Healthcare & Policy News
Reporting on health care policy, insurance coverage, and federal health programs. Includes news updates and conservative commentary from The Daily Signal.
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- Opinion
In Abortion Limbo, Foes of Even Modest Curbs Show How Low a Society Can Go
How low can a nation sink? The history of the past century offers any number of examples. Radical governments of the right and left have engaged in mass killings of their citizens. Acts of terrorism have taken the lives of innocent men, women, and children—even while they were dancing at weddings, sitting in cafes, visiting a…Chuck Donovan -
- Opinion
Unrelated Amendments in COVID-19 Relief Bill Only Add to Overcriminalization
Congress is very good at two things: spending money and thinking up duplicative—and, therefore, unnecessary—ways to criminalize many aspects of our daily lives. The latest COVID-19 relief bill does both. >>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled…GianCarlo Canaparo -
- Opinion
Relying on Lockdowns, Social Distancing, and Masks Isn’t Working to Curb COVID-19
COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to surge. The seven-day moving average of daily confirmed new cases eclipsed 260,000 on Jan. 9, the highest rate yet recorded. The U.S. is expected to reach the grim milestone of 400,000 COVID-related deaths later this month, around the anniversary of its first confirmed case. These numbers suggest that the…Doug Badger -
- News
Supreme Court Sides With Trump Admin, Says Abortion Pills Can’t Be Dispensed by Mail
The United States Supreme Court reinstated a requirement Tuesday that women seeking to obtain abortion pills must pick up the pills in person from a hospital or medical office rather than receiving them by mail. The case is the Supreme Court’s first ruling on abortion since Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court, The New…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
Which States Perform Best, Worst in COVID-19 Vaccinations
The Dakotas stand above all other states in administering the COVID-19 vaccine to residents, while Arkansas has done the worst job, according to an analysis of federal data by a Heritage Foundation health policy expert. Only 11 states have used more than half the doses provided by the federal government, the analysis shows. The analysis…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Officials’ COVID-19 Lockdown Hypocrisy Deserves to Be Exposed
“We’re all in this together.” At least, that’s what millions of Americans have heard for months from corporate advertisers, friends on social media, and, of course, from government officials. If the behavior of our elected leaders is any indication, however, it would seem that many of them have chosen to live by another phrase: “You’re…John Cooper -
- Opinion
A Medical Doctor Explains What We Know About New Coronavirus Strains
The medical community is reporting two new strains of the virus that causes COVID-19. The first variant of the novel coronavirus was discovered in the United Kingdom in the fall, and the second in South Africa not long after. Dr. Kevin Pham, a medical doctor and a visiting policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, joins…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
My Encounter With Medicaid Is a Cautionary Tale About Biden’s Public Option
With Georgia’s special Senate runoff election results showing Republicans are going to lose their majority in the Senate, presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is likely to face a lot less resistance fulfilling his promises of creating a public option in Obamacare. Additionally, with polls showing nearly two-thirds of Americans approving of a public option, the threat…Tanner Aliff -
- News
World Health Organization Pledges Not to Find ‘Guilty’ Party in Probe of COVID-19 in China
A team of scientists leading a World Health Organization mission to China to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus isn't looking to assign guilt to the communist regime over its failure to prevent the pandemic, a member of the delegation says. “This is not about finding a guilty country or a guilty authority,” Fabian…Chuck Ross -
- Opinion
Why Foreign Policy Spending in the COVID-19 Relief Bill Is Wrong
Many are upset about Congress sticking foreign aid and other international affairs items in omnibus spending along with the COVID-19 relief bill. They are right to be upset. Whether Washington is crafting COVID-19 relief right is a worthy debate in itself, but the issue of all the spending tacked onto the bill also merits attention….James Carafano -
- Opinion
Fitness Classes Are All but Banned in DC Over Baseless COVID-19 Fears
For many Americans, fitness studios are an important part of an active and healthy lifestyle, one that helps them remain resilient against infections, including COVID-19, and have been linked to few, if any, outbreaks. Closing them down seems to have real downsides and little discernible benefit in terms of COVID-19 numbers. >>> What’s the best…Abigail Slagle -
- Opinion
9 Things You Need to Know About the $1.4 Trillion Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus and $900 Billion COVID-19 Package
Congressional leaders introduced on Monday a fiscal year 2021 omnibus appropriations bill that would provide $1.4 trillion in spending for government agencies as well as a variety of unrelated legislative provisions. Also included is another COVID-19 relief “stimulus” package, this one costing taxpayers nearly $1 trillion. Congressional leaders have the enormous and oftentimes difficult responsibility…Matthew Dickerson -
- Opinion
How the Trump Tax Cuts of 2017 Will Make COVID-19 Economic Recovery Easier
December 22 marks the third anniversary of the signing into law of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the most sweeping update to the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years. As the economy continues to recover from the coronavirus-induced recession, policymakers shouldn’t lose sight of how the 2017 reforms resulted in immediate benefits…Adam Michel -
- Opinion
China Lies About Its Wrongdoing on COVID, Spying, Global Aggression, Pollution, and More
The Chinese Communist Party has lied about COVID-19 from the start. And it’s still lying about the disease that has turned into a pandemic confirmed to be responsible for nearly 75 million infections around the world, including 17.2 million in the U.S. The global death toll from the pandemic is over 1.6 million, including more than 310,000 in the…James Carafano -
- News
FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Home Coronavirus Test
The Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter, at-home coronavirus test Tuesday. The test, developed by the Australian company Ellume Limited, is a rapid antigen test that can deliver results in approximately 20 minutes, and works on any patient older than 2 years of age, the FDA said in its announcement. “Today’s authorization is a major…Andrew Trunsky -
- Opinion
I’m a Doctor. Here’s Why I Plan to Get the Coronavirus Vaccine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee concluded its Thursday meeting by recommending that a coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer be granted an emergency use authorization. Another vaccine, developed by biotech company Moderna, is expected to be authorized soon. Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines show 95% efficacy in preventing…Kevin Pham -
- News
How Rapid-Result, at-Home Tests for COVID-19 Could Slash Infection Rate
Imagine a tool that could significantly decrease the spread of COVID-19 in a month, and maybe stop the coronavirus altogether in less than a year. This tool would be significantly cheaper than imposing lockdowns and other restrictions, and provide an avenue for schools and businesses to reopen. Imagine no further, because experts say that tool…Virginia Allen -
- News
Coronavirus Vaccinations Could Begin Monday, Reach 50 Million Americans by February, HHS Secretary Says
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that the first coronavirus vaccinations outside a clinical trial could begin as early as Monday. Azar’s announcement follows a key Food and Drug Administration panel’s vote of confidence Thursday for Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, clearing the way for the agency to issue an emergency use authorization. The FDA said authorization would be…Andrew Trunsky -
- Opinion
The COVID-19 Threat Is Real
Winter is coming and, like many of you, I’m deeply worried about how America is going to weather these upcoming months. You could say that many are scared to death with the specter of COVID-19 continuing to loom as the death toll reaches a stunning 284,000 souls in America alone. What’s worse? There is no…Armstrong Williams -
- Opinion
Why We Can’t Let COVID-19 Lockdowns Become a Permanent Political Power Grab
This week, as Los Angeles County announced it would lock down all outdoor dining, a video went viral. That video featured restaurant owner Angela Marsden, proprietor of the Pineapple Hill Saloon and Grill, decrying the lockdown policy while pointing to the erection of production catering set up for a Hollywood shoot just a few feet…Ben Shapiro