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A week after Election Day, the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in another challenge to ObamaCare. The political timing couldn’t be better for Democrats who are using it to claim that Amy Coney Barrett has been nominated to overturn that law. President Trump is at the Supreme Court trying to “strip away the peace of mind from more than 100 million people with pre-existing conditions,” Joe Biden said last Sunday. If Republicans confirm a nominee, he warned on Wednesday “women’s rights as it relates to everything for medical health care, is going to be gone. Nancy Pelosi claimed that the President is rushing a confirmation vote “because Nov. 10 is when the arguments begin on the Affordable Care Act.” (9/27)

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has chosen to focus on health care as the principal concern raised by the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. The press has zeroed in on one of her writings, which is remarkably sympathetic to earlier challenges to ObamaCare. But the issues in those cases are unlikely to come before her. The real danger lies in her more general willingness to entertain lousy legal arguments for anti-ObamaCare results. (Andrew Koppelman, 9/27)

One of the most effective aspects of the Trump administration’s response to Covid-19 has been Operation Warp Speed, the effort to move a vaccine to market. It’s all the more puzzling, then, that the administration would interrupt this good work with a statement that it may try to weaken the long-established criteria for judging the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine. (Scott Gottlieb and Mark McClellan, 9/27)

As the president of the Iowa Medical Society — the largest statewide association for Iowa physicians — and a physician myself, I want you to know that you can trust your doctor. During this uncertain time, when we are surrounded by competing information and unreliable sources for medical advice, it can be harder than ever to know who to trust. I am here to tell you that your doctor, the one who knows you and is committed to your well-being, is that person. (Brian Privett, 9/25)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a distressing downturn has occurred — cancer screenings dramatically decreased across the country. Early detection of cancer can improve the chances of survival. By delaying screening, patients are also delaying treatment and putting their health at risk. Not surprisingly, with the disruption in routine cancer screenings, new cancer diagnoses have also decreased. Research published in an American Medical Assn. online journal showed that the average weekly number of new diagnoses of six common cancers — breast, colorectal, lung, gastric, pancreatic and esophageal —fell by more than 45% from March to mid-April compared with the previous two months. (Caryn Lerman, 9/28)

Citizens of the world are holding their collective breath while awaiting vaccines and therapies to effectively battle the Covid-19 pandemic. Among them are pregnant or lactating women who, in the United States and elsewhere, are being excluded from trials testing new vaccines or treatments. (Laura E. Riley and Brenna L. Hughes, 9/28)

In the spring, when the pandemic was just beginning, a modeling study from the Imperial College London pointed out that different outcomes would depend on the restrictiveness of control measures, either strict limits and virus “suppression,” or less restrictive measures and “mitigation.” The study, which recommended suppression efforts at the outset, was an important factor in the campaign to flatten the curve. But it also foresaw that societies would struggle to sustain restrictions for long periods of time and that, if restrictions were relaxed, the virus would “quickly rebound.” Six months later, here we are. Several European nations are facing a surge of infections following a loosening of restrictions; the United States suffered it in the summer and is still struggling. The pandemic is turning out to be a roller-coaster ride, oscillating between painful upward climbs and terrifying cliff-dives. After some notable successes early on, Britain, Spain and France are rushing to put in place new measures to combat rising rates of infection, which are the result not only of more testing but also of more contagion. (9/27)

Recently, Gov. Gary Herbert said that the Utah Leads Together plan is the best in the nation and that Utah’s mortality is the lowest. We believe Utah is attempting to control COVID-19 and we strongly support the state epidemiologist, Dr. Angela Dunn, who has performed exceptionally well. However, there are some realities about the Utah performance that need to be put into perspective. (Michael Stapley, 9/27)

We are at a place in time when everything is politicized, and the key issues that are central to protecting Michigan families remain ignored and unresolved as a result. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed to some  — and reminded others — of the staggering social and health disparities faced by Black and brown people in our community. Thankfully, we have a leader in the governor’s office who has made it her mission from the start to address these disparities and protect communities of color from COVID-19. (Mike Rafferty, 9/27)

A heartbreaking epidemic occurring in our state has taken thousands of lives. While not caused by a virus, it has been worsened by it. And considering how difficult this year has been for so many, it is more important than ever that we do something about this tragedy. I am referring to our suicide epidemic. A mental health center in Michigan published a report that predicts a real crisis as a result of the aftershocks of the coronavirus. The report by Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services predicts a potential 15% to 32% increase in statewide suicide rates. (Jim Runestad, 9/27)

The ongoing lawsuit against the state of Texas on behalf of youth in state care has brought needed attention to the continued challenges and often unacceptable conditions for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. These children deserve better. They deserve protection and healing, and they need it now. To truly learn from our failings by these children, we would go beyond “fixing it” now. A fire would be lit from underneath, and we would have urgency and fervor to create a system of care to support families and children so that removals become the rare exception, and Texas spends its money preventing abuse rather than recovering from it. (Sophie Phillips, 9/28)