Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Primary Election Results Show Tight Race For California Governor, With Healthcare Promises On The Line
The decision comes at a particularly consequential time for California. Residents face a crushing cost of living, nation-topping gas prices made worse by the war in Iran, wildfire risks that have driven insurance companies out of state, an unstable state budget, impending federal cuts to the state’s expansive health system and an economy dampened by immigration enforcement. (Kuang, 6/2)
State Rep. Josh Turek won the Democratic primary for Senate in Iowa, giving Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) and his allies the candidate they wanted in an uphill battle to retake the Senate. Rep. Randy Feenstra narrowly lost in the Republican primary for governor in Iowa despite having President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Iowa since 2008. And Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former health secretary, were leading in the California gubernatorial primary, which remained uncalled. (Meyer, Merica and Knowles, 6/3)
Updates from Capitol Hill on veterans' healthcare —
For the first time in more than two decades, the House of Representatives has approved a major increase in benefits for some of the nation's most catastrophically disabled veterans. The legislation now heads to the Senate. ... The legislation focuses on veterans receiving the highest levels of Special Monthly Compensation, a benefit intended for those with severe service-connected disabilities requiring substantial assistance from caregivers. (Lindsay, 6/3)
Veteran advocates met last month with legislators on a daunting yet important task: finding a way to reduce the veteran suicide rate. One piece of legislation includes the Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act, which calls for expanding Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) programs to help active-duty military members and veterans spot risk factors for suicide and reach out for mental health support. Another bill circulating through Congress is the Barriers to Suicide Act, which if passed would install suicide-deterrent barriers on bridges and non-bridge structures deemed high risk for suicide attempts. (Damask, 6/3)
