| Welcome to Wednesday's Overnight Health Care. Today, House Energy and Commerce Democrats are complaining that Republicans are moving too quickly to approve opioid legislation and Washington is grappling with a federal judge's ruling that the administration illegally ended grants to Planned Parenthood. But first some good news... Alex Azar update: HHS Secretary Azar is back in D.C. after experiencing health issues while visiting Indiana two weekends ago. He had been in and out of the hospital there to treat an intestinal condition, but is back in the capital working a "modified schedule to ensure a full recovery," an HHS spokesperson said. Azar has had to postpone events because of his illness, and he will not have any public events the rest of the week, the spokesperson said. The Overnight Health Care team wishes him a speedy recovery. Opioid update: The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee is voting on a slew of bills, over 60, aimed at combating the crisis. The hearing began with some fireworks. Top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee voiced concerns over the speed at which the Republican chairman is aiming to put opioid legislation on the House floor (by Memorial Day weekend). -- Ranking member, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.): "This complex public health crisis facing our nation requires thoughtful, measured solutions. While I support a bipartisan process to address this crisis, I am troubled by the unprecedented number of bills, 63 in total, and the chairman's extremely hasty time frame to pass opioid legislation." -- Health subcommittee ranking member, Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas): "I'm concerned we're putting quantity over quality," Green said, noting the committee is considering some bills that are still in discussion draft form during the markup. "The fact is many of these discussion drafts have not been fully vetted by the staffs, stakeholders, nor received technical assistance from the appropriate agencies," he said. Top Republicans pushed back. --Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-Texas): Burgess said some of the bills were intentionally left in discussion draft form, "signaling our intent to continue working with members and stakeholders, and get the technical details right so that our agencies can implement these promising solutions in a timely manner." -- Full Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.): Walden called the bills "really thoughtful, well-considered pieces of legislation" and noted the committee has held legislative hearings on the measures, as well as roundtables and a Member Day hearing on the opioid epidemic. "I think it's the height of irresponsibility to drag and delay, and that's why we are moving forward," Walden said. Read more here. New allegations against VA nominee Ronny Jackson: Democrats on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee released a document with startling allegations about Jackson on Wednesday afternoon, with his nomination looking increasingly in trouble. From the report: Jackson allegedly had "reckless" prescribing practices and once gave out a large supply of the opioid painkiller Percocet to a White House military staff member. The White House medical staff was "thrown into a panic" when it could not account for a missing supply of the drug. It later discovered Jackson had supplied a large amount to a staffer and had private stocks of controlled substances, according to the report of allegations compiled by staff for Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Read more here. Those allegations, coming as lawmakers are working to address the opioid epidemic, are only raising the heat on Jackson. For his part, the nominee is denying some of the accusations, including that he once drunkenly wrecked a car. Jackson said his nomination is "moving ahead." The White House is also defending Jackson as "impeccable." | 
