HEALTH POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
The Health Policy Domain tracks and reports on policies that deal with women’s health, the Affordable Care Act, Head Start, child care and child support services, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and federal food and drug policy. This domain tracks policies emanating from the White House, the department of Health and Human Services, the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Latest Health & Gender Posts
Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy Impacts Mental Health of Migrant Children
This policy is troubling not only for its civil and human rights violation, but also the horrendous and long-term effects on the mental health of the children. One magazine suggests such traumatic experiences will create angrier and more aggressive children, and can even lower the IQs of these children.
Renewed Republican Effort to Crush Obamacare
Policy Summary In the last month, the Trump administration has introduced new attacks on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA/ Obamacare) most popular provisions. Last year, the inability of Republicans to repeal or replace or even amend part of the ACA compromised a...
Department of Justice fumbles with systemic sexual misconduct
Brief 35 Policy Summary: A recent report that came out from the Justice Department (DOJ) appears to indicate that multiple sexual harassment charges have been filed within the DOJ. The new policies and guidelines set up by the DOJ seek to create a harassment free...
American Patients First or American Pharmaceutical Executives First? Trump’s plan to lower drug prices and buffer Big Pharma
Trump and his HHS secretary, Alex Alzar, took to the Rose Garden to unveil his new plan, “American Patients First” (APF) to cut costs for prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs in the US. His speech and initiatives come after criticism over the rising cost of healthcare and medications.
Bipartisan Strategy to Attack Opioid Crisis Mirrors Federal HIV/AIDS Policies
Senators Marco Rubio, Elizabeth Warren, Susan Collins, and Maggie Hassan have released a bipartisan bill, Hospice Safe Drug Disposal Act, to encourage the disposal of unused opioids by home hospice care providers. This would ultimately aim to reduce the amount of opioids in circulation.
Mental Health and Gun Violence: Rhetoric or Necessary Policy?
Brief 33 Policy Summary: There are many legislation proposals that are suggesting further limitations placed on those that are mentally ill and their access to guns. However, there are several loopholes which allow those with documented mental illnesses to purchase...
The Trump Administration’s Latest Assault on Healthcare for Women and LGBTQIA+
In the past year, Trump and his administration have championed actions that threaten the right to adequate healthcare for women and LGBTQIA+ populations. The latest actions in the past month were found primarily in a report last week detailing the elimination of online resources for lesbian and bisexual health on the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Trump’s White House Opioid Summit: Indication of Continued Inaction
Since Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in October of 2017, there has been very little successful action on preventative measures and combatting the effects of the crisis. The medication assistance “waiver” program suggested by HHS Secretary Alzar has only been filed by five different governors. This is due…
Alzar’s Proposed ACA Change Increases “Junk Insurance” and Insurance Premiums for Nation’s Sickest
On Tuesday, February 20th, Secretary of Health and Human services, Alex Alzar announced a proposed rule to offer more “short term, limited duration health insurance.” This proposed rule would shorten the maximum time period of all Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care insurance plans from 12 to 3 months. This would…