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Walensky to Leave CDC in June as Covid Emergency Winds Down

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by Julie Rovner, KFF Health News
Fri, 05 May 2023 20:05:00 +0000

Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is stepping down at the end of June after 2½ tumultuous years leading the nation’s primary public health agency — and much of the Biden administration’s effort to combat the covid-19 pandemic.

“I took on this role, at your request, with the goal of leaving behind the dark days of the pandemic and moving CDC — and public health — forward into a much better and more trusted place,” she wrote in her resignation letter to President Joe Biden, which was released Friday.

In a statement from the White House, Biden said Walensky “led a complex organization on the frontlines of a once-in-a-generation pandemic with honesty and integrity.”

Her departure is another mark of the federal government’s official winding down of the covid pandemic response. The nation’s declared public health emergency expires May 11, and on Friday the World Health Organization downgraded the virus from a “global emergency” to a “global health threat.”

White House officials widely expect covid czar Ashish Jha to leave Washington and return to his job in Rhode Island as dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

Walensky was seen from the start of her tenure as a curious choice to lead the influential agency. An infectious disease specialist who practiced in Boston and taught at Harvard Medical School, she came with little direct experience in public health and none leading a large and labyrinthine organization.

She took over the CDC, which is headquartered in Atlanta, at one of the most difficult times in the agency’s history. Once among the most trusted agencies in the federal government, the CDC fell on particularly hard times during the Trump administration, when officials intervened in the agency’s pandemic response and prompted accusations that the CDC was putting politics ahead of public health.

The perception inside the agency that its science-based recommendations were being ignored or altered contributed to a staff exodus, particularly from the agency’s senior tier. The departures further undercut Walensky’s ability to turn around the agency’s reputation, as well as to reassure a skeptical public that its recommendations were based on what was best for public health, not politics.

Biden has not yet announced a replacement for Walensky. The head of the CDC is one of the few top jobs in the Department of Health and Human Services that does not require Senate confirmation. That is scheduled to change, but not until 2025. So, Biden’s next choice could take the helm immediately.

By: Julie Rovner, KFF Health News
Title: Walensky to Leave CDC in June as Covid Emergency Winds Down
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/article/rochelle-walensky-leaving-cdc-covid-19-public-health-emergency-expiring/
Published Date: Fri, 05 May 2023 20:05:00 +0000

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Kaiser Health News

Florida’s Deloitte-Run Computer System Cut Off New Moms Entitled to Medicaid

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kffhealthnews.org – Daniel Chang and Samantha Liss – 2024-11-26 04:00:00

SUMMARY: In May, Mandi Rokx, a Florida mother, received a notice that she and her baby would be cut from Medicaid despite being eligible. Florida’s 2021 law promised 12 months of continuous coverage post-birth, but a computer glitch in the state’s eligibility system, run by Deloitte, led to wrongful cuts. This error, along with others during Florida’s Medicaid review process, has affected many new mothers. A class-action lawsuit highlights how these errors led to loss of coverage for eligible individuals. While Rokx regained coverage after legal intervention, the broader issues persist, impacting thousands across multiple states.

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Indiana Hospitals Pull Merger Application After Pushback Over Monopoly Concerns

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kffhealthnews.org – Samantha Liss – 2024-11-26 04:00:00

SUMMARY: Two rival hospitals in Terre Haute, Indiana, withdrew their merger application just before a state ruling amidst public backlash against hospital monopolies. The proposed merger of Union Health and Terre Haute Regional Hospital, the only acute care providers in the area, would have created a single hospital operator for 58,000 residents. Although federal laws block monopolies, the hospitals sought approval under a state “Certificate of Public Advantage” (COPA) law. Concerns raised included reduced access, higher prices, and fewer choices. Union Health intends to resubmit a revised application by a July 2026 deadline after addressing regulators’ feedback.

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Kaiser Health News

Immigration Detention Center Contractor Sues Over California Health Inspections

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kffhealthnews.org – Vanessa G. Sánchez – 2024-11-26 04:00:00

SUMMARY: GEO Group, a major private prison contractor, has filed a federal lawsuit against California officials, aiming to overturn a state law that permits local public health officials to inspect immigration detention facilities. The company claims the law, enacted by Governor Newsom, infringes on federal authority and argues for intergovernmental immunity as a contractor. Critics highlight ongoing health issues in detention centers, asserting that GEO’s legal maneuvers could compromise detainee welfare. The law allows inspections for compliance with health standards, addressing past concerns over unsanitary conditions. The litigation will undergo a first hearing in February 2024.

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