CNCounty News

Capital Loop - Feb. 5, 2018

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Congress renews children’s health insurance for six years in CR

 The stopgap measure ends a nearly four-month long lapse in CHIP’s federal funding and also delays imposing the “Cadillac tax” on health care plans for two years.

 

Local official leaves FCC committee citing concerns of local inclusion

San Jose, Calif. Mayor Sam Liccardo stepped down amid concerns that the outcome of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee’s work was predetermined.

 

Alex Azar confirmed as new HHS secretary

Azar said he would focus on four critical areas: lowering prescription drug costs, making health insurance more affordable, basing Medicare payments on quality and confronting the nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic.

Most recently, Azur served as president of Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company. He also  served as HHS deputy secretary under President George H. Bush.

 

Trump administration extends public health emergency declaration on opioids

Some lawmakers and advocates had already called for an extension of the public health emergency declaration, arguing that more time and resources are needed to address the crisis.

 

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