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 writer of the critically praised reference e-book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third version.
Congress has principally stood by because the Trump administration — spurred by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, named and created by President Donald Trump — takes a chainsaw to a broad array of presidency applications. But now the courts are stepping in to gradual or cease some efforts that critics declare are unlawful, unconstitutional, or each.
Funding freezes and contract cancellations are already having a chilling impact on well being applications, akin to biomedical analysis grants for the National Institutes of Health, humanitarian and well being assist offered abroad by the U.S. Agency for International Development, and federal funding owed to group well being facilities and different home businesses.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Shefali Luthra of The nineteenth, and Maya Goldman of Axios.
Panelists
Jessie Hellmann
CQ Roll Call
Shefali Luthra
The nineteenth
Maya Goldman
Axios
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
Universities are reconsidering hiring and different forward-looking actions after the Trump administration imposed an abrupt, quick cap on oblique prices, which assist cowl overhead and associated bills that aren’t included in federal analysis grants. A slowdown at analysis establishments might undermine the prospects for innovation usually — and the nation’s economic system particularly, because the United States depends fairly a bit on these jobs and the developments they produce.
The Trump administration’s resolution to use the cap on oblique prices to not solely future but in addition present federal grants particularly violates the phrases of spending laws handed by Congress. Meanwhile, the well being impacts of the sudden shuttering of USAID have gotten clear, together with issues about how unprepared the nation could possibly be for a well being menace that emerges overseas.
Congress nonetheless hasn’t authorised a full funding bundle for this 12 months, and Republicans don’t appear to be in a rush to do greater than prolong the present extension — and cross a finances decision to fund Trump’s priorities and defund his chosen targets.
The House GOP finances decision bundle launched this week features a name for $880 billion in spending cuts that’s anticipated to hit Medicaid arduous. House Republican leaders say they’re weighing imposing work necessities, however solely a small proportion of Medicaid beneficiaries can be topic to that change, as most can be exempt because of incapacity or different causes — or are already working. Cuts to Medicaid might have cascading penalties, together with for the nationwide drawback of maternal mortality.
Also this week, Rovner interviews Mark McClellan — director of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy who led the FDA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services throughout the George W. Bush administration — concerning the affect of slicing funding to analysis universities. And Rovner reads the winner of the annual KFF Health News’ “health policy valentines” contest.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: Axios’ “Nonprofit Hospital Draws Backlash for Super Bowl Ad,” by Maya Goldman.
Shefali Luthra: Politico’s “‘Americans Can and Will Die From This’: USAID Worker Details Dangers, Chaos,” by Jonathan Martin.
Maya Goldman: KFF Health News’ “Doctor Wanted: Small Town in Florida Offers Big Perks To Attract a Physician,” by Daniel Chang.
Jessie Hellmann: NPR’s “Trump’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Young People Puts Hospitals in a Bind,” by Selena Simmons-Duffin.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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