Overnight Healthcare: DOJ to review Planned Parenthood videos

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday her department is going to review all information surrounding the controversial videos of Planned Parenthood officials taken by an anti-abortion group.

“I’m aware of those matters generally from the media, and from some inquiries that have been made to the Department of Justice, and again at this point we’re going to review all the information and determine what steps, if any, to take at the appropriate time,” Lynch said when asked about the videos at a press conference.

{mosads}Republican members of Congress have been calling on the DOJ to investigate whether Planned Parenthood is in violation of the law after the first video, showing members of the group discussing fetal tissue, surfaced.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and ten other Republican senators sent a letter to the DOJ on Wednesday requesting an investigation. They say that Planned Parenthood could have violated laws that ban profiting off the sale of fetal organs. 

Planned Parenthood says it follows the law and strongly denies those claims. 

The letter also states that the group could have violated a law that bans altering the abortion procedure in order to obtain fetal tissue. Read more here. 

BILLS SURFACE TO BLOCK PLANNED PARENTHOOD FUNDING: Two Republicans in the House and Senate are jointly pushing bills that would block federal funding from Planned Parenthood for one year, pending a full federal investigation of the group.

Sen. James Lankford (Okla.) and Rep. Diane Black (Tenn.) both introduced bills Wednesday to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood — legislation that Black said has received a “favorable response” from GOP leaders.

Black, a leader of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, is calling for a vote “as soon as possible” in light of the two videos from the Center for Medical Progress. Read more here.

49 SENATORS BACK PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROBE: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) joined 48 Republican colleagues on a letter Wednesday to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell that called on her department to “fully cooperate” with the investigations.  

The senators also want the department to launch an internal review of itself and Planned Parenthood in regard to “all relevant and applicable federal statutes, regulations, and other requirements.”

Manchin is the only Democrat on the letter. Read more here.

MEDICARE MAY RUN DRY BY 2030: Medicare is inching slowly toward insolvency, according to a yearly report on entitlement programs released Wednesday.

The Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is expected to be able to cover its obligations through 2030. That’s 13 years later than what was projected before Congress passed ObamaCare.

Nearly 54 million were covered under Medicare, as of last year. Read more here.

Thursday’s schedule: 

The Senate HELP Committee holds a hearing on electronic medical records.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) will hold a briefing ahead of negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership, which includes pharmaceutical company protections.

State by state 

Maryland to recoup $45M it paid to build failed health exchange  

Gov. Rick Scott’s healthcare commission to meet in Miami, examine hospital profits 

Many hurdles remain in Utah despite broad deal on Medicaid expansion 

What we’re reading

Government report cites shortfalls in Medicare’s screening process for doctors 

Medicare to try a blend of hospice care and treatment 

What you might have missed from The Hill

Fears on left grow for Planned Parenthood 

Please send tips and comments to Sarah Ferris, sferris@digital-staging.thehill.com, and Peter Sullivan, psullivan@digital-staging.thehill.com. Follow on Twitter: @thehill, @sarahnferris, @PeterSullivan4