Erin Durkin
@erincdurkin.bsky.social
Health policy reporter for Bloomberg Government, usually found in the halls of Capitol Hill.
Reposted by Erin Durkin
Read more about last night’s bill text from @bgov.com’s @erincdurkin.bsky.social
news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-l...
news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-l...
Health Coverage for Millions of Americans at Risk Under GOP Plan
Proposed work requirements for certain Medicaid beneficiaries between the ages of 19 and 64 would threaten health coverage for millions of Americans, according to independent analysis.
news.bloomberglaw.com
May 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Read more about last night’s bill text from @bgov.com’s @erincdurkin.bsky.social
news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-l...
news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-l...
‘Thrown away’: Patient reps depart from organ transplant board njour.nl/s/728230/?un...
‘Thrown away’: Patient reps depart from organ transplant board
The resignation of patient and donor representatives from a governing board for the organ transplantation system exposed rifts among stakeholders.
njour.nl
April 15, 2025 at 8:25 PM
‘Thrown away’: Patient reps depart from organ transplant board njour.nl/s/728230/?un...
‘Effectively destroyed’: How cuts to CDC staff, funding will impact public health
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728191/eff...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728191/eff...
‘Effectively destroyed’: How cuts to CDC staff, funding will impact public health
In the past few weeks, CDC grants supporting state and local health departments were terminated, then officials moved to lay off thousands.
www.nationaljournal.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
‘Effectively destroyed’: How cuts to CDC staff, funding will impact public health
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728191/eff...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728191/eff...
The budget resolution unveiled yesterday preserves House instructions to cut $880 billion in E&C's jurisdiction, which advocates worry will lead to Medicaid cuts. This could hit schools' special education and mental health services.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728101/med...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728101/med...
Medicaid cuts could hit school districts
The health-insurance program for low-income individuals helps pay for special-education services in schools, but workers could be strained if Medicaid funds are lost.
www.nationaljournal.com
April 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The budget resolution unveiled yesterday preserves House instructions to cut $880 billion in E&C's jurisdiction, which advocates worry will lead to Medicaid cuts. This could hit schools' special education and mental health services.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728101/med...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/728101/med...
Reposted by Erin Durkin
Medicaid advocates are raising red flags about what deep program cuts could mean to everyday Americans as Republicans on Capitol Hill look for ways to pay for the Trump agenda of tax cuts and deportation expansion. @erincdurkin.bsky.social explains in this unlocked article:
‘Medicaid is everything’: What's at risk for enrollees with disabilities
As Republicans look to generate savings from the program, disability advocates worry cuts to Medicaid would result in reduced access to home-based services.
buff.ly
March 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Medicaid advocates are raising red flags about what deep program cuts could mean to everyday Americans as Republicans on Capitol Hill look for ways to pay for the Trump agenda of tax cuts and deportation expansion. @erincdurkin.bsky.social explains in this unlocked article:
U.S. organ transplant system headed for a shakeup njour.nl/s/727965/?un...
U.S. organ transplant system headed for a shakeup
Stakeholders worry the Trump administration's modernization efforts could detrimentally impact an already fragile system.
njour.nl
March 19, 2025 at 7:32 PM
U.S. organ transplant system headed for a shakeup njour.nl/s/727965/?un...
No HELP: Trump administration withdraws pick to head CDC 11th hour amid lack of Senate support.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727829/no-...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727829/no-...
No HELP: Trump administration withdraws pick to head CDC 11th hour amid lack of Senate support
Former Rep. Dave Weldon accused the pharmaceutical lobby of blocking his nomination because of his views over vaccine safety issues.
www.nationaljournal.com
March 13, 2025 at 6:21 PM
No HELP: Trump administration withdraws pick to head CDC 11th hour amid lack of Senate support.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727829/no-...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727829/no-...
Confirmation hearing over NIH nominee turns into pointed forum on Trump health agenda njour.nl/s/727751/?un...
Confirmation hearing over NIH nominee turns into pointed forum on Trump health agenda
Jay Bhattacharya faced tough questions over decisions made so far by the administration, such as freezing grant dollars and laying off staff.
njour.nl
March 5, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Confirmation hearing over NIH nominee turns into pointed forum on Trump health agenda njour.nl/s/727751/?un...
While Trump did not campaign on repealing Obamacare, his administration and Congress are poised to make many changes. I walk through some of the biggest reforms that could be incoming. njour.nl/s/727695/?un...
Substantial changes to Obamacare on the horizon
Trump didn’t campaign on repealing Obamacare this time around, but he isn't stopping Republicans from targeting big parts of the law.
njour.nl
February 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
While Trump did not campaign on repealing Obamacare, his administration and Congress are poised to make many changes. I walk through some of the biggest reforms that could be incoming. njour.nl/s/727695/?un...
Better World Campaign President Peter Yeo spoke with me about the implications of leaving the WHO and how UN projects are handling the funding freezes.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727670/qa-...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727670/qa-...
Q+A with Peter Yeo
The president of The Better World Campaign discusses U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and how foreign aid freezes affect UN programs.
www.nationaljournal.com
February 25, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Better World Campaign President Peter Yeo spoke with me about the implications of leaving the WHO and how UN projects are handling the funding freezes.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727670/qa-...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727670/qa-...
'In shambles': CDC layoffs leave U.S. vulnerable to health threats
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727630/in-...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727630/in-...
'In shambles': CDC layoffs leave U.S. vulnerable to health threats
Experts said the CDC’s work supporting the public health infrastructure and guiding clinicians could be undermined by Trump's broad staffing cuts.
www.nationaljournal.com
February 20, 2025 at 9:50 PM
'In shambles': CDC layoffs leave U.S. vulnerable to health threats
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727630/in-...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727630/in-...
Chaos and uncertainty are gripping U.S. health assistance abroad, impacting HIV care and nutrition services.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727557/cha...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727557/cha...
Chaos, uncertainty grip international health aid
Even with waivers, experts say getting life-saving services restarted will be a heavy lift, and they worry international health programs are at risk.
www.nationaljournal.com
February 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Chaos and uncertainty are gripping U.S. health assistance abroad, impacting HIV care and nutrition services.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727557/cha...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727557/cha...
HHS started scrubbing its website to comply with President Trump’s order to end DEI programs and attempts to establish just two sexes as U.S. policy.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727490/hhs...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727490/hhs...
HHS starts scrubbing websites of diversity, gender info
Following Trump’s orders on DEI programs and gender ideology, various health websites have been amended or removed, prompting concern and a lawsuit.
www.nationaljournal.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:57 PM
HHS started scrubbing its website to comply with President Trump’s order to end DEI programs and attempts to establish just two sexes as U.S. policy.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727490/hhs...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727490/hhs...
Reposted by Erin Durkin
On this episode, @ledyardking.bsky.social brings on @savbehrmanndc.bsky.social @erincdurkin.bsky.social and @cmaza.bsky.social as they examine the prospects for Trump's nominees.
Listen on Spotify:
Listen on Spotify:
National Journal Radio Episode 70: Battles of Nominations
National Journal Radio · Episode
buff.ly
February 4, 2025 at 1:44 AM
On this episode, @ledyardking.bsky.social brings on @savbehrmanndc.bsky.social @erincdurkin.bsky.social and @cmaza.bsky.social as they examine the prospects for Trump's nominees.
Listen on Spotify:
Listen on Spotify:
OUTLOOK: Cassidy says he is ‘struggling’ with RFK Jr.’s nomination njour.nl/s/727438/
OUTLOOK: Cassidy says he is ‘struggling’ with RFK Jr.’s nomination
PLUS: Trump targets DEI curricula, campus antisemitism in executive orders; and FCC launches investigation into public broadcasters.
njour.nl
January 31, 2025 at 2:17 AM
OUTLOOK: Cassidy says he is ‘struggling’ with RFK Jr.’s nomination njour.nl/s/727438/
Gearing up for day 2 of hearings!
Amid cheers and jeers, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his case to lead the Health and Human Services Department Wednesday morning in a Senate hearing, where no Democrat appeared poised to help advance his nomination.
@erincdurkin.bsky.social reports (unlocked):
@erincdurkin.bsky.social reports (unlocked):
‘You frighten people’: Dems dispense anger, scorn at RFK Jr. hearing
Trump’s nominee for HHS secretary is unlikely to win any Democratic support, judging by Wednesday’s contentious reception in the Senate.
buff.ly
January 30, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Gearing up for day 2 of hearings!
‘You frighten people’: Dems dispense anger, scorn at RFK Jr. hearing njour.nl/s/727423/?un...
‘You frighten people’: Dems dispense anger, scorn at RFK Jr. hearing
Trump’s nominee for HHS secretary is unlikely to win any Democratic support, judging by Wednesday’s contentious reception in the Senate.
njour.nl
January 29, 2025 at 11:41 PM
‘You frighten people’: Dems dispense anger, scorn at RFK Jr. hearing njour.nl/s/727423/?un...
In less than two weeks, President Trump has taken multiple actions to combat what he calls 'left-wing gender insanity,' with the latest coming this evening in another executive order, this time targeting gender-affirming care for kids.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727405/wha...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727405/wha...
What Trump has done so far to unravel the 'left-wing gender insanity'
During his campaign, Trump targeted gender-affirming care and support for transgender people. So far, his impact has been limited but signals long-term efforts.
www.nationaljournal.com
January 29, 2025 at 2:00 AM
In less than two weeks, President Trump has taken multiple actions to combat what he calls 'left-wing gender insanity,' with the latest coming this evening in another executive order, this time targeting gender-affirming care for kids.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727405/wha...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727405/wha...
Medicare often pays different rates for the same service depending on if it was provided at a doctor’s office or a hospital. Lawmakers are looking at changing this, potentially as part of reconciliation.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727337/wit...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727337/wit...
With eye on reconciliation, GOP lawmakers take a close look at Medicare site-neutral payments
The same service provided in a doctor's office can cost Medicare more if provided in a hospital outpatient department. Lawmakers are looking to change that.
www.nationaljournal.com
January 21, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Medicare often pays different rates for the same service depending on if it was provided at a doctor’s office or a hospital. Lawmakers are looking at changing this, potentially as part of reconciliation.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727337/wit...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727337/wit...
Reposted by Erin Durkin
In a series of executive orders, Donald Trump tries to strengthen the southern border, gin up energy production, & target transgender rights. @cmaza.bsky.social, @erincdurkin.bsky.social & @philipathey.bsky.social report in this free story:
Trump Day 1: Administration targets illegal immigration, energy production, and transgender rights
The new president signed executive orders to strengthen border policies, reverse Biden energy regulations, and curtail transgender rights.
njour.nl
January 21, 2025 at 2:10 AM
In a series of executive orders, Donald Trump tries to strengthen the southern border, gin up energy production, & target transgender rights. @cmaza.bsky.social, @erincdurkin.bsky.social & @philipathey.bsky.social report in this free story:
President Trump just issued a slew of executive orders, many on immigration, energy policy, and rolling back transgender rights. My colleagues and I wrote about some of the big ones.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727321/tru...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727321/tru...
Trump Day 1: Administration targets illegal immigration, energy production, and transgender rights
The new president signed executive orders to strengthen border policies, reverse Biden energy regulations, and curtail transgender rights.
www.nationaljournal.com
January 21, 2025 at 2:01 AM
President Trump just issued a slew of executive orders, many on immigration, energy policy, and rolling back transgender rights. My colleagues and I wrote about some of the big ones.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727321/tru...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/727321/tru...
With less than three days to go in the Biden administration, CMS announced the next 15 drugs for price negotiation, which includes Ozempic, an asthma inhaler, and a drug to treat prostate cancer.
www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
HHS Announces 15 Additional Drugs Selected for Medicare Drug Price Negotiations in Continued Effort to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Seniors | CMS
Medicare has selected 15 more drugs to negotiate directly with participating drug companies. Building on the success of the first round of negotiations, the aim is to lower prices for some more of the...
www.cms.gov
January 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
With less than three days to go in the Biden administration, CMS announced the next 15 drugs for price negotiation, which includes Ozempic, an asthma inhaler, and a drug to treat prostate cancer.
www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...