The brief week actually didn’t imply a scarcity of well being care information, and even a selected nameless op-ed couldn’t fully overshadow our bounty. So let’s get into it!
Washington’s political theatrics had been out in full power for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s hearings. We noticed potential 2020 contenders giving what amounted to marketing campaign speeches, protesters in “The Handmaid’s Tale” garb, an almost-“I am Spartacus” second, and simply all-around political bickering and posturing. But what all of it comes all the way down to is greatest summed up by this quote from the Los Angeles Times’ coverage: “You’re gonna get confirmed,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) mentioned to Kavanaugh. “You’re gonna make it.”
Parsing out the well being care: On the second day of his hearings, Kavanaugh ducked and dodged on abortion, specializing in respect for precedent and the significance individuals place on Roe v. Wade in order to not be pinned down on the contentious challenge. Then yesterday, emails got here out that appeared to undercut his assurances. Kavanaugh maintains that what he mentioned within the messages wasn’t his private place, and that he was merely presenting a standard thought from authorized students on the time.
Kavanaugh additionally set off alarm bells for some over his use of the phrase “abortion-inducing drugs” to explain contraception, terminology that advocates say is utilized by anti-abortion activists.
Politico: Kavanaugh Faces New Scrutiny Over Abortion After Leaked Email
The New York Times: Democrats Grilling Kavanaugh Have Their Eyes on 2020
Kavanaugh Calls Birth Control ‘Abortion-Inducing Drugs’ During Confirmation Hearings, Sparks Outrage
And though the hearings targeted on Roe, it’s truly extra possible that Kavanaugh’s impression on abortion will come by means of one of many 13 circumstances working up by means of the courts proper now.
The New York Times: The Future of Abortion Under a New Supreme Court? Look to Arkansas
(Side word: A fact bomb from the hearings got here as soon as once more from Graham, the place he instructed the Democrats: “If you want to pick judges for your way of thinking, then you better win an election.”)
The well being legislation received one other day in court docket this week, and this time it may truly be a pleasant little reward to Democrats within the last stretch earlier than midterms.
Texas is difficult the constitutionality of the legislation now that the person mandate has been zeroed out by Congress, and “blue state” attorneys common have been left to defend it. The latter received the harder, extra pointed questions from the decide, so an injunction doesn’t appear too far-fetched.
Modern Healthcare: Judge Skeptical of ACA’s Standing Without Effective Individual Mandate Penalty
That state of affairs, nonetheless, would imply all of the extraordinarily standard provisions within the legislation (like protections on preexisting situations) may very well be nulled — proper earlier than Election Day.
The New York Times: Another Case Is Threatening Obamacare. Democrats Hope It Will Help Them.
Fed up with not solely excessive drug prices but additionally drug shortages, hospitals are taking the issue into their very own arms by launching an organization to make medicine. Hospitals that be part of the hassle should decide to long-term contracts even when pharma rivals drop their costs. The initiative’s leaders, although, suppose the promise of stability and a dependable provide of medicine will outweigh that danger.
The Associated Press: Hospital Groups Launch Own Company to Make Generic Drugs
Chatter over well being trade innovation would possibly drift towards the Amazon, Berkshire and JPMorgan initiative today, but it surely’s truly Comcast that’s making specialists sit up and concentrate. The cable behemoth’s well being care prices have stayed almost flat over the previous 5 years — which generally looks as if a close to miracle on this panorama.
The New York Times: You’ll Never Guess Which Company Is Reinventing Health Benefits
Oh, and guess who simply tapped one of many firm’s executives for a COO spot?
Stat: What Jack Stoddard Brings to the Atul Gawande-Led Health Venture
Also, a heads-up: Two main well being offers look as in the event that they’re about to be authorized by the Justice Department within the subsequent few weeks.
And Theranos, the corporate that supplied a lot schadenfreude to many previously 12 months, is formally dissolving. Check out this throwback podcast for more about the story.
The Wall Street Journal: Blood-Testing Firm Theranos to Dissolve
On deck for subsequent week: The Senate is ready to vote on an opioids bundle after Democrats dropped their issues over a provision they criticized as an earmark.
The Hill: Senate to Vote Next Week on Opioid Package
If that’s not sufficient information for you, my must-read file for the week resides as much as its identify: The illness of a river that when sustained these California tribes is echoed of their battle with the heroin epidemic; residents of a rural stretch of Florida that had fewer hospital beds than Afghanistan tried to construct their very own facility and had been thwarted by an enormous hospital (“It’s just horribly mean,” one physician mentioned); how do you reside a day-to-day life when the promise of your most cancers returning is outlined by “when” and never “if”?; and corporations that monitor social media promote the promise of security from faculty shootings, however there’s little to again up these vows.
The New York Times: Sick River: Can These California Tribes Beat Heroin and History?
The New York Times: A Rural Town Banded Together to Open a Hospital. Its Foe? A Larger Hospital.
Stat: After a Cancer Diagnosis, a Father and His Family Grapple With the Uncertain Time Left
The New York Times: These Firms Say They Can Help Prevent School Shootings and Suicides. Do They?
I used to be fortunately burying my head within the sand on this, however since I can now not stay in denial, I’m dragging you guys down with me (from The New York Times): Airport Security Trays Carry More Cold Germs Than Toilets, Study Finds
Have a terrific, hopefully germ-free weekend!
P.S. If you need a dose of must-read tales by means of the week, be at liberty to comply with me over at @KHNBreeze.