What We're Reading: House Passes CHIP Funding; Cancer Blood Test; Drug Policy Office Budget

House Passes CHIP Funding as Part of Spending Bill

By a vote of 230 to 197, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill that would a government shutdown. According to The New York Times, the bill provides funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for 6 years. However, Senate Republicans are unlikely to sway enough Democratic votes. Democrats want more concessions as part of the spending bill, including a stronger government response to the opioid epidemic and protection for young immigrants brought to the country illegally when they were children.

Blood Test Could Detect 8 Cancers

A blood test in development might be able to detect 8 common cancers in the earliest stages, when those cancers are treatable. Researchers hope that the experimental test—which focuses on breast, colon, esophagus, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreas, and stomach cancers—will only cost $500, reported NPR. The researchers reported that, while the test was only successful 40% of the time in patients with stage 1 cancers, the finding still represents an important milestone in detecting cancers.

Trump Plans to Slash Drug Policy Office Budget

The budget of the Office of National Drug Control Policy could be cut by as much as 95%, according to plans from President Donald Trump. The office is responsible for coordinating the government’s response to the opioid crisis, according to Politico. The reduction in funding would mean moving the office’s 2 main grant programs to HHS and the Justice Department. The administration tried to eliminate those grant programs earlier, but received pushback from both parties.