'Reproductive freedom' is top health story at DNC

The lead story on health care at the Democratic National Convention this week, now that we are three days in, is unquestionably abortion, which Democrats are calling "reproductive freedom." That theme continued Wednesday night as the convention kicked off with comments from multiple women who lead reproductive rights groups.

The speakers included Mini Timmaraju, the president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All; Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood; former Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards; and Jessica Mackler, president of EMILYs List.

The advocates told stories of women who had difficulty obtaining abortions they wanted. Mackler warned that anti-abortion policies in Project 2025, like abortion bans and limits on mail order abortion pills, could be imposed if former President Trump is elected, even though he has disavowed those policies. And several argued that voters are on Democrats' side on reproductive rights.

"In 2022, Democrats didn't just run on reproductive freedom, we won on reproductive freedom. And in 2024, we are coming back to the polls to finish the job," Mackler said.

Abortion and reproductive rights also got shout-outs in the roll call Tuesday when Kate Cox, a Texas woman who had struggled to get an abortion, announced a new pregnancy during the ceremonial roll call vote, and in a speech Wednesday by television host Oprah Winfrey.

"If you cannot control when and how you choose to bring your children into this world and how they are raised and supported, there is no American dream," Winfrey said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who took the stage on Wednesday as the vice presidential nominee, talked about both reproductive rights and health care affordability in his keynote speech. He used careful language around how he and his wife conceived their child, using the more general term "fertility treatments" after receiving criticism for claiming to have used IVF when they used a different treatment instead. He claimed that Vice President Harris would "take on Big Pharma."

He touted his record in Minnesota on lowering drug costs and addressing "the kind of medical debt that nearly sank my family," he said.

Walz echoed earlier warnings in the night that Trump would repeal the Affordable Care Act, ban abortion, and gut Medicare and Social Security, though Trump has said he will not ban abortion or cut Medicare or Social Security. Trump's statements on the Affordable Care Act have been more mixed.

business

Federal judge tosses noncompete ban

The Federal Trade Commission's plan to ban most noncompete agreements is on pause after a federal judge in Texas ruled the FTC didn't have the authority to create it. The ban was scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 4.

The ruling conflicts with another ruling from a federal court in Pennsylvania, STAT's Bob Herman reports. That makes it more likely that appellate courts, or even the Supreme Court, could weigh in.

Noncompetes are common in health care, and nearly half of physicians sign contracts with noncompete agreements, but the ban would not have applied to nonprofit hospitals. More from Bob.

states

California private equity bill to watch

The California legislature is considering a bill that would increase the state attorney general's oversight of private equity and hedge funds' attempts to acquire health care companies, allowing the state to block deals.

And there appears to be some behind-the-scenes maneuvering going on, as well, Politico's Rachel Bluth noted this week, as an amendment exempted dermatology practices from the legislation. Nobody's taking credit for the win — yet.

Capstone DC noted in an analysis that a similar law in Oregon hasn't led any transactions to actually get blocked yet. The legislature has until the end of the month to pass bills.

pharmaceuticals

Industry responds to China clinical trial concerns

Drugmakers don't seem too worried about concerns that they are testing products at sites controlled by the Chinese military and in a region where the Chinese Communist Party is accused of genocide against an ethnic minority.

Without mentioning the Chinese military or its Communist Party, a PhRMA spokesperson said its members abide by ethical and regulatory standards, including informed consent, and they prioritize data protection and patient confidentiality.

"We're committed to working constructively with Congress to help protect national and economic interests and make sure patients are not unintentionally impacted with disruptions to medicine R&D," PhRMA Deputy Vice President of Public Affairs Megan Van Etten said.

A BIO spokesperson provided a similar statement: "We will continue to work with the select committee to safeguard intellectual property and patient data, protect our national security and make sure patients can get the life-saving medicines they need."

congress

Private equity critic Pascrell dies

Longtime Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), who was an avid critic of private equity's impact on health care, died Wednesday, his office announced. He served as the chair of the Ways and Means Committee's subcommittee on oversight.

He criticized the impact of private equity's investments in nursing homes and hospitals, and called hearings on the growing role of private equity investment in health. He also called for an investigation into hospital giant HCA's billing practices.

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