Barbara Lee's still fighting for PEPFAR

The ideas and innovators shaping health care

Aug 06, 2024 View in browser   By Carmen Paun, Daniel Payne, Erin Schumaker, Ruth Reader and Toni Odejimi WASHINGTON WATCH Before leaving Congress, Lee remains focused on PEPFAR. | Jenna Schoenefeld for POLITICO Global health advocates are losing an ally in Congress: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who lost her Senate bid earlier this year, is leaving after more than 25 years in Congress, where she helped set up and champion the U.S. global AIDS program known as PEPFAR. “We made a lot of progress. We saved 25 million lives. That’s remarkable,” she said about the program’s results. The global HIV community celebrated her at the International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany, in July by awarding her the inaugural Barbara Lee Political Leadership Award. Every two years, the prize, awarded by the International AIDS Society, will recognize elected officials from around the world who have demonstrated significant political leadership and commitment to the AIDS fight. Here’s what Lee, who is the top Democrat in the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, told Carmen as she looks back at her political career and works to elect the first female president in U.S. history in her last months in office: — Republicans must step up in support of PEPFAR and help reauthorize it for another five years. The program received a one-year extension this year because of some House Republicans’ concern that it was indirectly funding or promoting abortion, which government officials and PEPFAR beneficiaries and supporters have denied. Republicans need to be “authentic and committed” and acknowledge that the link between PEPFAR and abortion is a result of misinformation, she said. “Because nothing has changed. The language is the same,” she said about the program’s initiatives. — Pandemic preparedness and reproductive health are top priorities in the years ahead. “We’ve got to end the global gag rule, the Mexico City language, and make sure that U.S. dollars are allowed for accessing all reproductive health care, which includes abortion care,” she said about the longstanding U.S. law banning global health aid to be used for performing or promoting abortion. Lee is a surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and hopes the House and the Senate will have leaders who would want to strike down that rule from U.S. law. But to do that, they must all be Democrats, seen as a long shot. — She doesn’t want to talk about what comes next for her. “I’m forging ahead, between now and November. The election, I’m focused on that. Call me later and I’ll talk about what’s next.”   During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more.     WELCOME TO FUTURE PULSE This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. Health care issues will be key to this year’s presidential election, from abortion rights to lower cost of prescription drugs. Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate — and our Chelsea Cirruzzo writes today about Walz's record on health issues here. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Carmen Paun at cpaun@politico.com, Daniel Payne at dpayne@politico.com, Ruth Reader at rreader@politico.com, Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@politico.com, or Toni Odejimi at aodejimi@politico.com. Send tips securely through SecureDrop, Signal, Telegram or WhatsApp.  TECH MAZE AI could offer a path to better treatment for chronic pain patients. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Researchers are leaning on artificial intelligence to predict which patients with cancer will develop chronic pain — and ultimately offer them better treatment options earlier, according to a new study. Researchers used data from the National Institutes of Health’s “All of Us” program, which collects anonymized health data from Americans and has enrolled more than 750,000 participants, to build an AI model on data from 1,000 patients with breast cancer. That large volume of patient data, combined with AI, could allow doctors to personalize pain treatments, Lisiane Pruinelli, coauthor of the study and associate professor at the University of Florida College of Nursing, said in a statement. "This wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t have people contributing their data." The observational study, published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, found: — The AI model correctly predicted who would develop chronic pain 82 percent of the time. — Anxiety, depression, prior cancer diagnoses and certain infections were linked to developing chronic pain. Why it matters: About 35 percent of people with cancer have chronic pain, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Chronic pain is associated with worse quality of life, lower adherence to treatment and higher health care costs. What's next: The researchers say more study is needed to integrate an AI chronic pain model into the electronic health records systems that most doctor’s offices use.   SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     EXAM ROOM A mother takes her son for a check-up at a community health center. | AP PHOTO/SETH WENIG Community health centers have reported record growth in the number of patients they serve, according to HHS data released this week. Since 2020, patient volume has grown by nearly 9 percent nationwide, with health centers serving more than 31 million patients in 2023. The data not only shows an increase in patients seeking care at CHCs — which, when taking federal funding, agree to treat all patients regardless of their abilities to pay — but also might offer hints about future use. Why it matters: Community health centers often serve patients with low incomes and can be key to care access in several communities. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said they’re crucial to the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce health disparities. CHCs have been part of some lawmakers’ plans to expand access and boost preventive care nationwide — though some legislators have balked at the price tag that comes with the plans. Meanwhile, on the Hill: The new data comes as Congress considers their funding for the coming year or more. Community health centers and groups that advocate on their behalf have continued a monthslong lobbying campaign to guarantee increased funding into the future.   Follow us on Twitter Carmen Paun @carmenpaun Daniel Payne @_daniel_payne Ruth Reader @RuthReader Erin Schumaker @erinlschumaker   Follow us

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