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
Over Half of US Counties Have Had No COVID-19 Deaths
With many state and local governments starting to relax stay-at-home orders, it’s instructive to examine just how concentrated the spread of COVID-19 has been in the U.S. Although all U.S. states have reported cases of COVID-19, the distribution of the cases and deaths has remained heavily concentrated in a small number of states, and among…Norbert Michel -
- Opinion
What You Need to Know About Contact Tracing, Privacy, and COVID-19
Contact tracing is seen as one way to fight COVID-19. But does the tracing, which would mean tracking a person who had been physically near in recent days, involve giving up too much privacy? Klon Kitchen, a senior research fellow in technology at The Heritage Foundation, joins The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss how contact…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
4 Ways the Private Sector Is Combating COVID-19
In the “whole of country” approach the United States has taken to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, companies large and small—and from a variety of industries—have joined the fight by developing diagnostic tests, altering production to make medical equipment and necessary supplies, and donating resources to those who need them. >>> When can America reopen? The…Abigail Slagle -
- Opinion
Hope for Tolerance? New Yorkers Grateful to Samaritan’s Purse for COVID-19 Help
Samaritan’s Purse doesn’t serve to get praise. And that’s a good thing in places like New York City, where radical liberals refuse to give it any. Even now, after treating 315 patients in its field hospital in Central Park, the news that the Rev. Franklin Graham’s work might soon be done was the only thing…Tony Perkins -
- Opinion
How the CDC Could Optimize Best Practices From COVID-19 Hot Spots
The COVID-19 pandemic that grips America and the whole world is caused by SARS-CoV2, a novel coronavirus that was completely alien to the human immune system prior to last winter. The virus wasn’t known to be in America before Jan. 20, when it was first reported here. As a result, physicians in America have been…Kevin Pham -
- Opinion
COVID-19 Measures Highlight Absurdity of Plastic Bag Bans
Recently, many politicians were in such a hurry to ban plastic bags. California and Hawaii banned them, then New York. Then Oregon, Connecticut, Maine, and Vermont passed laws against them. More than 400 cities did, too. Why? Because plastic bags are evil, didn’t you know? “Look at the damage done by plastic bags! It is…John Stossel -
- Opinion
Dispelling 2 Myths About the Meat Supply Amid COVID-19
Over the past week, there have been two widely repeated myths regarding the meat supply amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The first deals with Tyson Foods’ advertisement published in several newspapers. That otherwise important and well-written advertisement detailing concerns about the meat supply included a very unfortunate sentence that has been latched onto by the media:…Daren Bakst -
- News
How Progressive Policies Aggravated Homeless Crisis During COVID-19
The coronavirus crisis has taken a particular toll on the homeless community. Christopher Rufo, a documentary filmmaker and director of Discovery Institute’s Center on Wealth and Poverty, joins the podcast to talk about how West Coast progressives have failed the homeless. He also discusses which, if any, areas in the country are handling the homeless…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Fast-Track New Therapeutics, Counter China’s Influence, COVID-19 Recovery Panel Urges
President Donald Trump should require more deregulation in the next 30 days to fast-track approval of disinfectants, therapeutics, and vaccines for combating COVID-19, The Heritage Foundation’s National Coronavirus Recovery Commission recommended Tuesday. The 17-member panel comprising experts with experience in state and federal government, the business community, the health care sector, and the faith community…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
How Planned Parenthood Is Benefiting From COVID-19 Pandemic
Staying home is supposed to keep people safe. But for unborn babies, even lockdowns have their risks. Any house can be an abortion clinic, Planned Parenthood wants people to know. You just have to call for pills. “It’s actually a silver lining in this pandemic,” acting Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill-Johnson insisted to Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman….Tony Perkins -
- Opinion
COVID-19 Legal Liability Protections Are Crucial to Ensuring Economic Recovery
The first wave of COVID-19-related product liability and other tort litigation has already hit U.S. courts, with a much bigger surge in lawsuits coming when the country reopens that will allege companies have been using “unreasonable” anti-pandemic measures to protect the public. Recognizing that such lawsuits could choke off any hope of a sustained economic…Brian E. Finch -
- Opinion
Liberals Try to Use COVID-19 Crisis to Halt Judicial Confirmations
The Senate got back to business Monday and, while the coronavirus is still the 800-pound gorilla, senators will also attend to other aspects of the nation’s business. That includes the federal judiciary. Vacancies on life-tenured federal courts around the country are on the rise again, reversing a yearlong downward trend. >>> When can America reopen?…Thomas Jipping -
- News
Marylanders ‘Frustrated’ by Governor’s COVID-19 Shutdown, Protest Organizer Says
Protesters with the organization Reopen Maryland say they see the frustration of fellow Marylanders as their state experiences the economic effects of the coronavirus lockdown. “We are seeing a lot as we do these rallies and protests; we’re seeing more and more people are frustrated,” Evie Harris, a co-organizer for Reopen Maryland, said Monday in…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
DHS Report Says China Lied About Extent of Pandemic in Order to Hoard Medical Supplies
A report from the Department of Homeland Security says the Chinese government lied to world health agencies about the spread of the coronavirus in order to buy time to stock up on medical supplies to deal with the pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security report assessed that Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the…Chuck Ross -
- News
Mike Pompeo Says There’s ‘Enormous Evidence’ That Coronavirus Came From Wuhan Lab
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that “enormous evidence” backs the theory that the novel coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began,” Pompeo said on ABC News' “This Week.” “We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot…Andrew Kerr -
- News
3 Initiatives Feed Health Care Workers in Fight Against COVID-19
The heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic who forever will be remembered are our health care professionals. Doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and other medical professionals are on the front lines of that fight. Generous individuals across America are responding to the sacrifice—long hours and putting themselves at risk of the contagion—of our health care workers…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
9 Classic Movies You Should Watch During COVID-19 Quarantine
Classic movies stand the test of time, with characters, themes, and even dialogue that could go toe-to-toe with those of any modern flick. Maybe you have some in your Netflix queue, or on a watchlist, maybe even a DVD rack—or if you’re really “old school,” in a cabinet full of VHS tapes. >>> When can…Philip Reynolds -
- Opinion
Under This Doctor’s Care, Most COVID-19 Patients Are Recovering. Here’s His Unusual Approach.
One of the biggest hurdles in dealing with a pandemic caused by a completely new virus is grappling with the sheer amount of unknown information. In the case of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2, this was particularly difficult because the presentation of each patient seemed so vastly different from the previous case. Furthermore, many patients seemed…Kevin Pham -
- Opinion
The Impact of COVID-19 on America’s Economy
The $2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package and historic unemployment rate during the coronavirus pandemic is placing a strain on our economy. Rachel Greszler, research fellow in economics, budget, and entitlements at The Heritage Foundation, joins the podcast to explain the effects of record high unemployment on the economy and how Americans can successfully get…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Coronavirus and the 4 Walls of Worship
“Mommy, are we going to watch Mass today?” That’s what my 3-year-old son unexpectedly asked me on Sunday morning as I set up the laptop in the living room, waiting for Mass to go “live” on our parish’s Facebook page. It dawned on me right then and there that even this little person was adjusting…Jacolyn Bastasch