SCOTUS Ruling Strips Power From Federal Health Agencies
Jun 28, 2024
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Recent SCOTUS ruling shifts interpretative power from federal agencies to judges, impacting healthcare policy. Supreme Court decisions on abortion bans raise concerns about states overriding federal laws. Debate on healthcare policy clarity and abortion access. Legal battles over ACA preventive services and inefficiencies in the healthcare system. Update on disability benefits eligibility and successful opioid reduction policies. Controversy over criminalizing mask-wearing in certain states during COVID-19 surge.
SCOTUS ruling shifts power from federal agencies to judges, reshaping health agency operations.
Idaho's near-total abortion ban questions federal law on emergency care in hospitals.
Ohio county sees 20% fewer opioid overdoses with federal support, facing sustainability challenges.
Deep dives
Investigation into PBMs in the New York Times Reveals Higher Drug Prices and Monopolistic Practices
An investigation by Rebecca Robbins and Reed Abelson in the New York Times sheds light on the practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), revealing that they are causing higher drug prices and pushing patients towards higher-cost medications. The investigation, based on interviews with around 300 people, exposes how PBMs, acting as middlemen, have significant control over drug pricing, impacting patients and employers. The story highlights the ongoing fight between PBMs and pharmaceutical companies over escalating drug costs, with bipartisan support in Congress for cracking down on PBM practices.
The Washington Post Uncovers Outdated Job Lists Reform May Grant Disability Benefits to Thousands
Lisa Rein of The Washington Post discusses the Social Security Administration's move to update its job lists, a result of an investigation revealing that disabled individuals were being denied benefits due to obsolete job requirements listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Disabled persons were being tasked with non-existent jobs like nut sorting or pneumatic tube operation. The long-overdue update will now accurately assess disability claims, ensuring legitimate disabled individuals receive the benefits they deserve.
Ohio County Successfully Implements Programs to Reduce Opioid Overdoses, but Funding Challenges Loom
Ruth Reader's piece delves into an Ohio county's effective strategies, funded by federal support, to combat opioid overdoses and deaths, leading to a significant 20% decrease in overdoses. However, bureaucracy and funding constraints threaten the sustainability of these successful programs. As federal funds run out and state backing remains uncertain, the future of these vital initiatives hangs in the balance, highlighting the all-too-common challenge of maintaining effective public health interventions post-implementation.
Washington Post Examines the Criminalization of Masks in Some States Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
An article in the Washington Post by Fonete Nerapil explores the trend of criminalizing masks in certain states, driven partly by concerns about criminals and protests. However, the broader implications impact immunocompromised individuals or those prioritizing their health amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The narrative shifts from mandated mask-wearing to potential legal penalties, revealing a societal shift towards intolerance and conflict surrounding public health measures and individual rights.
Ohio County's Success in Reducing Opioid Overdoses Faces Funding Challenges
Ruth Reader's article in The Washington Post examines the achievements of an Ohio county in decreasing opioid overdoses with federal funding support. Despite a notable 20% drop in overdoses, bureaucratic hurdles and funding limitations pose threats to the sustainability of these successful initiatives. As federal funding wanes and state commitments remain uncertain, the future of these critical programs hangs in the balance, emphasizing the inherent challenges of maintaining effective public health interventions post-implementation.
In what will certainly be remembered as a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has overruled a 40-year-old precedent that gave federal agencies, rather than judges, the power to interpret ambiguous laws passed by Congress. Administrative experts say the decision will dramatically change the way key health agencies do business. Also, the court decided not to decide whether a federal law requiring hospitals to provide emergency care overrides Idaho’s near-total ban on abortion.
Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.