Health Care — Dems separate Ukraine aid from COVID-19 funds

In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, U2’s Bono and The Edge on Sunday performed inside a Kyiv metro station-turned bomb shelter.  

On Capitol Hill, Democrats’ offer on Ukraine aid does not contain the $10 billion in COVID funding that’s been stalled for months, throwing further doubt on the future of the package.  

Welcome to Overnight Health Care, where we’re following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. For The Hill, we’re Peter Sullivan, Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Dems de-link Ukraine aid from COVID-19 money 

Democrats are moving quickly to pass nearly $40 billion in new Ukraine aid, which will not be linked to a stalled coronavirus package. 

Democrats are proposing nearly $40 billion in new assistance, above the roughly $33 billion requested by the Biden administration. The extra funding from Congress would include an additional $3.4 billion for both military and humanitarian assistance in addition to the money requested by the White House, two sources confirmed to The Hill.  

The proposal could be on the House floor as soon as Tuesday, one source told The Hill. Whether it could also pass the Senate by the end of the week depends on if all 100 senators could work out a time agreement and when the House sends over the legislation. 

The Ukraine aid will not be attached to a $10 billion coronavirus assistance package, a source confirmed. That package has been stuck for weeks in the Senate because Republicans are demanding an amendment vote to prevent the administration from lifting a Trump-era border health policy.  

Democrats had eyed linking the two and the idea had support from both Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the White House. But Republicans had vowed to block the Ukraine package if the COVID funds were attached. 

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Retailers limiting baby formula as shortage worsens

Several major retailers — including Walgreens, CVS, Target and Costco — are rationing the purchase of baby formula amid an ongoing national shortage.  

“Due to increased demand and various supplier challenges, infant and toddler formulas are seeing constraint across the country,” a Walgreens spokesperson told The Hill. 

“Similar to other retailers, we put into effect purchase limits of three per transaction on all infant and toddler formula to help improve inventory. We continue to work diligently with our supplier partners to best meet customer demands,” the Walgreens statement added. 

CVS similarly said it would limit baby formula sales to three units per purchase, both in stores and online. 

A custom analysis by Datasembly, a retail software company, found out-of-stock percentage for baby formula nationwide jumped from 31 percent to 40 percent in the past two…