HHS

Shortly after birth, babies are pricked in the heel so their blood can be tested for life-threatening conditions. States generally save leftover blood from those samples, and parents and privacy experts are concerned that information could be used without consent years later.

Those who know Wakefield say her high standards and problem-solving skills make her a good fit for the job of helping “reset” the agency after its failures handling the COVID pandemic.

The accelerated release was only possible because officials are stretching the nation’s limited supply by administering one-fifth the usual dose, injected just under the skin.

It shows that 80% of the hospitals surveyed in Florida are not following the law.

Prior to last year, the uninsured rate had consistently remained in the double digits for decades.

Currently, even states with the most stringent bans on abortion allow exceptions when the health of a mother is at risk, though the threat of prosecution has created confusion for some doctors.

HHS Xavier Becerra said the 2022 premium should be adjusted downward, but legal and operational hurdles prevented officials from doing that in the middle of the year.

Insurers say prior authorization requirements are intended to reduce wasteful and inappropriate health care spending. But they can baffle patients waiting for approval. And doctors say that insurers have yet to follow through on commitments to improve the process.

At least 7 million immunocompromised people could benefit from the monoclonal antibody injections designed to prevent COVID. The government says it has enough doses for a fraction of those in need ― and it doesn’t have the money to buy more.

States and health providers report they've dispensed less than half their supply from the government, raising fears that the drugs may go to waste while people who could benefit get sicker.