Texas
D.C. Diagnosis: Why is Kamala Harris headed to Texas?
You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
MAHA moment canceled — momentum still going
President Trump canceled his plan Tuesday to talk with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about chronic illnesses and their causes under the “Make America Healthy Again” banner. A spokesperson told STAT that it was due to scheduling conflicts. (Trump rallied Tuesday night in Greensboro, NC; the virtual town hall with RFK was slated for the afternoon).
But that doesn’t mean Trump’s throwing distance between himself and the MAHA world, to some former officials’ chagrin. The former president will tape an interview with Joe Rogan, host of the extremely popular “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, on Friday. Rogan this month also interviewed Calley Means, one-half of a sibling duo that has risen as public voices of the MAHA movement.
At the HLTH conference in Las Vegas, STAT’s Nicholas St. Fleur moderated a panel on longevity featuring the other half of that duo, Casey Means. She’s the founder of the metabolic health tracking company Levels. On stage, St. Fleur asked Means about her connections with Kennedy, Trump, and MAHA.
“I am so absolutely thrilled and heartened that at the presidential level — I don’t care who’s talking about it, Bobby Kennedy, Trump or Kamala — that these conversations are now making it into the mainstream,” Means said, praising in particular Kennedy’s views on regenerative agriculture, environmental toxins, PFAS, and phthalates.
After Kennedy halted his presidential campaign and moved to Trump’s team, he said that Casey and Calley Means are the type of people he would suggest putting in charge of the nation’s health agencies. When asked if she would take a Trump administration position, Casey said: “My greatest hope is…that we put chronic disease at the center of American health care policy. And if I can have a small part in that I’d be thrilled to do so.”
Harris heads to Texas. Why?
Vice President Harris will take the stage in Houston tomorrow night with Texas Senate candidate Colin Allred. It’s a state she’s projected to lose, though Allred is deadlocked with incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz. But it’s also a reminder of the stakes she wants to keep in front of voters: Abortion bans and the impact they’re having on health care.
This isn’t a last-ditch effort to turn Texas blue, but a bid at reigniting urgency in states she could actually swing, her surrogates say. (“We’re diverting out of the battlegrounds because we think it’ll help us in battlegrounds,” senior campaign adviser David Plouffe told AP).
There are already questions about how much Democrats’ reproductive rights arguments resonate with voters juggling the range of Harris’ and Trump’s political platforms. While many Americans seem to back abortion rights, they aren’t always voting for the Democrats championing them. Harris is clearly hoping to change that: Ahead of her Houston visit, she launched an ad Wednesday that tells the story of a Texas couple who lost their pregnancy at 16 weeks but were refused abortion care.
What to expect in a Harris presidency
So, what would a Harris presidency look like? DCD co-writer Rachel Cohrs Zhang delves into it with a breakdown of her platform on high drug costs, strengthening ACA, and broadening Medicaid coverage, to name a few.
In many ways, these are goals that Democrats couldn’t quite complete during President Biden’s tenure. But others — like canceling medical debt — are newer targets. Rachel expands on what Harris has said and how she might get it done here. (And expect a Trump edition soon!)
Health care issues to watch on Election Day
With less than two weeks until Election Day, it’s no surprise that Vice President Harris and former President Trump’s policy stances are dominating the headlines. But there is a lengthy list of health care proposals and down-ballot races that could heavily shape health policy in the coming years.
More than a dozen states are voting on health care ballots and pivotal races for congressional control. I wrote a rundown of key ballot measures and races that could transform state and federal health care and ignite new debates, from what happens to 340B to more legal psychedelics.
Lame duck cheat sheet
A lot of what happens on health care policy during the lame duck and the next Congress depends on election outcomes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare now by reading John Wilkerson’s cheat sheet on the health care policies to watch following the election.
Health care policies that could be in play during the lame duck include telehealth, Chinese biotech restrictions, Medicare payments for hospitals, and PBM reforms.
No matter what happens, or doesn’t happen, before newly elected officials take office in January, expect a major fight next year over expanded Affordable Care Act premium subsidies and Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, both of which expire at the end of 2025.
State Medicaid programs coming around on GLP-1s
Most state Medicaid programs don’t cover the new class of drugs for obesity — but half of those holdouts are considering it, per a new KFF report.
The potential for expanded coverage of Wegovy and Zepbound under Medicaid comes as private plans are starting to aggressively crack down on covering the medications for obesity. Medicare prohibits coverage of the drugs for that indication, Tara Bannow writes.
Currently, just 13 state Medicaid programs cover GLP-1s for obesity; most others cite the drugs’ high cost. The report notes increased spending on the class of drugs starting in 2021. Dive into the findings.
Meet the new CDRH director
It’s official: Michelle Tarver will be the new leader of the FDA’s medical devices center, STAT’s Lizzy Lawrence scooped this week.
Tarver has temporarily served in the role since veteran devices head Jeffrey Shuren announced his departure in July. The agency conducted a nationwide search for Shuren’s replacement, but Tarver quickly seemed to be the top pick, shadowing Shuren at conferences and town halls, Lizzy writes.
Tarver joined the center in 2009, eventually becoming the director of the Office of Transformation and helping to launch the agency’s patient engagement advisory committee. Read more.
Jill Biden calls on industry to support women’s health
Addressing a packed main stage hall on the last day of the HLTH conference, Jill Biden touted her husband’s track record on womens’ health — and called on industry to investigate and fund key gaps in medical knowledge about womens’ health care.
“The potential in this space is too great to ignore,” Biden said.
As of Wednesday, Joe Biden-founded health agency ARPA-H has awarded $110 million — more than it had originally pledged — to a few dozen projects, the White House announced in conjunction with HLTH.
What we’re reading
- Frustrated with Change Healthcare breach, senators propose removing limits on HIPAA fines, STAT
- “Not Medically Necessary”: Inside the company helping America’s biggest health insurers deny coverage for care, ProPublica
- Opinion: Primary care physicians should receive abortion training, STAT
- CDC told McDonald’s about potential E. coli outbreak late last week, CNBC
Texas
FULL LIST: Texas general election results for November 5, 2024
HOUSTON – Texas voters head to the polls on Nov. 5, 2024, to cast their ballots in the general election.
This election will decide key offices and seats at the national, state, and local levels, including the presidential race, U.S. Senate, congressional seats, state legislative positions, and various judicial roles.
In this election, voters will select their representatives across party lines, determining which candidates will assume office. The candidate with the majority of votes in each race will secure the position.
Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Visit the Decision 2024 page of Click2houston.com for complete election results and news.
Decision 2024 General Election
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
Texas
9 North Texas seats in the state House will have new faces after Election Day
Thanks to a wave of retirements and primary election defeats, nine North Texas seats in the state House will be filled by newcomers after the Nov. 5 election.
Four candidates are running unopposed. The other winners will be determined on Election Day.
The local races without a House incumbent are:
Katrina Pierson, Republican: Pierson is running unopposed and will be the next lawmaker for a district that includes all of Rockwall County and a portion of Collin County. Pierson defeated Rep. Justin Holland, R-Rockwall, in the May 28 primary runoff election, 56% to 44%.
A former national spokesperson for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Pierson ran as a candidate who would reform the Texas House and opposes Democrats serving as chairs of legislative committees. She supports Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield to replace Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, as House speaker.
Tony Adams, Democrat: Adams, a small-business owner in Collin County, is running on unifying and working collaboratively with Republican lawmakers. Adams opposes sending public tax dollars to private schools and wants stronger gun laws in Texas. He also opposes Texas’ near-total ban on abortion. Adams faces an uphill battle in a solidly Republican district that includes parts of McKinney and Frisco.
Keresa Richardson, Republican: Richardson, CEO of the Lawton Group, defeated Rep. Frederick Frazier, R-McKinney, in the May primary runoff 68% to 32%. Richardson challenged Frazier’s conservative credentials and received Ken Paxton’s support after Frazier voted to impeach the attorney general. Richardson said working with Democratic lawmakers gave the minority party too much influence and watered down Republican priorities. She supports creating a school voucher program and a Texas Border Unit to enforce immigration laws, and she believes the state constitution should be amended to require proof of citizenship before an individual can register to vote.
Angela Brewer, Democrat: Brewer, an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas, ran an unsuccessful campaign against Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Denton, in 2020, losing by 10 points. Brewer told KERA News that Gov. Greg Abbott’s push to allow school vouchers was one of her big motivations to run and said she is “100% committed against” school choice. Her other key legislative issue is protecting abortion access, promising to file a bill repealing the state’s abortion ban.
Andy Hopper, Republican: Hopper, an engineer and chief warrant officer for the Texas State Guard, defeated Stucky in the May primary runoff by 12 points, receiving the support of Paxton. He signed the “Contract with Texas,” a pledge to support conservative priorities, including a ban on Democratic committee chairs and term limits for House speaker. He supports school choice and believes the Legislature should make it a crime to travel out of state for an abortion.
Detrick DeBurr, Democrat: DeBurr, a software engineer and planning and zoning commissioner for The Colony, is running because he believes the district, which cuts east to west across Denton County, has seen tremendous growth and by serving as commissioner, he understands what priorities are needed. DeBurr describes himself as “very conservative, yet thoughtful and compassionate.” His legislative priorities include increasing public school funding and expanding Medicaid in Texas.
Mitch Little, Republican: Little was an impeachment lawyer for Paxton during last year’s Senate trial. He defeated Rep. Kronda Thimesch, R-Lewisville, in the March primary. His campaign priorities include election integrity, reducing property taxes, securing the U.S.-Mexico border and reforming the House, saying change is needed to advance conservative priorities.
David Lowe, Republican: Lowe is running unopposed after defeating Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, in the May 28 runoff, despite Klick having Abbott’s backing and serving as chair of the Public Health Committee. Lowe, an Army veteran, criticized Klick from the right, including her vote to impeach Paxton. Lowe was endorsed by Paxton and supports eliminating property taxes, opposes red flag gun safety laws and wants to eliminate in-state college tuition for undocumented migrants.
Carlos Walker, Democrat: Walker, director of Fort Worth ISD’s Family Action Center, lists four priority issues on his campaign website: public education, property tax relief, women’s rights and support for farmers. The Republican-leaning district includes western Tarrant County.
John McQueeney, Republican: McQueeney, the CEO of Vision Companies, lists his priorities as border security, increasing school funding, passing school choice, helping foster business growth and protecting the First Amendment. The district is currently represented by Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, who is running for Congress.
Linda Garcia, Democrat: Garcia, an entrepreneur and financial literacy educator, is running unopposed to replace Rep. Victoria Neave Criado, D-Dallas, who challenged Dallas Sen. Nathan Johnson in the Democratic primary but lost. Garcia wants to expand Medicaid, invest more in infrastructure and affordable housing, restore reproductive rights and increase funding for public schools.
Aicha Davis, Democrat: Davis is running unopposed to replace Rep. Carl Sherman, D-DeSoto, who was defeated in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Davis is a six-year member of the State Board of Education. She opposes universal school vouchers, believes teachers should get a pay raise and does not support legislative efforts to restrict access to books deemed inappropriate for children.
Cassandra Hernandez, Democrat: Hernandez is seeking to replace Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, who is running for Congress. Hernandez, an attorney, lists gun violence reform as a key issue. Her campaign website says she lost her father to gun violence. Other priorities include expanding Medicaid, cutting property taxes and addressing the fentanyl crisis.
John Jun, Republican: Jun, a Navy veteran and attorney, is a former member and mayor pro tem of the Coppell City Council. He opposes school vouchers and would increase school funding. Other legislative priorities include cutting taxes and supporting small businesses by limiting regulations.
Texas
WATCH! Gridiron Frogs Episode 19: Texas Tech Recap
On the 19th episode of the “Gridiron Frogs” JD and Nolan discuss the Horned Frog victory over the Red Raiders and if they have faith the Frogs will finish 9-3 on the season now.
Afterwards, they discuss the rest of the conference slate from the weekend and what it could mean for the rest of the season.
Watch the episode below or listen along on Spotify and Apple Podcast under the name “KillerFrogs”
Want to join the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Killer Frogs message board community today!
Follow KillerFrogs on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest TCU news! Follow KillerFrogs on Facebook and Instagram as well.
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