The Host
Julie Rovner
KFF Health News
Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly well being coverage information podcast, “What the Health?” A famous skilled on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference guide “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third version.
President-elect Donald Trump is constant to workers his incoming administration, and his picks up to now for key well being coverage positions are significantly polarizing. He stated he’ll nominate distinguished vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to move the Department of Health and Human Services and Mehmet Oz — a controversial coronary heart surgeon, former Senate candidate, and TV host — to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees protection for greater than 160 million Americans.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the lame-duck Congress has simply weeks to complete its work for the yr, together with well being priorities similar to pandemic preparedness, whereas the incoming Congress begins to put out plans for modifications to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Riley Griffin of Bloomberg News, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.
Panelists
Rachel Cohrs Zhang
Stat News
Riley Griffin
Bloomberg
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Call
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
Trump has named Kennedy as his selection for HHS secretary and Oz as head of CMS. Their appointments might create attention-grabbing tensions for Trump’s second administration. Kennedy’s campaign towards ultra-processed meals might translate into extra rules in an in any other case regulation-averse administration, and Oz’s embrace of Medicare Advantage — a program that has drawn consideration for costing greater than conventional Medicare — might run afoul of efforts to slash authorities spending.
There’s one other aspect of the Kennedy decide that might trigger hiccups for the affirmation course of: He helps abortion rights and is ready to guide an company that many within the GOP hope might play a serious function in proscribing abortion entry nationwide. Could that element show problematic for Republican senators contemplating his nomination? Time will inform.
With Trump transition officers vowing to wash home, particularly amongst public well being companies, it’s price noting the broad authority granted to the HHS secretary. Congress recurrently passes laws that leaves the main points to the companies. The query, although, is how state well being officers will interpret federal steering — as appreciable energy on issues like vaccination coverage can also be left to the states.
In the halls of Congress, congressional committees are poised for a shake-up. Many members of key well being committees, such because the Energy and Commerce Committee within the House of Representatives and the Finance Committee within the Senate, are usually not returning. That personnel drain has broader implications: Those departing lawmakers take with them plenty of well being coverage information.
Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Varney, who has been masking a trial in Idaho difficult the shortage of medical exceptions in that state’s abortion ban.
Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: ProPublica’s “How Lincare Became a Multibillion-Dollar Medicare Scofflaw,” by Peter Elkind.
Sandhya Raman: ProPublica’s “How UnitedHealth’s Playbook for Limiting Mental Health Coverage Puts Countless Americans’ Treatment at Risk,” by Annie Waldman.
Riley Griffin: The New York Times’ “A.I. Chatbots Defeated Doctors at Diagnosing Illness,” by Gina Kolata.
Rachel Cohrs Zhang: CNBC’s “Dental Supply Stock Surges on RFK’s Anti-Fluoride Stance, Activist Involvement,” by Alex Harring.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credits
Lonnie Ro
Audio producer
Taylor Cook
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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