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.
Open enrollment for 2026 Affordable Care Act insurance policy begins in most states Nov. 1, with no decision in Congress about whether or not to proceed extra beneficiant premium tax credit expanded below President Joe Biden or allow them to expire on the finish of this 12 months. It is unclear whether or not the backlash from tens of millions of enrollees seeing skyrocketing premiums will transfer Democrats or Republicans to again away from entrenched positions which can be conserving many of the federal authorities shut down.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration — having accomplished away earlier this 12 months with a Biden-era regulation that prevented medical debt from being included on shoppers’ credit score studies — is now telling states they can not go their very own legal guidelines to bar the observe.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Panelists
Paige Winfield Cunningham
The Washington Post
Maya Goldman
Axios
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
Tens of tens of millions of Americans are bracing to lose authorities meals support on Nov. 1, after the Trump administration opted to not proceed funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the course of the shutdown. President Donald Trump and senior officers have made no secret of efforts to penalize authorities packages they see as Democratic priorities, to exert political strain because the stalemate continues on Capitol Hill.
People starting to buy subsequent 12 months’s plans on the ACA marketplaces are experiencing sticker shock because of the expiration of extra beneficiant premium tax credit that have been expanded in the course of the covid pandemic. The federal authorities may even take a specific hit because it covers rising prices for lower-income clients who will proceed to obtain help no matter a deal in Congress.
In state information, after killing a Biden-era rule to dam medical debt from credit score studies, the Trump administration is working to stop states from passing their very own protections. In Florida, medical doctors who assist vaccine efforts are being muffled, and the state’s surgeon normal says he didn’t mannequin the outcomes of ending childhood vaccination mandates earlier than pursuing the coverage — a dangerous proposition as public well being consultants warning that latest measles outbreaks are a canary within the coal mine for vaccine-preventable sicknesses.
And in Texas, the state’s lawyer normal, who can also be working for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, is suing the maker of Tylenol, claiming the corporate tried to dodge legal responsibility for the medicine’s unproven ties to autism. The lawsuit is the most recent drawback for Tylenol, with latest allegations undermining confidence within the frequent painkiller, the one one beneficial for pregnant ladies to scale back doubtlessly harmful fevers and relieve ache.
Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Health News’ “Many Fear Federal Loan Caps Will Deter Aspiring Doctors and Worsen MD Shortage,” by Bernard J. Wolfson.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProfessionalPublica’s “Citing Trump Order on ‘Biological Truth,’ VA Makes It Harder for Male Veterans With Breast Cancer To Get Coverage,” by Eric Umansky.
Paige Winfield Cunningham: The Washington Post’s “Study Finds mRNA Coronavirus Vaccines Prolonged Life of Cancer Patients,” by Mark Johnson.
Maya Goldman: KFF Health News’ “As Sports Betting Explodes, States Try To Set Limits To Stop Gambling Addiction,” by Karen Brown, New England Public Media.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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