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Congress has left Washington for the marketing campaign path, however after the Nov. 5 normal election lawmakers should full work on the annual spending payments for the fiscal yr that begins Oct. 1. While the GOP had hoped to push spending selections into 2025, Democrats pressured a short-term spending patch that’s set to run out earlier than Christmas.
Meanwhile, on the marketing campaign path, abortion continues to be among the many hottest points. Democrats are urgent their benefit with ladies voters whereas Republicans wrestle — with apparently blended results — to neutralize it.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico and the Johns Hopkins faculties of nursing and public well being, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post.
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
When Congress returns after the election, there’s an opportunity lawmakers might then make progress on authorities spending and extra consensus well being priorities, like increasing telehealth entry. After all, after the midterm elections in 2022, Congress handed federal affected person protections towards shock medical billing.
As Election Day approaches, Democrats are banging the drum on well being care — which polls present is a profitable situation for the celebration with voters. This week, Democrats made a final push to increase Affordable Care Act subsidies expanded throughout the pandemic — a problem that may doubtless drag into subsequent yr within the face of Republican opposition.
The outcry over the primary reported deaths tied to state abortion bans appears to be resonating on the marketing campaign path. With some states providing the prospect to weigh in on abortion entry by way of poll measures, advocates are telling voters: These tragedies are examples of what occurs whenever you go away abortion entry to the states.
And Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont summoned the chief govt of Novo Nordisk earlier than the well being committee he chairs this week to demand accountability for top drug costs. Despite centering on a marketing campaign situation, the listening to — like different examples of pharmaceutical executives being thrust into the congressional scorching seat — yielded no concessions.
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: KFF Health News’ “Across North Carolina, Medical Debt Exacts a Heavy Toll,” by Ames Alexander, The Charlotte Observer, and Noam N. Levey.
Lauren Weber: Stat’s “How the Next President Should Reform Medicare,” by Paul Ginsburg and Steve Lieberman.
Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic’s “The Woo-Woo Caucus Meets,” by Elaine Godfrey.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat’s “How Special Olympics Kickstarted the Push for Better Disability Data,” by Timmy Broderick.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
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