While the president and vice president forgo masks at rallies, the White House is quietly encouraging governors to implement mask mandates and, for some, enforce them with fines. In reports issued to governors on Sept. 20, the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommended statewide mask… Read More »The Mask Hypocrisy: How COVID Memos Contradict the White House’s Public Face
Tuesday night, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden appeared for the first presidential debate, offering voters their first side-by-side comparison of the candidates. Little was said about what either candidate would do if elected; at one point, Biden’s attempts to explain his… Read More »The First Presidential Debate: A Night of Rapid-Fire Interruptions and Inaccuracies
When it comes to health care, President Donald Trump has promised far more than he has delivered. But that doesn’t mean his administration has had no impact on health issues — including the operation of the Affordable Care Act, prescription drug prices and women’s access… Read More »Promises Kept? On Health Care, Trump’s Claims of ‘Monumental Steps’ Don’t Add Up
President Donald Trump, outlining his “America First Health Plan” Thursday, announced that his administration will allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada. The final plan clears the way for Florida and other states to implement a program bringing medications across the border despite the… Read More »Trump Approves Final Plan to Import Drugs From Canada ‘for a Fraction of the Price’
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — and the insistence of President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Senate to fill that vacancy this year — could have major implications for health care.… Read More »KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: ACA in Peril With Ginsburg’s Seat in Play
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Betty Jones voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, but the lifelong Republican has her doubts she will do it again this year. The federal response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed about 200,000 Americans and forced older adults to restrict… Read More »Trump-Biden Race Could Hinge on How Florida’s Pinellas County Swings
A pesar de las objeciones de las farmacéuticas, se espera que la administración Trump finalice, en pocas semanas, el plan que permitiría a los estados importar de Canadá algunos medicamentos de venta bajo receta. Seis estados —Colorado, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, New México y Vermont—… Read More »¿Regalo para Florida? Trump aprobaría pronto importación de medicamentos de Canadá
Over the objections of drugmakers, the Trump administration is expected within weeks to finalize its plan that would allow states to import some prescription medicines from Canada. Six states — Colorado, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Vermont — have passed laws allowing them… Read More »Election Gift for Florida? Trump Poised to Approve Drug Imports From Canada
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. President Donald Trump finally released his promised executive order aimed at bringing down drug costs. It factors in international prices to determine what Medicare pays for prescriptions. But the order has no force of law… Read More »KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: It’s Scandal Week
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. The headlines from this week will be about how President Donald Trump knew early on how serious the coronavirus pandemic was likely to become but purposely played it down. Potentially more important during the past… Read More »KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The Politics of Science
The public is deeply skeptical about any coronavirus vaccine approved before the November election, and only 42% would be willing to get a vaccine in that scenario, according to a new poll. The results of the poll by KFF reveal widespread concern that the Trump… Read More »Most Adults Wary of Taking Any Vaccine Approved Before the Election
Knowing it may be met with some skepticism, the Trump administration Thursday announced a sweeping plan that officials say will transform health care in rural America. Even before the coronavirus pandemic reached into the nation’s less-populated regions, rural Americans were sicker, poorer and older than… Read More »HHS Plan to Improve Rural Health Focuses on Better Broadband, Telehealth Services
President Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for president in a 70-minute speech from the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday night. Speaking to a friendly crowd that didn’t appear to be observing social distancing conventions, and with few participants wearing masks,… Read More »Republican Convention, Day 4: Fireworks … and Shining a Light on Trump’s Claims
President Donald Trump told the American people this week that convalescent plasma is a potential new treatment for COVID-19. His announcement followed the Food and Drug Administration’s decision Sunday to grant fast-track authorization for its emergency use as a treatment for hospitalized COVID patients. This… Read More »5 Things to Know About Convalescent Blood Plasma
Vice President Mike Pence portrayed his boss, President Donald Trump, as a leader who has reached out across the aisle to help during the coronavirus pandemic. “President Trump marshaled the full resources of the federal government and directed us to forge a seamless partnership with… Read More »Pence Praises Trump’s ‘Seamless’ COVID Response, Leaves Out His State Feuds
In accepting the Republican Party nomination Wednesday night, Vice President Mike Pence accurately recounted the history of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, and how a failed British bombardment in 1814 helped inspire Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Pence’s claims about the Trump administration as well… Read More »Republican Convention, Day 3: Revisionist History
The Republican National Convention offered Americans a picture Tuesday night of a compassionate White House in action. But not a lot was said about the biggest health crisis in a century that has killed more than 170,000 people in this country. First lady Melania Trump… Read More »Republican Convention, Day 2: Pomp, the Pandemic and Planned Parenthood
President Donald Trump has long considered lowering the high cost of prescription drugs to be one of his signature issues, and it is likely to be a talking point he relies on throughout the upcoming campaign. During his afternoon speech Monday ― delivered on the… Read More »Trump Again Claims He’s Bringing Down Drug Prices, But Details of How Are Skimpy
Experts raise concern over compound that has not been proven safe but could reach public as dietary supplement Allies of Donald Trump have promoted a plant extract called oleandrin to people seeking to ward off Covid-19. The plant the extract is derived from, oleander, is… Read More »Oleandrin: Trump allies pitch extract from poisonous plant to fight Covid
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Democrats have shown a remarkably united front, including on health care, in their socially distant, made-for-TV convention this week. That’s likely due, at least in part, to the physical separation of party members who disagree… Read More »KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Democrats in Array (For Now)
The second night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention featured a 17-person keynote speech, past presidents, a roll call vote that doubled as a virtual tour of the United States and an emphasis on health care and national security issues. Ady Barkan, a health care… Read More »Democratic Convention, Night 2: Defending the ACA and Attacking Trump on Pandemic
On the first night of the Democrats’ 2020 national convention, one thing was clear. This time would be different. No crowds, buttons, placards or party swag. The coronavirus pandemic was an ever-present theme. Still, there was a virtual National Anthem and everyday people offering their… Read More »Democratic Convention, Night 1: Hitting Trump Team on Pandemic Preparedness
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. California Sen. Kamala Harris, the newly named running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, doesn’t have a lot of background in health policy. But that’s unlikely to prevent Republicans from using her on-again,… Read More »KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Kamala Harris on Health
Ever since he was a presidential candidate, President Donald Trump has been promising the American people a “terrific,” “phenomenal” and “fantastic” new health care plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. But, in the 3½ years since he set up shop in the Oval Office,… Read More »Back to the Future: Trump’s History of Promising a Health Plan That Never Comes
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. President Donald Trump keeps promising to unveil a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, but it keeps not appearing. However, this week he did order an expansion of telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries and… Read More »KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Still Waiting for That Trump Health Plan
In a heated exchange late last month on CNN’s State of the Union, host Jake Tapper pressed Adm. Brett Giroir, the Health and Human Services assistant secretary who oversees COVID testing efforts for the Trump administration, on why the government isn’t requiring commercial labs to… Read More »Could Labs That Test Livestock Ease COVID Testing Backlog for People? Well … Maybe.
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. President Donald Trump’s pivot to a more serious view of the coronavirus pandemic didn’t last long. This week, he was again touting hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug that has not been shown to work against the… Read More »KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Republicans in COVID Disarray
Hiya! I’m Lauren Olsen, your new Newsletter Editor. That’s right — the totally official, no more fill-ins, always-here-for-you Newsletter Editor. As the replacement for editor extraordinaire Brianna Labuskes, I’m here to tackle all your health news needs. Why yes, you’re right — a pandemic is… Read More »Must-Reads of the Week From Lauren Olsen
President Donald Trump came into office vowing to repeal and replace Obamacare. While he successfully neutralized the health care law’s requirement that everyone carry insurance, the law remains in effect. When Fox News host Chris Wallace noted that Trump has yet to put forward a replacement… Read More »With DACA Ruling, Did Supreme Court Grant Trump New Powers To Reshape Health Care?
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. President Donald Trump — who has spent the past six months trying to play down the coronavirus pandemic — seems to have pivoted. In back-to-back briefings on July 21 and 22, Trump cautioned that the… Read More »KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Trump Twists on Virus Response
In advance of an upcoming road trip with her elderly parents, Wendy Epstein’s physician agreed it would be “prudent” for her and her kids to get tested for COVID-19. Seeing the tests as a “medical need,” the doctor said insurance would likely pay for them,… Read More »For COVID Tests, the Question of Who Pays Comes Down to Interpretation
The Friday Breeze Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading. While you, loyal reader, wait for a wonderful new permanent Friday Breeze… Read More »Must-Reads of the Week
What The Health? · The Trump Administration’s War on Fauci Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen on SoundCloud. Julie Rovner Kaiser Health News @jrovner Read Julie’s Stories Erin Mershon STAT @eemershon Read Erin’s Stories Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein Read Alice’s Stories Paige… Read More »KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The Trump Administration’s War on Fauci
Julie Rovner, KHN’s chief Washington correspondent, on Wednesday joined Rob Ferrett, host of “Central Time” on Wisconsin Public Radio, to discuss the Trump administration’s announcement that hospital data on coronavirus cases will no longer be routed to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention… Read More »Listen: A Bureaucratic Shuffle for Hospital COVID Data
The Friday Breeze Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading. Another week has gone by, and the biggest news remains that COVID… Read More »Must-Reads Of The Week
No other country will be able to buy remdesivir, which can help recovery from Covid-19, for next three months at least Coronavirus – latest US updates Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The US has bought up virtually all the stocks for… Read More »US secures world stock of key Covid-19 drug remdesivir