known as a CR), the likelihood that these earmarks will make […]
What Happened, What You Missed: January 24-28
Bipartisan Senators Release Draft of Pandemic Preparedness Bill On Tuesday, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) released the discussion draft of legislation aimed at improving the nation’s response to pandemics. Some of the draft’s key components include creating a 9/11 Commission-style task force to examine […]
What Happened, What You Missed: November 8-12
Pfizer Asks FDA to Authorize Its COVID-19 Booster Shot for All Adults On November 9, Pfizer announced it’s asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to amend its emergency use authorization (EUA) to allow all individuals ages 18 and older to get a third “booster” dose of its COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, only individuals over age […]
What’s Going on with the Provider Relief Fund?
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) was essential for keeping countless health care providers afloat as the health care sector struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020. This is why Congress appropriated $178 billion in the CARES Act for the fund. Nearly a year and a half after its creation, let’s take a deep dive look at the […]
What Happened, What You Missed: August 23-27
FDA Fully Approves Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older, but did not fully approve the vaccine for individuals ages 12 to 15, which is still only authorized for emergency use. Full approval of the vaccine, which will be marketed […]