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After weeks of painstaking negotiations, Democrats and Republicans within the House and Senate agreed to a serious year-end package deal of well being payments, together with new rules for drug corporations and pharmacy profit managers, and renewals of applications to fight opioid abuse and put together for the subsequent attainable pandemic. But the trouble may very well be all for naught, as President-elect Donald Trump and his government-cutting adviser, Elon Musk, complained it gave Democrats an excessive amount of of what they needed and threatened Republicans who may vote for it with challenges in upcoming major elections.
Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a health care provider in New York for prescribing abortion tablets through telemedicine to a affected person in Texas, within the first main take a look at of whether or not “shield laws” — supposed to guard medical doctors in states like New York the place abortion stays authorized — can defend in opposition to different states’ enforcement efforts.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
Congress appeared to be on the cusp of passing its authorities spending payments this week, then Trump spoke out. The package deal featured sturdy, bipartisan insurance policies — together with issues that Trump himself has endorsed, akin to reforming the pharmacy profit supervisor system. Now, it’s not solely these insurance policies, plus key extensions on the Medicare telehealth program, opioids, and extra, that Trump has undermined: A authorities shutdown might additionally furlough the federal staff serving to his staff transition forward of his inauguration subsequent month.
Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill to realize help for his affirmation to steer the Department of Health and Human Services. And many senators appear surprisingly supportive of his bid. Some are leaning on shared objectives akin to limiting ultraprocessed meals. In common, Republican senators don’t appear too involved about RFK Jr.’s nomination — regardless of a monitor file of opposing scientific consensus on vaccines and supporting abortion rights.
New authorities knowledge reveals well being care spending is up. The current deadly taking pictures of an insurance coverage government has triggered a backlash in opposition to the insurance coverage business, but the info reveals prices are going up as a consequence of greater utilization — not essentially due to elements inside insurers’ management. Bottom line: In a system of fixed finger-pointing, insurers have earned ire for questionable protection choices and lack of transparency — however they’re not the primary, or solely, culprits of excessive prices and entry issues.
And, in reproductive well being information, the lawyer common of Texas is suing a New York physician for prescribing the abortion capsule to a affected person in Texas. New York, like different extra Democratic states, has a protect regulation defending suppliers, but this case would be the first take a look at of such a regulation.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF President and CEO Drew Altman about what occurred in well being coverage in 2024 and what to anticipate in 2025.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: Vox.com’s “The Deep Roots of Americans’ Hatred of Their Health Care System,” by Dylan Scott.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: KFF Health News’ “Native American Patients Are Sent to Collections for Debts the Government Owes,” by Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts.
Jessie Hellmann: KFF Health News’ “How a Duty To Spend Wisely on Worker Benefits Could Loosen PBMs’ Grip on Drug Prices,” by Arthur Allen.
Victoria Knight: Bloomberg News’ “The Weight-Loss Drug Gold Rush Has a Dangerous Prescription Problem,” by Madison Muller.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
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