We're discussing substance abuse and the opioid crisis. Asked whether her comments risked drawing accusations of politicizing the department's work, Levine said no, casting her involvement as appropriate given her new stead as a top public health official. Our independent, nonprofit newsroom produces award-winning stories, podcasts and events. SHAPIRO: I'd also like to ask you about the situation at the border and the flood of unaccompanied minors because your department, HHS, has announced a string of new facilities for minors, including convention centers and military bases. And I think that federal, state and local health departments are all on the same page in terms of using the tools at our disposal. And CDC director Rochelle Walensky is sounding more concerned that people are giving in to pandemic fatigue. In a statement after her confirmation, Levine spoke directly to young transgender people, saying, "Sadly, some of the challenges you face are from people who would seek to use your identity and circumstances as a weapon. You know, we are getting closer and closer, but we're not done yet. You know, 'Fear is the path that leads to the dark side. You know, President Biden ran on the promise to bring down health care costs for families, and with the American Rescue Plan, he has delivered on that promise. This is like a call to action. SHAPIRO: And in another part of the show, Dr. Levine talks with us about her historic appointment and anti-trans legislation in the States. "This is about fairness and equality and about specifically health equity, which is part of my portfolio. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary health at the HHS, about her trailblazing role as the first openly trans federal official confirmed by senate. Fear leads to anger. The first is containment, which includes testing and contact tracing. And when the vaccine is available to you, please get vaccinated.". Levine joins the Biden administration's Department of Health and Human Services at a moment the agency confronts a slew of challenges: an unabating opioid crisis, considerably more unaccompanied minors crossing the border than previous years, and a rising number of uninsured Americans. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. "I think people fear what they don't understand," says Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health and the first openly transgender person to serve in a Senate-confirmed position. SHAPIRO: Let me shift and ask you about the Affordable Care Act because as we speak today, new health care subsidies are taking effect for plans on healthcare.gov and the other insurance marketplaces created by that law. The ACLU of Arkansas called the bill "cruel and discriminatory.". I know.". The Biden administration now plans to spend $100 million to advertise the subsidies. Because of the American Rescue Plan, really, nearly 15 million Americans who currently lack health insurance and many current enrollees can receive additional financial support to find the coverage that meets their needs at a price that they can afford. This is the first time Democrats have controlled the federal government after a decade of Republicans in Congress and then in the White House doing everything they could to gut the law. Are climatologists studying the pandemic’s effect on Puget Sound? It's a priority in the federal government. We are unique in that we take a whole-body perspective to treatment, combining conventional psychiatry and … "I like to quote that sage Yoda from Star Wars. The Biden administration's effort to scale up the nation's vaccination program has been a success: Nearly 30% of the nation has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and confidence in the vaccines among the American public has risen significantly in the last few months. Dozens of states are considering Republican-led bills that advocates say are harmful to transgender people. ‍ Our clinic offers a comprehensive and individualized treatment approach. In an NPR interview Thursday, Levine questions state measures limiting transgender rights. Dr. Levine, welcome back to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. SHAPIRO: Well, now she is newly confirmed as assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, and part of her job is to figure out how to vaccinate the entire country. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Dr. Rachel Levine is the new assistant secretary of health in the Biden administration. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. A measure passed Monday in Arkansas is now awaiting the governor's signature and would ban transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming medical care like hormone blockers and would allow insurance companies to refuse such care for people of all ages. But her appointment was widely opposed by religious groups and conservatives. Fear leads to anger. RAND research has examined the social, cultural, economic, and geographic factors that influence health care access worldwide; the effects of changes in access; and the relationship between access and health for specific U.S. populations--including racial and ethnic minorities, people … And so we are making sure that we have the staffing available, and we're making sure that we have, as you said, a new facility and the beds available to take care of these children. SHAPIRO: Let's begin by talking about the pandemic. But cases have begun to tick up, and hospitalizations appear to be following. "Please wear a mask, wash your hands, stay socially distant. Dr. Rachel Levine during her confirmation hearing in February. Governors in Tennessee, Arkansas and South Dakota have recently signed legislation or executive orders aimed at banning transgender women and girls from participating in women's sports. We are grateful for your time today. And it has been a challenge, but we are putting people in place to be able to accomplish that. During her confirmation hearing in February, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky criticized Levine's support of hormone blockers for minors and compared gender-affirming surgery to genital mutilation and amputation. We have to stay the course, and that's why it's so necessary to take the mitigation measures very, very seriously. We have to stay the course," Levine said. Dr. Rachel Levine during her confirmation hearing in February. I know.". LEVINE: Well, we are concerned about the increase in the number of cases as well as signs of increases in hospitalizations and deaths. SHAPIRO: Well, now she is newly confirmed as assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, and … LEVINE: You know, it's been different because it's the federal government, but the issues are the same. And so what impact do you expect these new subsidies to have on the way the Affordable Care Act marketplaces work? "There is a light at the end of this tunnel with the distribution and the administration of the vaccines. Governors in Tennessee, Arkansas and South Dakota have recently signed legislation or executive orders aimed at banning transgender women and girls from participating in women's sports. Though more Americans than ever oppose discrimination against transgender people, Levine is taking office at a time when trans rights have once again become a controversial political issue. Levine joins the Biden administration's Department of Health and Human Services at a moment the agency confronts a slew of challenges: an unabating opioid crisis, considerably more unaccompanied minors crossing the border than previous years, and a rising number of uninsured Americans. SHAPIRO: You say there's this ramping up process, but it is such an urgent problem that gets bigger every day. Get a quick look at the most important local stories of the day with KUOW's Today So Far newsletter. The Biden administration's effort to scale up the nation's vaccination program has been a success: Nearly 30% of the nation has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and confidence in the vaccines among the American public has risen significantly in the last few months. It hurts. The recent spate of bills are "really challenging to see," says Dr. Rachel Levine, the nation's newly confirmed assistant secretary for health. RACHEL LEVINE: This is the public health challenge of a lifetime. And so I think that many of the issues are the same, and I feel very well-prepared for this job and excited to get going. "There is a light at the end of this tunnel with the distribution and the administration of the vaccines. The ACLU of Arkansas called the bill "cruel and discriminatory.". I think that people fear what they don't understand," she said. SHAPIRO: What does that mean in practical terms, particularly when so many states are going their own way and taking very different approaches to the pandemic? She takes on this job at an historic time - more than one year into a pandemic. In her first interview since being confirmed, Levine questioned those efforts. SHAPIRO: Cases and hospitalizations are starting to trend upward in many states, as you know. In an NPR interview Thursday, Levine questions state measures limiting transgender rights. SHAPIRO: Dr. Rachel Levine is assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services. "This is about fairness and equality and about specifically health equity, which is part of my portfolio. So I don't see any risk in terms of politicization of this issue.". And so we are having an ad campaign to make sure Americans know starting today that they can sign up for coverage until August 15. Ultimately, only two Republican senators voted to confirm her. And when the vaccine is available to you, please get vaccinated." What is the state’s plan to protect incarcerated people from Covid-19? We have to stay the course," Levine said. Now that you are in a senior position in the federal government, what lessons from the work that you were doing in Pennsylvania are you applying to this new job? A measure passed Monday in Arkansas is now awaiting the governor's signature and would ban transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming medical care like hormone blockers and would allow insurance companies to refuse such care for people of all ages. "I like to quote that sage Yoda from Star Wars. Rachel Alexander is a conservative commentator and editor of the Intellectual Conservative. With a national focus on aged care in recent months, the aim is to show people that there are many rewarding roles in aged care and inspire them to take up careers in the sector. SHAPIRO: You have jumped on this moving train in the middle of a pandemic, and I know you've only been in the job for a week. You know, 'Fear is the path that leads to the dark side. It's a pleasure to be here. Do you have a sense of how long it will be until there's an orderly process in place that works? We will not have a show today but hope you enjoy this additional content from the Ben Shapiro YouTube channel. Please go to healthcare.gov and sign up. With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. But we're not done yet. I view this as a health equity issue," she said. I think that we will be more successful when we're all working together. Some right-leaning news coverage of her appointment misgendered her in their stories. Hate leads to suffering.' Who is going to work on Washington farms during the pandemic. As the first openly transgender person to serve in such a high-ranking role — and for that role to be one of the nation's foremost public health posts — Levine said part of her responsibility is to educate Americans through her public appearances. A recovering attorney, she frequently appears on TV and news radio. LEVINE: Well, we expect a significant impact. Dozens of states are considering Republican-led bills that advocates say are harmful to transgender people. SHAPIRO: You say some 15 million people who don't currently have insurance can get subsidies. Hate leads to suffering.' Access to health care refers to the ease with which an individual can obtain needed medical services. 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