As Nancy Pelosi announced that she will step down as the Democrats’ House leader, news outlets examined her legacy on key health issues like the Affordable Care Act while Pelosi touched on the trauma of the violent attack on her husband. Other congressional news reports are on Medicaid, insulin costs, and more.
USA Today:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Legacy: Obamacare To Trump Impeachment
Nancy Pelosi made history in 2007 for getting the job, for becoming the first female speaker of the House and the highest-ranking woman in American history. As the California congresswoman steps back from her role as the leader of House Democrats through tumultuous times, she has also made history for what she has done in the job. (Page, 11/17)
The Washington Post:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Says She Has ‘Survivor’s Guilt’ From Husband’s Attack
Dealing with trauma she likened to “survivor’s guilt,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the aftermath of the October attack on her husband, Paul, by an assailant looking for her has left the California Democrat’s family shaken. “If he had fallen, slipped on the ice or was in an accident and hurt his head, it would be horrible, but to have it be an assault on him because they were looking for me is really — they call it ‘survivor’s guilt’ or something,” Pelosi said Thursday in her most detailed comments to date on the attack’s aftermath. “But the traumatic effect on him, this happened in our house.” (Alfaro and Kane, 11/17)
In other updates from Capitol Hill —
The Hill:
Markey Introduces Legislation To Improve Tech Access For Americans With Disabilities
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Thursday introduced new legislation that aims to improve access to communications technology for Americans with disabilities to ensure they have equal opportunities in an increasingly online world. The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) will update policies for television programming and online video streaming platforms. (Dress, 11/7)
Axios:
Time Running Out On Insulin Cost Caps
An effort to lower the cost of insulin for privately insured patients faces long odds in the lame duck session, Axios’ Peter Sullivan reports. (Sullivan, 11/18)
Axios:
Study: Most Medicaid Enrollees Unprepared For Safety Net Redeterminations
Millions of Medicaid recipients are unaware that states will redetermine their eligibility for the program when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends — and fewer than one third know what other coverage options exist, according to an Urban Institute policy brief. (Moreno, 11/17)
KHN:
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: The Changing Of The Guard
The coming Congress will look different from the current one: While Democrats narrowly kept control of the U.S. Senate, Republicans gained a majority in the House. While their majority is small, it will likely be enough to block any further items on President Joe Biden’s agenda. Meanwhile, the current, lame-duck Congress still has a lot of items on its to-do list, including keeping the government open and averting a scheduled 4% cut in payments to health providers. (11/17)
And the Biden administration proposes changes to the WIC program —
AP:
USDA Program Keeps Extra COVID-Era Money For Fruits, Veggies
U.S. agriculture officials proposed changes Thursday to the federal program that helps pay the grocery bills for low-income pregnant women, babies and young children, including extending a bump in payments for fresh fruits and vegetables allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The update also adds more whole grains, canned fish and non-dairy options to their shopping carts. The effort is aimed at expanding the number and type of healthy foods available to families who get assistance from the Agriculture Department’s program known as WIC, officials said. (Aleccia, 11/18)
This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
