The Host
When it involves well being care, this 12 months’s presidential marketing campaign is more and more a matter of which candidate voters select to consider. Democrats, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, say Republicans wish to additional limit reproductive rights and repeal the Affordable Care Act, pointing to their earlier actions and claims. Meanwhile, Republicans, led by former President Donald Trump, insist they don’t have any such plans.
Meanwhile, with open enrollment approaching for Medicare, the Biden administration dodges a political bullet, avoiding a pointy spike subsequent 12 months in Medicare prescription drug plan premiums.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News.
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
This week, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio muddled his ticket’s stances on well being coverage through the vice presidential debate, together with by downplaying the potential for a nationwide abortion ban. And Melania Trump, the previous president’s spouse, spoke out in help of abortion rights. Their feedback appear designed to appease voter issues that former President Donald Trump might take actions to additional block abortion entry.
Vance raised eyebrows together with his debate-night declare that Trump “salvaged” the Affordable Care Act — when, in actual fact, the previous president vowed to repeal the legislation and championed the GOP’s efforts to ship on that promise. Meanwhile, Trump deflected questions from AARP about his plans for Medicare, replying, “What we have to do is make our country successful again.”
On the Democratic aspect, Vice President Kamala Harris is campaigning on well being, specifically by pushing out new advertisements highlighting the advantages of the ACA and Trump’s efforts to limit abortion. Polls present well being is a successful concern for Democrats and that the ACA is in style, particularly its protections for these with preexisting situations.
Also within the information, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported a slight dip in common Medicare drug plan premiums for subsequent 12 months. Coming in an annual report — out shortly earlier than Election Day — it appears to be like as if authorities subsidies cushioned modifications to the system, sparing seniors from probably paying in premiums what they could save underneath the brand new $2,000 annual out-of-pocket drug value cap, for example.
And in abortion information, a choose struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban — however many suppliers have already left the state. And a brand new California legislation protects protection for in vitro fertilization, together with for LGBTQ+ {couples}.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Lauren Sausser, who reported and wrote the most recent KFF Health News-Washington Post “Bill of the Month,” a few teen athlete whose wanted surgical procedure lacked a billing code. Do you’ve a complicated or outrageous medical invoice you wish to share? Tell us about it.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume you need to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Health News’ “Doctors Urging Conference Boycotts Over Abortion Bans Face Uphill Battle,” by Ronnie Cohen.
Anna Edney: Bloomberg News’ “A Free Drug Experiment Bypasses the US Health System’s Secret Fees,” by John Tozzi.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Wall Street Journal’s “Hospitals Hit With IV Fluid Shortage After Hurricane Helene,” by Joseph Walker and Peter Loftus.
Sandhya Raman: The Asheville Citizen Times’ “Without Water After Helene, Residents at Asheville Public Housing Complex Fear for Their Health,” by Jacob Biba.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
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