Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Second Biden Executive Order On Abortion Access Expected Today
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will host the first meeting of the interagency Task Force on Reproductive Health Care Access on Wednesday, when the president is expected to take further executive action to protect abortion services. At the meeting, Biden will issue and sign a second executive order that will help allow women to receive abortions even if abortion is illegal in their state, a senior administration official said. (Richard, 8/3)
Wednesday鈥檚 order asks the department鈥檚 secretary, Xavier Becerra, to 鈥渃onsider action to advance access鈥 to abortion, including through Medicaid, for those who travel out of state, the White House said in a news release. It also calls for Mr. Becerra to 鈥渃onsider all appropriate actions鈥 to ensure health care providers comply with federal nondiscrimination laws, and promote research on maternal health. (Victor, 8/3)
However, the executive order will not result in any immediate policies being implemented.聽And, it's unclear how the Hyde Amendment聽鈥 a long-standing prohibition on using federal funds for abortion聽鈥 could聽interfere with actions as a result of聽the executive order.聽(Morin, 8/3)
In related news from Capitol Hill 鈥
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told NBC News Tuesday night she'll vote against a new bipartisan bill on federal abortion protections introduced in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. (8/3)