Erin Durkin

Read more about last night’s bill text from @bgov.com’s @erincdurkin.bsky.social

news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-l...

‘Thrown away’: Patient reps depart from organ transplant board The resignation of patient and donor representatives from a governing board for the organ transplantation system exposed rifts among stakeholders.

‘Thrown away’: Patient reps depart from organ transplant board njour.nl/s/728230/?un...

‘Effectively destroyed’: How cuts to CDC staff, funding will impact public health In the past few weeks, CDC grants supporting state and local health departments were terminated, then officials moved to lay off thousands.

‘Effectively destroyed’: How cuts to CDC staff, funding will impact public health

www.nationaljournal.com/s/728191/eff...

Cuts to HHS legal services could impact nursing homes, IHS The HHS Office of the General Counsel plans to shutter six regional offices, causing concern there won’t be enough lawyers to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse.

Cuts to HHS legal services could impact nursing homes, IHS

www.nationaljournal.com/s/728167/cut...

Medicaid cuts could hit school districts The health-insurance program for low-income individuals helps pay for special-education services in schools, but workers could be strained if Medicaid funds are lost.

The budget resolution unveiled yesterday preserves House instructions to cut $880 billion in E&C's jurisdiction, which advocates worry will lead to Medicaid cuts. This could hit schools' special education and mental health services.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/728101/med...

‘Medicaid is everything’: What's at risk for enrollees with disabilities As Republicans look to generate savings from the program, disability advocates worry cuts to Medicaid would result in reduced access to home-based services.

Medicaid advocates are raising red flags about what deep program cuts could mean to everyday Americans as Republicans on Capitol Hill look for ways to pay for the Trump agenda of tax cuts and deportation expansion. @erincdurkin.bsky.social explains in this unlocked article:

U.S. organ transplant system headed for a shakeup Stakeholders worry the Trump administration's modernization efforts could detrimentally impact an already fragile system.

U.S. organ transplant system headed for a shakeup njour.nl/s/727965/?un...

No HELP: Trump administration withdraws pick to head CDC 11th hour amid lack of Senate support Former Rep. Dave Weldon accused the pharmaceutical lobby of blocking his nomination because of his views over vaccine safety issues.

No HELP: Trump administration withdraws pick to head CDC 11th hour amid lack of Senate support.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727829/no-...

Dems fear CR will hand spending reins over to Trump Lacking specific congressional directives, key Democrats are worried the GOP-backed CR will allow the White House to reallocate dollars to other priorities.

Dems fear CR will hand spending reins over to Trump

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727799/dem...

Confirmation hearing over NIH nominee turns into pointed forum on Trump health agenda Jay Bhattacharya faced tough questions over decisions made so far by the administration, such as freezing grant dollars and laying off staff.

Confirmation hearing over NIH nominee turns into pointed forum on Trump health agenda njour.nl/s/727751/?un...

Substantial changes to Obamacare on the horizon Trump didn’t campaign on repealing Obamacare this time around, but he isn't stopping Republicans from targeting big parts of the law.

While Trump did not campaign on repealing Obamacare, his administration and Congress are poised to make many changes. I walk through some of the biggest reforms that could be incoming. njour.nl/s/727695/?un...

Q+A with Peter Yeo The president of The Better World Campaign discusses U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and how foreign aid freezes affect UN programs.

Better World Campaign President Peter Yeo spoke with me about the implications of leaving the WHO and how UN projects are handling the funding freezes.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727670/qa-...

'In shambles': CDC layoffs leave U.S. vulnerable to health threats Experts said the CDC’s work supporting the public health infrastructure and guiding clinicians could be undermined by Trump's broad staffing cuts.

'In shambles': CDC layoffs leave U.S. vulnerable to health threats

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727630/in-...

Chaos, uncertainty grip international health aid Even with waivers, experts say getting life-saving services restarted will be a heavy lift, and they worry international health programs are at risk.

Chaos and uncertainty are gripping U.S. health assistance abroad, impacting HIV care and nutrition services.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727557/cha...

HHS starts scrubbing websites of diversity, gender info Following Trump’s orders on DEI programs and gender ideology, various health websites have been amended or removed, prompting concern and a lawsuit.

HHS started scrubbing its website to comply with President Trump’s order to end DEI programs and attempts to establish just two sexes as U.S. policy.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727490/hhs...

National Journal Radio Episode 70: Battles of Nominations National Journal Radio · Episode

On this episode, @ledyardking.bsky.social brings on @savbehrmanndc.bsky.social @erincdurkin.bsky.social and @cmaza.bsky.social as they examine the prospects for Trump's nominees.
Listen on Spotify:

OUTLOOK: Cassidy says he is ‘struggling’ with RFK Jr.’s nomination PLUS: Trump targets DEI curricula, campus antisemitism in executive orders; and FCC launches investigation into public broadcasters.

OUTLOOK: Cassidy says he is ‘struggling’ with RFK Jr.’s nomination njour.nl/s/727438/

Gearing up for day 2 of hearings!

‘You frighten people’: Dems dispense anger, scorn at RFK Jr. hearing Trump’s nominee for HHS secretary is unlikely to win any Democratic support, judging by Wednesday’s contentious reception in the Senate.

‘You frighten people’: Dems dispense anger, scorn at RFK Jr. hearing njour.nl/s/727423/?un...

What Trump has done so far to unravel the 'left-wing gender insanity' During his campaign, Trump targeted gender-affirming care and support for transgender people. So far, his impact has been limited but signals long-term efforts.

In less than two weeks, President Trump has taken multiple actions to combat what he calls 'left-wing gender insanity,' with the latest coming this evening in another executive order, this time targeting gender-affirming care for kids.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727405/wha...

With eye on reconciliation, GOP lawmakers take a close look at Medicare site-neutral payments The same service provided in a doctor's office can cost Medicare more if provided in a hospital outpatient department. Lawmakers are looking to change that.

Medicare often pays different rates for the same service depending on if it was provided at a doctor’s office or a hospital. Lawmakers are looking at changing this, potentially as part of reconciliation.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727337/wit...

Trump Day 1: Administration targets illegal immigration, energy production, and transgender rights The new president signed executive orders to strengthen border policies, reverse Biden energy regulations, and curtail transgender rights.

In a series of executive orders, Donald Trump tries to strengthen the southern border, gin up energy production, & target transgender rights. @cmaza.bsky.social, @erincdurkin.bsky.social & @philipathey.bsky.social report in this free story:

Trump Day 1: Administration targets illegal immigration, energy production, and transgender rights The new president signed executive orders to strengthen border policies, reverse Biden energy regulations, and curtail transgender rights.

President Trump just issued a slew of executive orders, many on immigration, energy policy, and rolling back transgender rights. My colleagues and I wrote about some of the big ones.

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727321/tru...

With less than three days to go in the Biden administration, CMS announced the next 15 drugs for price negotiation, which includes Ozempic, an asthma inhaler, and a drug to treat prostate cancer.

www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...

Republican Medicaid reforms could strain rural care Experts worry proposals to cut the entitlement program could lead to coverage losses and lower reimbursements for providers across the country.

Republicans are considering Medicaid reforms that health experts expect could squeeze health access, including for rural populations.
@erincdurkin.bsky.social reports (unlocked):

Republican Medicaid reforms could strain rural care Experts worry proposals to cut the entitlement program could lead to coverage losses and lower reimbursements for providers across the country.

Republican plans to cut Medicaid could squeeze rural health care

njour.nl/s/727283?unl...

Key House lawmakers hope to revive health policies dropped from the temporary funding agreement in December, with some floating the fiscal year 2025 omnibus package and reconciliation measures as possible avenues.
@erincdurkin.bsky.social reports (unlocked):
https://buff.ly/4fMpZov

House lawmakers look to revive PBM, telehealth policies Health policies cut in December during continuing resolution negotiations could be revived, with some floating the omnibus or reconciliation as a path forward.

House lawmakers look to revive PBM, telehealth policies

www.nationaljournal.com/s/727204/hou...

OUTLOOK: GOP starts 119th Congress struggling to reconcile differences on reconciliation PLUS: Biden issues sweeping ban on offshore drilling, and surgeon general calls for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverages to include cancer risk.

In today's OUTLOOK from National Journal, the Republicans are finding it difficult to reconcile on reconciliation, the legislative process the GOP needs to use to bypass the filibuster and pass key planks of Trump's agenda: