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
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 -
- News
Here’s What We Know About a Possible Meat Shortage Amid COVID-19
Warnings of the possibility of coming meat shortages have left many Americans wondering whether we will see the meat and poultry cases in grocery stores just as barren as the toilet paper shelves. The coronavirus has led a number of large meat-processing plants, such as Tyson Foods Inc. and Smithfield Foods Inc., to close plants or…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
COVID-19 Pandemic Adds to the Urgency of Medicare Reform
While Americans are focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and its damage, the Medicare trustees are warning—once again—of the enormous financial challenges posed by the accelerated spending of the Medicare program. The Medicare trustees’ 255-page report covers the program’s financial condition in 2019, a chronic problem generating annual federal deficits and national debt. That condition is…Robert Moffit -
- Opinion
Is Sweden’s COVID-19 Approach the Right One? What 1 Expert Thinks
The spread of COVID-19 has created a serious public health challenge for governments throughout the world, but several countries have responded differently. The U.S. and many European nations, for instance, have introduced widespread social distancing and “stay at home” orders. South Korea, the country that has shown the most success at reversing the course of…Doug Badger -
- Opinion
How COVID-19 Is Affecting the Nation’s Meat Supply
Many Americans are rightfully concerned about the status of the country’s meat supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, there are no simple answers to help address those concerns, and the situation is constantly changing. The following is a Q&A regarding the current status of the meat (including poultry) supply and provides a few recommendations that…Daren Bakst -
- News
US Intelligence Community Confirms It’s Examining Whether Coronavirus Accidentally Leaked From Wuhan Lab
The U.S. intelligence community is seriously examining the possibility that the novel coronavirus could have entered the human population in Wuhan due to a laboratory accident, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed in a statement Thursday. “The [intelligence community] will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the…Andrew Kerr -
- Opinion
The Missing Pieces of Trump’s Coronavirus Recovery
America’s initial response to the coronavirus pandemic rightly prioritized good public health policy. Now, Washington is focusing on getting Americans safely back to work. The aim is to preserve livelihoods as well as lives. However, the plan put forward so far is missing some key pieces, parts that need to be added to ensure the safety, prosperity, and freedom of Americans long into the future. While the White House has been steering…James Carafano -
- News
EXCLUSIVE: Trump Denies COVID-19 Funds to Planned Parenthood
The Trump administration has acted to ensure that no funds from the new Paycheck Protection Program, set up to assist small businesses battered by COVID-19, will go to Planned Parenthood. “President Trump is committed to ensuring Paycheck Protection Program money is used for saving jobs at small businesses, not getting the government into the business…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Why Full Business Expensing Is Vital for Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery
An idea gaining bipartisan traction in Congress would help fix the damaging taxation of new investments set to kick in amid America’s eventual economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is the time for lawmakers to make full expensing permanent and extend similar treatment to factories and retail space. Full expensing lets businesses deduct spending…Adam Michel -
- Opinion
Lessons to Learn From COVID-19
We’re seeing now what efforts against COVID-19 were supposed to produce: a flattening of the growth curve of new fatalities. The growth rate of fatalities is dropping. We entered the dark tunnel, and now we are on the way out. Rays of light are shining in. We will survive. But will we learn? It appears…Star Parker -
- News
Leading CEO on Coronavirus Recovery Panel Wary of Government Power Grab
John Allison sees similarities between the response to the coronavirus pandemic and the financial crisis of 2008, when he was the CEO of BB&T Corp., a leading holding company. “The financial crisis was brought about largely from government policies and regulation, and a number of large companies that took real economic risk,” Allison says in…Fred Lucas