TELEHEALTH LOBBYISTS STEER CLEAR OF ABORTION — Lobbyists pushing lawmakers to extend pandemic-related rules that have been a boon to the telehealth sector are staying out of abortion politics, POLITICO's Megan Wilson reports. The telehealth rules that eased as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic are widely popular and, if extended, wouldn't likely involve abortion care, as a vast majority of the rules apply to the Medicare program. But after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, advocates of an extension fear that the divisive issue could find a way into their negotiations to extend the relaxed rules tied to the public health emergency, which could end as early as October. Although abortion services represent a small percentage of overall telehealth services, consultants and lobbyists are concerned that digital providers could be pulled into legal battles as patients in states where the procedure is now illegal seek other ways to access it. POLITICO spoke with nine consultants and lobbyists who advocate on behalf of clients or businesses that care about telehealth policy — including employers, insurers, providers, health systems and telehealth companies — who said that abortion politics could threaten policy wins. One Republican health care lobbyist said that lawmakers leading the effort to extend telehealth flexibilities don't want to be pulled into the abortion debate either, preferring to focus instead on the larger benefits of a widened telehealth policy. While some conservative and progressive policymakers may want to use telehealth provisions to address abortion federally, the lobbyist said, "the folks that are in the room negotiating the telehealth compromise are not going to be interested in introducing this issue into the conversation." FDA EYES VIN GUPTA AS NEW ADVISER —The Food and Drug Administration is planning to hire a new senior adviser to shore up the agency's public messaging amid various crises, and sources say NBC pundit Vin Gupta is at the top of the list, POLITICO's Adam Cancryn reports. The gig: If selected, Gupta would manage a broad portfolio ranging from the FDA's Covid-19 response to its aggressive crackdown on vaping and nicotine. He's also expected to take a lead in guiding the FDA's communications strategy, trying to bolster trust in the agency's health recommendations. The agency has stumbled repeatedly in its messaging on abortion access, the baby formula shortage and Covid-19 vaccines, heightening the belief within the Biden administration that FDA Commissioner Robert Califf needs more high-level support, sources said. Why Gupta? Gupta is currently the chief medical officer for new products at Amazon. He raised his national profile over the last two years as a medical analyst and frequent NBC and MSNBC guest commentator on the pandemic and was part of a group of health experts advising President Joe Biden's presidential campaign and transition on the pandemic response. GLOBAL COVID EQUITY PROGRAM SET TO WIND DOWN — The World Health Organization program for fast-tracking and distributing Covid-19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics is likely to close in its current form in the fall, POLITICO's Erin Banco and Ashleigh Furlong report. Known as the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, the program is a collaboration among the WHO, governments and global health organizations to ensure equitable access to Covid tools. Its best-known initiative is the COVAX vaccine facility, which has tried to ensure shots are distributed to countries that can't afford them. As Covid cases have declined, however, ACT-A has struggled to secure funding: Only Germany, Norway, Sweden and Canada promised the requested financing this year. In a series of recent calls, representatives of the consortium have discussed the likelihood that the current ACT-A will fold or transition in September, according to two people familiar with the matter.
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