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.
After all-night markups, two key House committees permitted GOP funds laws that may lower a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} from federal well being packages over the following decade, principally from the Medicaid program for individuals with low incomes or disabilities. The laws is way from a completed deal, although, with not less than one Republican senator voicing opposition to Medicaid cuts.
Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified earlier than Congress for the primary time since taking workplace. In typically surprisingly combative exchanges with lawmakers within the House and Senate, Kennedy denied slicing packages regardless of proof on the contrary and mentioned at one level that he doesn’t assume Americans “should be taking medical advice from me.”
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Julie Appleby of KFF Health News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Panelists
Julie Appleby
KFF Health News
Joanne Kenen
Johns Hopkins University and Politico
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
House Republicans this week launched — then shortly ushered via committee — main laws that may make deep cuts to federal spending whereas funding President Donald Trump’s home priorities, together with renewing tax cuts and boosting border safety. A preliminary estimate by the Congressional Budget Office discovered the invoice would lower not less than $715 billion from federal well being spending over 10 years — with most of that cash coming from the Medicaid program.
Overall, the House GOP’s proposal would make it tougher to enroll, and keep enrolled, in Medicaid and Affordable Care Act protection. Among different adjustments, the invoice would impose a requirement that nondisabled adults (with some exceptions) work, volunteer, or research not less than 80 hours monthly to be eligible for protection. But Democrats and affected person advocates level to proof that, slightly than encouraging employment, such a mandate ends in extra individuals dropping or dropping protection below burdensome paperwork necessities.
Republicans additionally declined to increase the improved tax credit launched in the course of the covid-19 pandemic that assist many individuals afford ACA market protection. Those tax credit expire on the finish of the 12 months, and premiums are anticipated to balloon, which might immediate many individuals to not renew their protection.
And Kennedy’s appearances on Capitol Hill this week supplied Congress the primary alternative to query the well being secretary since he assumed his submit. He was grilled by Democrats about vaccines, congressionally appropriated funds, company firings, and way more.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it’s best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: The New York Times’ “Elizabeth Holmes’s Partner Has a New Blood-Testing Start-Up,” by Rob Copeland.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProfessionalPublica’s “He Became the Face of Georgia’s Medicaid Work Requirement. Now He’s Fed Up With It.” by Margaret Coker, The Current.
Julie Appleby: Scientific American’s “How Trump’s National Weather Service Cuts Could Cost Lives,” by Andrea Thompson.
Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic’s “Now Is Not the Time To Eat Bagged Lettuce,” by Nicholas Florko.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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