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 guide “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third version.
Congress returns from spring break subsequent week and can get to work crafting a invoice that will lower taxes and increase immigration enforcement — however that additionally might lower no less than $880 billion over the subsequent decade from a pool of funding that features Medicaid. Some Republicans, nevertheless, are beginning to query the political knowledge of creating such massive cuts to a program that gives well being protection to so a lot of their constituents.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case difficult the requirement that the majority non-public insurance coverage cowl sure preventive providers with no out-of-pocket value for sufferers.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Panelists
Sarah Karlin-Smith
Pink Sheet
Tami Luhby
CNN
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
On the hunt for tactics to pay for an extension of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, many congressional Republicans are selecting their phrases fastidiously as they describe potential cuts to Medicaid — cuts that, contemplating heavy reliance on this system, particularly in pink states, might be politically unpopular.
Amid the excitement over Medicaid cuts, one other federal program that helps thousands and thousands of Americans afford well being care can be on the chopping block: the improved authorities subsidies launched beneath the Biden administration that assist pay premiums for Affordable Care Act plans. The subsidies expire on the finish of this 12 months, and Congress has but to handle extending them.
One little-discussed choice for attaining deep authorities spending cuts is Medicare Advantage, the non-public different to conventional Medicare that provides a wide range of additional advantages for these over 65 — however that additionally prices the federal authorities a bundle. Even Mehmet Oz, the brand new head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services who as soon as pushed Medicare Advantage plans as a TV character, has forged sidelong glances at non-public insurers over how a lot they cost the federal government.
And the Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a case that challenges the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and will maintain main implications for preventive care protection nationwide. The justices’ questioning suggests the court docket might facet with the federal government and protect the duty pressure’s authority — although that call would additionally give extra energy over preventive care to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the well being and human providers secretary.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Rae Ellen Bichell about her story on how take care of transgender minors is altering in Colorado.
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: MedPage Today’s “Medical Journals Get Letters From DOJ,” by Kristina Fiore.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Tampa Bay Times’ “Countering DeSantis, $10M Hope Florida Donation Came From Medicaid, Draft Shows,” by Alexandra Glorioso and Lawrence Mower.
Tami Luhby: Stat’s “In Ireland, a Global Hub for the Pharma Industry, Trump Tariffs Are a Source of Deep Worry,” by Andrew Joseph.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times’ “A Scientist Is Paid to Study Maple Syrup. He’s Also Paid to Promote It,” by Will Evans, Ellen Gabler, and Anjali Tsui.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Stat’s “New England Journal of Medicine Gets Swept Up in U.S. Attorney Inquiry Into Alleged Bias,” by Anil Oza.
KFF’s “KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: The Public’s Views on Measles Outbreaks and Misinformation,” by Alex Montero, Grace Sparks, Julian Montalvo III, Ashley Kirzinger, and Liz Hamel.
Bloomberg News’ “Food Industry Says There’s No Agreement With US Health Agency to Cut Dyes,” by Rachel Cohrs Zhang.
Politico’s “RFK Jr. Eyes Reversing CDC’s Covid-19 Vaccine Recommendation for Children,” by Adam Cancryn.
The New Yorker’s “The Cost of Defunding Harvard,” by Atul Gawande.
The Wall Street Journal’s “Trump’s FDA Sends a Bullish Signal to Biotech,” by David Wainer
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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