But cases have begun to tick up, and hospitalizations appear to be following. But cases have begun to tick up, and hospitalizations appear to be following. I think that people fear what they don't understand," she said. Get a quick look at the most important local stories of the day with KUOW's Today So Far newsletter. 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. Our independent, nonprofit newsroom produces award-winning stories, podcasts and events. The Office of Refugee Resettlement in HHS is responsible for the temporary care of these unaccompanied children that are referred by the Department of Homeland Security. Who is going to work on Washington farms during the pandemic. Supreme Court Weighs Whether NCAA Is Illegally 'Fixing' Athlete Compensation. 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. Her appointment also makes history as the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate, and she is here for her first interview since that confirmation. 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 … But, you know, we come back to three tools in the toolbox. Access to health care refers to the ease with which an individual can obtain needed medical services. You were president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and so I'm sure you were hearing lots of complaints about the federal government. When I last spoke with Dr. Rachel Levine back in December, she was Pennsylvania's secretary of health, trying to figure out how to vaccinate an entire state. She takes on this job at an historic time - more than one year into a 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. Before her nomination, Levine most recently served as Pennsylvania's top public health officer and the president of an association of state health officials. "I like to quote that sage Yoda from Star Wars. It's a pleasure to be here. 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. 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 don't see it as a political issue at all. Esther Taylor was taken from her mom, shown in the photo she is holding, and placed in foster care for 2 1/2 years when she was 8. In her first interview since being confirmed, Levine questioned those efforts. "I really think that the decisions about health care for LGBTQ youth are really between the family, the child, the young person, their doctor, maybe their therapist," said Levine, the first openly transgender official to serve in any Senate-confirmed position, in an NPR interview. 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 there is still the pandemic, with cases on the rise across the U.S. as some states lift restrictions. LEVINE: Well, thank you very much. We will not have a show today but hope you enjoy this additional content from the Ben Shapiro YouTube channel. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. This is like a call to action. I don't think any of us have seen a 40-hour week. Dr. Rachel Levine during her confirmation hearing in February. I view this as a health equity issue," she said. LEVINE: Well, there have been a significant number of children. 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. We are grateful for your time today. LEVINE: Well, so many governors are going their own way and developing some of their own policies, particularly in regards to mitigation. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Dr. Rachel Levine is the new assistant secretary of health in the Biden administration. The Nexus Group is an innovative, integrative Pittsburgh-based psychiatric clinic. I know.". "I don't see it as a political issue at all. The recent spate of bills are "really challenging to see," says Dr. Rachel Levine, the nation's newly confirmed assistant secretary for health. Levine called the provision "one of the most significant pieces of health care legislation since the ACA," saying that the administration hopes the subsidies will draw 15 million uninsured Americans to sign up for plans. It hurts. And so what impact do you expect these new subsidies to have on the way the Affordable Care Act marketplaces work? We've been talking about health equity. The ACLU of Arkansas called the bill "cruel and discriminatory.". Ultimately, only two Republican senators voted to confirm her. Can you just give us a sense of what it's been like? LEVINE: I think you'll find that it'll be presently. You know, 'Fear is the path that leads to the dark side. So I don't see any risk in terms of politicization of this 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. 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. Fear leads to anger. LEVINE: Well, we are concerned about the increase in the number of cases as well as signs of increases in hospitalizations and deaths. Ultimately, only two Republican senators voted to confirm her. Dr. Rachel Levine: Transgender Health Care Is An Equity Issue "I think people fear what they don't understand," says Levine, assistant secretary … As I said, this is a priority of the Biden administration, of the president, of the vice president, as well as the secretary of health. Her … Do you have a sense of how long it will be until there's an orderly process in place that works? "Please wear a mask, wash your hands, stay socially distant. "There is a light at the end of this tunnel with the distribution and the administration of the vaccines. 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. The ACLU of Arkansas called the bill "cruel and discriminatory.". So I don't see any risk in terms of politicization of this issue.". She takes on this job at an historic time - more than one year into a 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. SHAPIRO: Dr. Rachel Levine is assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services. 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. 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? Thank you. The administration's first swing at a COVID-19-related relief package, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law last month, included a provision that expands eligibility for health care subsidies for plans purchased through Healthcare.gov, the insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. I think that people fear what they don't understand," she said. 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. 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. I don't think any of us have seen a 40-hour week. More than 25 million people in the United States currently do not have health insurance. Hate leads to suffering.' SHAPIRO: Well, now she is newly confirmed as assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, and … "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. Dozens of states are considering Republican-led bills that advocates say are harmful to transgender people. 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. That was a priority in Pennsylvania. Copyright 2021 NPR. 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. The second is mitigation - and at its heart, that involves wearing a mask - and then the distribution of the vaccine. Fear leads to anger. LEVINE: This is really a top priority for the Biden administration and for the secretary of Health and Human Services. And I think that you'll find that the situation will continue to improve. And as you know, I'm a former pediatrician and adolescent medicine physician, and so it's a top priority of mine as well. We're discussing substance abuse and the opioid crisis. Dozens of states are considering Republican-led bills that advocates say are harmful to transgender people. It hurts. "I really think that the decisions about health care for LGBTQ youth are really between the family, the child, the young person, their doctor, maybe their therapist," said Levine, the first openly transgender official to serve in any Senate-confirmed position, in an NPR interview. Originally published on April 1, 2021 7:24 pm. 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. Anger leads to hate. But we're not done yet. 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? 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. Hate leads to suffering.' 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. 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. 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: And in another part of the show, Dr. Levine talks with us about her historic appointment and anti-trans legislation in the States. You know, 'Fear is the path that leads to the dark side. The recent spate of bills are "really challenging to see," says Dr. Rachel Levine, the nation's newly confirmed assistant secretary for health. More than 25 million people in the United States currently do not have health insurance. And the Biden administration has opened up enrollment on healthcare.gov until August. How worried are you that we are at the beginning of another spring surge right now? ‍ Our clinic offers a comprehensive and individualized treatment approach. Levine called the provision "one of the most significant pieces of health care legislation since the ACA," saying that the administration hopes the subsidies will draw 15 million uninsured Americans to sign up for plans. "This is about fairness and equality and about specifically health equity, which is part of my portfolio. This is really one of the most significant pieces of health care legislation since the ACA. We have to stay the course, and that's why it's so necessary to take the mitigation measures very, very seriously. I know.". You know, we're talking about COVID-19, which, of course, has dominated public health over the last year. And then ORR will work to identify sponsors and places that these children can go in the United States. Homeland Security officials say their shelters are overcrowded because HHS does not have the resources to handle the number of children arriving every day. It's a priority in the federal government. Are climatologists studying the pandemic’s effect on Puget Sound? RACHEL LEVINE: This is the public health challenge of a lifetime. But there are many other public health issues that we're discussing. And when the vaccine is available to you, please get vaccinated.". I know you've only been in the job a week, but can you tell us what the biggest sticking point right now is on getting kids out of these Homeland Security holding facilities and into HHS shelters? Dr. Rachel Levine during her confirmation hearing in February. But we're not done yet. But her appointment was widely opposed by religious groups and conservatives. RACHEL LEVINE: This is the public health challenge of a lifetime. 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. She takes on this job at an historic time - more than one year into a pandemic. SHAPIRO: You say there's this ramping up process, but it is such an urgent problem that gets bigger every day. What is the state’s plan to protect incarcerated people from Covid-19? With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. But her appointment was widely opposed by religious groups and conservatives. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. The administration's first swing at a COVID-19-related relief package, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law last month, included a provision that expands eligibility for health care subsidies for plans purchased through Healthcare.gov, the insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. Some right-leaning news coverage of her appointment misgendered her in their stories. 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. KUOW is the Puget Sound region’s #1 radio station for news. 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. [Copyright 2021 NPR]. LEVINE: You know, it's been different because it's the federal government, but the issues are the same. We have to stay the course," Levine said. SHAPIRO: You say some 15 million people who don't currently have insurance can get subsidies. 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. We have to stay the course," Levine said. Some right-leaning news coverage of her appointment misgendered her in their stories. We are unique in that we take a whole-body perspective to treatment, combining conventional psychiatry and … 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. Please go to healthcare.gov and sign up. "I like to quote that sage Yoda from Star Wars. A recovering attorney, she frequently appears on TV and news radio. The Biden administration now plans to spend $100 million to advertise the subsidies. I think that we will be more successful when we're all working together. In her first interview since being confirmed, Levine questioned those efforts. The first is containment, which includes testing and contact tracing. I view this as a health equity issue," she said. And there is still the pandemic, with cases on the rise across the U.S. as some states lift restrictions. In an NPR interview Thursday, Levine questions state measures limiting transgender rights. Dr. Levine, welcome back to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. In an NPR interview Thursday, Levine questions state measures limiting transgender rights. "Please wear a mask, wash your hands, stay socially distant. "There is a light at the end of this tunnel with the distribution and the administration of the vaccines. Help guide our reporting by submitting a topic, question, or one of your stories to our team. LEVINE: No, I think that that would be our goal. And it has been a challenge, but we are putting people in place to be able to accomplish that. 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. And CDC director Rochelle Walensky is sounding more concerned that people are giving in to pandemic fatigue. And when the vaccine is available to you, please get vaccinated." LEVINE: Well, I think it's very important for collaboration to exist between the federal government response to COVID-19, the states as well as local health departments. The Biden administration now plans to spend $100 million to advertise the subsidies. Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 90 books ranging from contemporary romance to paranormal. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Dr. Rachel Levine is the new assistant secretary of health in the Biden administration. Before her nomination, Levine most recently served as Pennsylvania's top public health officer and the president of an association of state health officials. Join Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens as they offer a behind the scenes look at their careers, families, and everything in between. 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. Is that expressing a hope that 15 million new people will get covered out of the some 26 million Americans who currently lack health care insurance? 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. 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. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Dr. Rachel Levine is the new assistant secretary of health in the Biden administration. Anger leads to hate. LEVINE: Well, we expect a significant impact. 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