Health Care
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Health Care
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VA to stop offering gender-affirming care |
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Monday it will no longer be offering gender-affirming care to former service members, aligning its policies with President Trump’s Day 1 executive order. |
Steven L. Lieberman, the department’s acting undersecretary for health, wrote in a March 14 memo first reported by NPR that the VA would rescind a 2018 directive outlining “the respectful delivery of health care to transgender and intersex Veterans.” “I mean no disrespect to anyone, but VA should not be focused on helping Veterans attempt to change their sex. The vast majority of Veterans and Americans agree, and that is why this is the right decision,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement. The directive protected access to treatments like hormone therapy and pre- and post-operative care for gender-affirming surgery. The VA has never offered transition-related surgeries. In a news release on Monday, the VA said it was reversing the policy to comply with Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order proclaiming that the U.S. government recognizes only two sexes, male and female.
“Effective immediately, VA will not offer cross-sex hormone therapy to Veterans who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria,” said the department, adding that exceptions may be made for trans veterans who are already receiving care. The department said Monday that it does not keep consistent or reliable records on the total number of veterans who have received gender transition care through the VA, the amount of money spent on treatment or the number of employees involved. Read more from The Hill’s Brooke Migdon here. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Mississippi state and federal officials have confirmed an outbreak of a strain of bird flu not reported in the U.S. since 2017, with quarantine and depopulation efforts already underway. In a statement released March 12, the Mississippi Board of Animal Health stated that poultry from a commercial broiler breeder chicken flock in Noxubee County had tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). “The State … |
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An assistant professor from Brown University’s medical school with a valid visa was deported from the U.S. despite a judge’s order that she was not to be removed. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, an appointee of former President Obama, was set to hold a hearing Monday after Rasha Alawieh was deported to Lebanon but canceled it shortly before it began. The deportation came after Sorokin said Alawieh, a kidney transplant … |
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Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) were blocked Friday from passing a package of health policies, including changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry that was left out of December’s government spending bill. Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, attempted to pass the bipartisan legislation by unanimous consent. It was blocked by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who made no comments … |
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Health Next Summit | Wednesday, March 26 | 8:15 a.m. - noon ET | Washington, D.C. & streaming nationwide The first installment of The Hill's Health Next Summit will be held on March 26 as we deliver insights on President Trump's health care policies and agenda.
Speakers include: |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- New Texas bill comes after medication abortion (19th News)
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A law in New York pushes doctors to be upfront about patients’ costs (NPR)
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‘Sham’ California health insurers must return $800,000 to consumers (Patch)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
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After CDC pick abruptly yanked, worry over U.S. measles messaging remains (The Washington Post)
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NIH cancels funding for landmark diabetes study at a time of focus on chronic diseases (Stat)
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Congressman blames Trump team for ending telehealth Medicare benefit. Not quite right (KFF Health News)
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As bird flu continues to spread, Trump administration sidelines key pandemic preparedness office (CNN)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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President Trump says he’s “disappointed” with what he saw while touring the Kennedy Center for the first time after naming himself … Read more
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The members of the Jan. 6 investigative committee are hitting back at President Trump for his threat to nullify the presidential pardons surrounding … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will no longer offer gender-affirming medical treatment to transgender former service members, the department announced Monday, citing an executive order ...
The Hill - 18h
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Transgender veterans will no longer be provided hormone therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs unless they were already receiving such care through the department or the military, the ...
NBC News - 15h
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Transgender veterans will no longer be provided hormone therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs unless they were already receiving such care through the department or the military, the ...
NBC News - 15h
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