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How to soundly open the nation’s faculties this fall has turn out to be the most recent spat in making an attempt to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have decried the rules issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as too difficult and costly and ordered a brand new set. Meanwhile, checks for the virus stay troublesome to get, notably in states experiencing spikes, and getting outcomes to sufferers is taking more and more longer, making contact tracing successfully unimaginable.
Also this week, the Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a victory, upholding a set of laws geared toward making it simpler for employers to say no to supply contraception as a part of their medical health insurance — regardless that it’s typically required beneath the Affordable Care Act.
And Oklahoma voters narrowly permitted a poll measure to broaden the Medicaid program, changing into the most recent Republican-dominated state the place voters opted for one thing that had been rejected by their elected officers.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KHN, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider.
Among the takeaways from this week’s podcast:
–Although the Supreme Court upheld — not less than for now — the adjustments made to ACA contraception protection, Congress might rescind the coverage, which could occur if Democrats acquire management of the Senate subsequent 12 months. The rule may be struck down by a decrease court docket on grounds that weren’t reached within the present lawsuit.
–Much consideration has been paid to the Trump administration’s rule on contraception protection. But on the identical time, the administration has been chipping away at different applications that present contraception to many low-income girls.
–With Trump doubling down on his assist of Republican state officers’ authorized problem to the ACA, the federal well being legislation might play a task once more within the fall election. But it can seemingly even be linked to different well being points, together with the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
–The Medicaid vote in Oklahoma comes because the pandemic has created financial havoc, and it’s not clear the place the state will get its share of the prices for the federal-state program that gives well being protection to low-income residents.
–Even after 4 months of battling COVID-19 within the U.S., persons are nonetheless ready in lengthy traces to get a check, and outcomes are gradual due to the massive demand. Some client advocates hope a brand new stimulus bundle will present extra funding, however what’s actually wanted to assist the financial system and the faculties is a fast, cheap check that may be self-administered.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN’s Sarah Varney, who reported the most recent KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” installment, about a vital well being employee with suspected COVID-19 who was despatched to the emergency room, the place she didn’t get a COVID check — however did get a big invoice. If you will have an outrageous medical invoice you want to share with us, you are able to do that here.
Plus, for additional credit score, the panelists advocate their favourite well being coverage tales of the week they suppose you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: The New York Times’ “Sweden Has Become the World’s Cautionary Tale,” by Peter S. Goodman.
Kimberly Leonard: The Atlantic’s “The Pandemic Experts Are Not Okay,” by Ed Yong.
Joanne Kenen: The New Yorker’s “The Emotional Evolution of Coronavirus Doctors and Patients,” by Dhruv Khullar.
Mary Ellen McIntire: Science News’ “How Making a COVID-19 Vaccine Confronts Thorny Ethical Issues,” by Bethany Brookshire.
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