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 professional on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference e book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third version.
The Department of Health and Human Services underwent an unprecedented purge this week, as 1000’s of workers from the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and different businesses throughout the division have been fired, positioned on administrative depart, or provided transfers to far-flung Indian Health Service amenities in such locations as New Mexico, Montana, and Alaska. Altogether, the layoffs imply the federal authorities, in a single day, shed lots of if not 1000’s of years of well being and science experience.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard a case about whether or not states can bar Planned Parenthood from offering non-abortion-related providers to Medicaid sufferers. But by the point the case is settled, it’s unclear how a lot of Medicaid or the Title X Family Planning Program will stay intact.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post.
Panelists
Rachel Cohrs Zhang
Bloomberg News
Sarah Karlin-Smith
Pink Sheet
Lauren Weber
The Washington Post
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
As particulars trickle out concerning the main staffing purge underway at HHS, long-serving and high-ranking well being officers are amongst those that have been proven the door: specifically, senior scientists at FDA, together with the highest vaccine regulator, and even the top veterinarian engaged on chicken flu response.
The Trump administration has additionally gutted complete places of work, together with the FDA’s tobacco division — regardless that the division’s elimination wouldn’t save taxpayer cash as a result of it’s not funded by taxpayers. Still, the tobacco trade stands to learn from much less regulatory oversight. Many well being businesses have their very own examples of federal jobs lower underneath the auspices of saving taxpayer cash when the true impact can be undermining federal well being work.
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey set a file this week throughout a marathon, 25-hour-plus chamber ground speech railing in opposition to Trump administration actions, and he used a lot of his time discussing the dangers posed to Americans’ well being care. With Republicans contemplating deep cuts that might hit Medicaid exhausting, it’s attainable that well being modifications might be the realm that resonates most with Americans and garner key help for Democrats come midterm elections.
And the tariffs unveiled by President Donald Trump this week reportedly contact at the least some prescribed drugs, leaving the drug trade scrambling to type out the affect. It appears probably tariffs would increase the costs Americans pay for medicine, as tariffs are anticipated to do for different client merchandise — leaving it unclear how Americans stand to learn from the president’s determination to upend world commerce.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Julie Appleby, whose newest “Bill of the Month” function is a few short-term well being plan and a really costly colonoscopy. Do you may have a baffling, complicated, or outrageous medical invoice to share with us? You can do that here.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: Stat’s “Uber for Nursing Is Here — And It’s Not Good for Patients or Nurses,” by Katie J. Wells and Funda Ustek Spilda.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: MSNBC’s “Florida Considers Easing Child Labor Laws After Pushing Out Immigrants,” by Ja’han Jones.
Lauren Weber: The Atlantic’s “Miscarriage and Motherhood,” by Ashley Parker.
Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Wall Street Journal’s “FDA Punts on Major Covid-19 Vaccine Decision After Ouster of Top Official,” by Liz Essley White.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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