WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Monday launched a new health office that will prod hospitals to cut carbon emissions, aiming to provide greener, more environmentally friendly medical care.

Depending on how much money is at stake, that’s likely to meet with industry resistance.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said the new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity will also work with localities to mitigate harmful effects of climate change, such as seniors succumbing to excessive summer heat because their apartments lack air conditioning. Minority communities that often bear a disproportionate impact from environmental problems will get special attention.

“It’s not just about the climate, it’s not just about our environment,” Becerra said. “It’s about our health.”

The healthcare system is estimated to account for about 10{f771d91d784324d4be731abc64bffe0d1fd8f26504ceb311bcfd8e5b001778f4} of the carbon dioxide  emitted annually in the U.S., making it a substantial source of greenhouse gases that abet climate change. President

U.S. intelligence agencies remain divided on the origins of the coronavirus but believe China’s leaders did not know about the virus before the start of the global pandemic, according to results released Friday of a review ordered by President Joe Biden.

According to an unclassified summary, four members of the U.S. intelligence community say with low confidence that the virus was initially transmitted from an animal to a human. A fifth intelligence agency believes with moderate confidence that the first human infection was linked to a lab. Analysts do not believe the virus was developed as a bioweapon and most agencies believe the virus was not genetically engineered.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement Friday that China “continues to hinder the global investigation, resist sharing information and blame other countries, including the United States.” Reaching a conclusion about what caused the virus likely requires

Priority Health will offer $0 cost share coverage for members’ third COVID-19 vaccine doses, the insurer announced. That’s despite the Biden administration saying booster shots will be available for free in the fall.

Pending federal approval, U.S. health officials plan to roll out Moderna and Pfizer vaccination boosters beginning the week of Sept. 20.

While President Joe Biden said at an Aug. 18 news briefing that the process would come at no cost, Priority Health claims it’s not confused and only aimed to clear up confusion.

“There are some instances where a provider or a pharmacist, for instance, could possibly charge an administration fee for the boosters or initial doses,” said Emily Potts, senior marketing specialist at Priority Health. “So we wanted to relay to members that all costs will be covered regardless.”

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on Aug. 13 that immunocompromised individuals will be able