Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With Congress' Approval, Bill Banning Revenge Porn Is Sent To The President
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill aimed at cracking down on the posting of sexual images and videos of people online without their consent, including AI-generated deepfake nudes of real people. The bipartisan Take It Down Act, which passed the Senate unanimously in February, now heads to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law. (Oremus, 4/28)
On Medicaid cuts
When Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) grudgingly supported the budget that paved the way for renewing President Donald Trump's tax cuts, he signaled that the price for his vote included targeting an arcane but growing source of state Medicaid funding: provider taxes. States levy provider taxes to help fund their share of spending in the joint federal-state health program, which effectively shifts a greater portion of Medicaid costs to the federal government. Often, providers volunteer to pay these taxes, or at least don't loudly protest, because they sustain Medicaid. (McAuliff, 4/28)
Nursing homes across the country rely heavily on Medicaid, with the safety net program covering more than 6 in 10 residents in 18 states, according to an analysis of federal data by Assisted Living Magazine shared exclusively with Axios. (Goldman, 4/29)
About one in three people with disabilities is enrolled in the program which helps them access health care and live independently in their communities. Stephanie Sy reports and we hear from people with disabilities and their caretakers about what Medicaid means to them. (4/28)
And the Supreme Court debated accommodations for people with disabilities
The Supreme Court appeared sympathetic Monday to the arguments of the parents of a Minnesota teen with severe epilepsy who want schools to do more to accommodate the needs of disabled students. The case focuses on whether families must meet an unfairly high burden to show schools are falling short. It is being closely watched by disability advocates and schools, with officials saying a ruling for the girl identified as Ava in court filings could make it easier for millions of students to require educators to do more to tailor teaching to their unique situations. (Jouvenal, 4/28)
