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 knowledgeable 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.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of operating mate. Walz — additionally a former U.S. congressman, highschool trainer, and member of the National Guard — has a folksy, Midwestern have an effect on and a liberal report. He has signed payments increasing abortion rights and medical look after transgender folks as governor and represented a swing district within the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, the variety of abortions going down within the U.S. for the reason that overturn of Roe v. Wade continued to rise into early this yr, in keeping with a brand new research. That is irritating abortion opponents, who’re in search of extra methods to carry the numbers down, even when it means barring pregnant ladies from touring to different states.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Shefali Luthra of The nineteenth.
Panelists
Shefali Luthra
The nineteenth
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Call
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
Walz has been energetic on well being points, together with capping insulin costs, codifying entry to abortion and gender-affirming care, and supporting veterans’ well being, in addition to difficult hospital consolidation efforts. In truth, the similarities between him and Harris spotlight unity amongst Democrats on key well being points.
Meanwhile, the GOP vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, mentioned in an interview that reforming the Affordable Care Act would nonetheless be on the desk if Trump have been reelected, although he didn’t elaborate. The lack of specificity within the GOP’s plans leaves rather a lot unknown about what a second Trump administration would do with well being coverage.
A latest report reveals the variety of abortions continued to rise amid restrictions. How? Telehealth is a significant purpose for the development. And a separate report reveals a whole lot of tens of millions in taxpayer {dollars} have been funneled to disaster being pregnant facilities for the reason that overturn of Roe v. Wade, reflecting an effort in conservative state legislatures to steer funding to facilities that discourage abortion.
And Congress has departed for its August recess with out funding the federal authorities, once more. Those eyeing different must-pass laws, similar to prolonged telehealth flexibilities and pharmacy profit supervisor reform, are banking on the lame-duck session after the election.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: JAMA Internal Medicine’s “Health, Access to Care, and Financial Barriers to Care Among People Incarcerated in US Prisons,” by Emily Lupton Lupez; Steffie Woolhandler; David U. Himmelstein; et al.
Shefali Luthra: KFF Health News’ “Inside Project 2025: Former Trump Official Outlines Hard Right Turn Against Abortion,” by Stephanie Armour.
Sandhya Raman: The War Horse’s “‘I Had a Body Part Repossessed’: Post-9/11 Amputee Vets Say VA Care Is Failing Them,” by Hope Hodge Seck.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
ProPublica’s “Texas Sends Millions to Crisis Pregnancy Centers. It’s Meant To Help Needy Families, But No One Knows if It Works,” by Cassandra Jaramillo, Jeremy Kohler, and Sophie Chou, ProPublica, and Jessica Kegu, CBS News.
Vox’s “Free Medical School Won’t Solve the Doctor Shortage,” by Dylan Scott.
Stat’s “How UnitedHealth Turned a Questionable Artery-Screening Program Into a Gold Mine,” by Casey Ross, Lizzy Lawrence, Bob Herman, and Tara Bannow.
The Wall Street Journal’s “The One-Hour Nurse Visits That Let Insurers Collect $15 Billion From Medicare,” by Anna Wilde Mathews, Christopher Weaver, Tom McGinty, and Mark Maremont.
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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