Healthcare & Policy News
Reporting on health care policy, insurance coverage, and federal health programs. Includes news updates and conservative commentary from The Daily Signal.
-
news
CDC Tells Americans to ‘Stay at Home and Not Travel’ for Christmas
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discouraged Americans from Christmas travel due to the coronavirus pandemic during a telephone press conference Wednesday. “We did put out a message to postpone and stay at home […] around Thanksgiving and we’re putting out the same message: The best thing for Americans to do in the upcoming… -
opinion
The Dangers of Joe Biden’s Extreme Abortion Agenda
In the aftermath of a singularly high-stakes election, as President Donald Trump fights to ensure that every legal vote is counted, former Vice President Joe Biden claims to want to unify our nation and even “heal” our collective soul. There is ample reason for skepticism. By all indications, Biden and Kamala Harris have not changed… -
news
How a Congressman’s Brush With Abortion Spurred His Reverence for Life, Adoption
Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., likely would not be alive today were it not for adoption. An appreciation of adoption runs deep in the family. Schweikert’s father was adopted, as was the congressman, his two siblings, and his own young daughter. Schweikert’s personal experience with adoption led him to be a fierce advocate for children in… -
opinion
More Lockdowns Aren’t Answer to Stopping COVID-19
As infections increase during the “second wave” of the coronavirus, too many politicians are knee-jerking to reimpose harsh restrictions such as business shutdowns, curfews, and home confinements. These types of sweeping and overly restrictive COVID-19 measures cause needless harm, especially for the majority of generally healthy Americans who will experience moderate to no symptoms if… -
news
Pub Owners Declare ‘Autonomous Zone’ to Keep Doors Open Amid COVID-19 Restrictions
Owners of a Staten Island pub have declared it an “autonomous zone” in defiance of tighter COVID-19 restrictions in New York City from Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Keith McAlarney says he and business partner Danny Presti decided to follow in Seattle’s footsteps and designate their restaurant, Mac’s Public House, to be independent… -
opinion
Don’t Let the Abortion Lobby Hijack ‘Women’s Issues’
As the 116th Congress prepares to adjourn and policymakers look ahead to the 117th, among the policies up for discussion is the status of the Office of Global Women’s Issues (GWI) at the State Department. President Barack Obama elevated the GWI office, raising its leadership to the rank of ambassador at large for Global Women’s… -
opinion
To Get COVID-19 Under Control, We Must Make This Crucial Change
When COVID-19 first reached America nearly a year ago, we knew very little about it—what it did, whom it affected most, or even whether human-to-human transmission was common. But one of the few things we knew for certain was that this virus—SARS-CoV-2, to use its technical name—was particularly dangerous to older Americans. As early as… -
opinion
A Commonsense Approach to COVID-19
Are lockdowns ever necessary? Will the new COVID-19 vaccines be safe? How risky is it to travel for the holidays? What new medical treatments do we have for COVID-19? Dr. Kevin Pham, a visiting policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, and Doug Badger, a senior fellow in health policy at The Heritage Foundation, join the… -
news
EXCLUSIVE: 2 Moves Trump HHS Is Taking to Make Government More Accountable
In another Trump administration move to boost transparency and roll back regulations, the Department of Health and Human Services issued two statements of policy on Tuesday that will affect any future imposition of regulations going forward. The first policy requires the department and its agencies to demonstrate to the public how they reached a conclusion… -
news
US Could Reach Herd Immunity by May 2021 If 70% of Americans Get the Vaccine, Top Doctor Says
America could reach herd immunity by May of next year if a majority of citizens are vaccinated, a prominent health expert told CNN’s Jake Tapper Sunday. Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief scientific adviser for President Donald Trump’s immunization program Operation Warp Speed, told Tapper on his show “State of the Union” that if 70% of the populace… -
opinion
What Happens When a Broken Country Tries to Fight a Pandemic
One of the most memorable scenes in the “Hunger Games” books and movies is when the poor kids from the outer districts take the train into the glimmering capital. There they see affluence and decadence completely foreign to them in their poor, hyper-regulated homelands. It’s all fiction, of course, but it’s not too far from… -
news
CDC Director Says School ‘One of Safest Places’ for Children, Data Supports In-Person Learning
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said school “is one of the safest places” for children and data supports in-person learning. Redfield stressed the importance of adhering to data during a White House press briefing Thursday. The CDC director also said “data-driven decisions” are what should lead discussions regarding “institutions or what we’re doing for… -
opinion
Free Markets Trump Globalists’ ‘Great Reset’ for Post-COVID-19 Recovery
In a World Economic Forum virtual panel discussion, “The Great Reset: Building Future Resilience to Global Risks,” on Wednesday, panelists sought to address “what new forms of cooperation, bold ideas, and reforms are needed for business, policymakers, and civil society to build a more resilient world and restore confidence in leadership beyond COVID-19.” The buzzword… -
opinion
How Oregon’s Governor Became the Latest Poster Child for COVID-19 Tyranny
America is officially eight months into what was said to be 15 days to slow the spread of COVID-19, and several states are now set to embark on a second round of extensive shutdowns. Standing out from the rest, the trio of Left Coast governors are apparently competing for the dubious distinction of “America’s Top Tyrant”—and Oregon’s… -
news
Gov. Whitmer Announces New Restrictions as Coronavirus Cases Surge
Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced new restrictions Sunday evening meant to combat the worsening coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions, which begin Wednesday and extend through the end of November, include the closing of high schools, colleges, indoor dining, casinos, and movie theaters, Whitmer said in a press conference Sunday. Michigan has recorded record amounts of virus cases… -
news
Moderna Announces Its Coronavirus Vaccine Is 94.5% Effective
The pharmaceutical company Moderna announced Monday that its coronavirus vaccine is 94.5% effective based on preliminary results from ongoing human trials. Though the company’s announcement is a big step in the effort to develop effective vaccines against the virus, Moderna said that its vaccine would not be widely available until spring 2021. Moderna is the second pharmaceutical to… -
opinion
10 Counties With 21% of COVID-19 Deaths Have Just 11% of the Population
As Heritage Foundation researchers have demonstrated throughout the pandemic, the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. has been heavily concentrated in a small number of states—and among a small number of counties within those states. In recent months, the number of new cases has been more geographically dispersed, but COVID-19 fatalities remain highly concentrated. >>> What’s the best way for America to reopen… -
opinion
Biden Likely Would Issue Flurry of Executive Orders on Climate, Abortion, Immigration
The outcome of the 2020 presidential election continues to be hotly contested. But a transition of power from President Donald Trump to Joe Biden, if it happens, would have immediate and dramatic policy consequences. If Biden actually does win the presidential election, the former vice president likely will be faced with a divided legislative branch…. -
news
Mayor Bill de Blasio Says New Yorkers Should Avoid ‘Big Meals Together’ as COVID-19 Cases Spike
Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city’s residents should avoid “large meals together” as the area experienced a recent uptick in coronavirus cases. “The holidays we associate with travel and the holidays we associate with big indoor gatherings, big meals together—that, unfortunately, this year can’t be the case,” de Blasio said… -
news
Pfizer’s Coronavirus Vaccine Over 90% Effective, Company Says
A promising coronavirus vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, a German biotechnology firm, was over 90% effective compared to a placebo injection and did not produce any safety concerns, according to an analysis by a third-party data monitoring committee. “I would say it’s a historical moment,” said Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s head of vaccine research…