Author: goodfdev

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The D.C. Skyline: Small Stature with a Big Impression

Hot Topics | December 4th, 2020

The skyline of Washington D.C. is easily recognized and beloved by residents, but noticeably lacks any tall buildings. There’s a pervasive myth that a city law prevents buildings from surpassing the height of the U.S. Capitol or the Washington Monument. While that would make an interesting factoid if true, the reality is that building heights in the capital are capped by a rather vanilla 1910 zoning law.

Here are this week’s big headlines:

Vaccine recommendations, not directives

• By a 13-1 vote, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel issued non-binding guidance outlining which Americans should be prioritized to receive the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine following an FDA approval. It is now up to CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield to decide whether to elevate the recommendations to official CDC guidance. However, as POLITICO notes, states will have final discretion on distributing vaccines, and won’t necessarily have to follow this guidance. (The Hill) 
  • Read More: Roll Call provides an overview of what will happen following FDA approval of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. 

Who’s in and who’s out

• Who’s out: Dr. Scott Atlas, a radiologist who served as a COVID-19 advisor to President Trump, resigned from his post this week. Dr. Atlas frequently clashed with public health officials and medical experts over his optimistic projections on the pandemic and his advocacy for a herd immunity strategy. (POLITICO, The Hill)
• Who’s in: President-Elect Joe Biden asked Dr. Anthony Fauci to remain at the helm of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and to serve as chief medical advisor in his administration. (POLITICO, The Hill)
• Who’s staying in Rhode Island: Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo (D) was seen as a top contender to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, she told reporters Thursday that she would not be President-Elect Biden’s nominee for this cabinet position.

A distant, but not defeated COVID-19 deal

• This week a bipartisan group of Representatives and Senators held promising talks on a $908 billion COVID-19 stimulus package. Though the chances of passing a bill before the end of the year remain small, the talks held this week represent the most progress Congress has made on a stimulus bill in months. (Axios, The Hill)

Canada says no, eh? 

• Health Canada, the Canadian agency overseeing federal health policy, issued a press release stating that certain drugs intended to be consumed by Canadians would be banned from distribution outside of Canada. The policy is targeted at the United States, which has floated proposals at the federal and state level to import drugs from Canada as a means of lowering drug prices. (POLITICO) 
  • Read more: As recently as October, Florida was seeking to engage a vendor to import drugs from Canada. (Kaiser Health News)

If you enjoyed this excerpt from this week’s Policy News from Goodfuse, we invite you to email us at [email protected] to sign up the full weekly “insider only” newsletter featuring fun-to-read round-ups of Hot Topics, breaking news and some quirky facts to make your Fridays Goodfused.

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The Quirky Story of how Presidents Came to Pardon Turkeys

Hot Topics | November 25th, 2020

George H.W. Bush may have been the first US president to formally pardon a turkey, but the origins of this fun annual tradition go back to the late 19^th century when gifting a turkey to the president became a national symbol of good cheer. Throughout the middle of the 20^th century, various presidents sent their turkey gifts to live at nearby zoos or farms, before Bush 41 started the annual tradition in 1989. 

We are thankful for you, our dear readers, as well as the journalists whose reporting provided this week’s headlines:

Expect science to rule the day

• Joe Biden’s transition team has advised the president-elect to allow career scientists rather than political appointees to take on the role of updating the public on the pandemic. Celine Gounder, a Biden task force member and infectious diseases specialist told STAT: “It may not be exciting in a sexy TV way, but it’s exciting to me that this is a return to science.” Scientists who may be tapped for these briefings include Nancy Messonnier, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) respiratory disease chief and Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s principal deputy director (STAT, POLITICO)

All industry eyes on Biden

• On Friday, President Trump announced a “most favored nation” rule that would tie the price of drugs offered under Medicare Part B to lower prices in other developed countries. The Trump administration bypassed the normal policymaking process, which leaves the rule open to legal challenges from the pharmaceutical industry. Ultimately, it will be up to the Biden administration to finalize or not finalize the rule, which is why some this policy as a bargaining chip that President-elect Biden could use to negotiate with the industry. (The Washington Post)

A Thanksgiving like no other

• Various government officials have issued a number of warnings and recommendations this week intended to help Americans celebrate Thanksgiving safely amid the ongoing pandemic. On Monday, Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned Americans to avoid indoor holiday celebrations with people outside of their immediate household. The White House coronavirus task force issued its own warning, saying the “aggressive, rapid, and expanding” spread of COVID-19 requires a “significant behavior change” from Americans. (The Hill, The Hill)

The priorities and perils of a COVID-19 vaccine

• Priorities: The CDC is expected to move essential works ahead of older adults and people with high-risk medical conditions on the COVID-19 vaccine priority list, reflect how Black and Latino essential workers have been disproportionally impacted by the pandemic. (STAT) Once a COVID-19 vaccine candidate receives emergency authorization, the first doses could be injected within 48 hours. (The Hill)
• Perils: Some health officials are worried they do not have enough money, guidance and appropriate facilities to store Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Once a vial of Pfizer’s vaccine is thawed and diluted, it must be used within six hours. Rural counties where population is sparse may not be able to administer a full shipment of the vaccine. Maryland estimates up to 5% of the vaccine the state is allotted could spoil and go unused. (POLITICO)

If you enjoyed this excerpt from this week’s Policy News from Goodfuse, we invite you to email us at [email protected] to sign up the full weekly “insider only” newsletter featuring fun-to-read round-ups of Hot Topics, breaking news and some quirky facts to make your Fridays (and the occasional Wednesday) Goodfused.

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Lame duck Congress is driving a news cycle that is anything but boring

Hot Topics | November 20th, 2020

One of the lesser-known perks of being a U.S. Congressperson is access to your own private subway system. There are three subway lines that are independent of the Washington D.C. Metro that help shuttle Congresspeople from the congressional office buildings to votes in the U.S. Capitol. 

We’re confident the trains were running frequently this week, judging by the top healthcare Policy News headlines:

Lame duck drug pricing policymaking

• The Trump Administration took steps this week to advance a “most favored nation” drug pricing proposal, that would lower the price of drugs covered by Medicare Part B to the prices paid by other countries. However, the administration’s plan to position the policy as an interim final rule, bypassing the standard policymaking process, would leave the proposal vulnerable to lawsuits and delays. (POLITICO, The Hill)

A not-so-seamless transition

• On Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, appeared on Today. His comments hinted that the refusal of the Trump administration to begin the presidential transition process could harm the government’s pandemic response, and slow the rollout of a future vaccine. Later in an unrelated announcement, President-Elect Joe Biden was more explicit in his remarks, sounding an alarm that “more people may die if we don’t coordinate” with the Trump administration. (POLITICO, The Hill)
  • Read more: While an official transition has yet to begin, the President-Elect’s team has reached out to nearly all of America’s leading public health organizations. (STAT)

Ready, set, vaccinate 

• Coming on the heels of positive results from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, federal health officials announced that all 50 states will have access to some doses of a potential vaccine within 24 hours of an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Assuming both vaccine candidates receive an EUA, the federal government expects to have enough supply to vaccinate 20 million Americans by the end of 2020, or about 6% of the population. (The Hill) 
  • Read more: The FDA has received a fair amount of criticism for issuing EUAs without disclosing the data that informed these decisions. In a statement this week, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn committed to share the data and other information that informs decisions to authorize, revise or revoke an EUA. (STAT)

Wheelings but no dealings on Capitol Hill

• As another week of Congress’ lame duck session draws to a close, negotiations on another large COVID-19 relief bill remain at a standstill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused each other of stymying negotiations. (The Hill)

If you enjoyed this excerpt from this week’s Policy News from Goodfuse, we invite you to email us at [email protected] to sign up the full weekly “insider only” newsletter featuring fun-to-read round-ups of Hot Topics, breaking news and some quirky facts to make your Fridays Goodfused.