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 professional 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 narrowly passing a funds decision this spring foreshadowing main Medicaid cuts, Republicans in Congress are having hassle agreeing on particular methods to save lots of billions of {dollars} from a pool of funding that pays for this system with out reducing advantages on which tens of millions of Americans rely. Moderates resist adjustments they are saying would hurt their constituents, whereas fiscal conservatives say they received’t vote for smaller cuts than these known as for within the funds decision. The destiny of President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” containing renewed tax cuts and boosted immigration enforcement may dangle on a Medicaid deal.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration shocked these on each side of the abortion debate by agreeing with the Biden administration {that a} Texas case difficult the FDA’s approval of the abortion tablet mifepristone needs to be dropped. It’s clear the administration’s request is only technical, although, and has no bearing on whether or not officers plan to guard the abortion tablet’s availability.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg News
Maya Goldman
Axios
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Call
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
Congressional Republicans are making halting progress on negotiations over authorities spending cuts. As hard-line House conservatives push for deeper cuts to the Medicaid program, their GOP colleagues representing districts that closely rely on Medicaid protection are pushing again. House Republican leaders are eying a Memorial Day deadline, and key committees are scheduled to overview the laws subsequent week — however first, Republicans must agree on what that laws says.
Trump withdrew his nomination of Janette Nesheiwat for U.S. surgeon basic amid accusations she misrepresented her educational credentials and criticism from the far proper. In her place, he nominated Casey Means, a doctor who’s an ally of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s and a distinguished advocate of the “Make America Healthy Again” motion.
The pharmaceutical trade is on alert as Trump prepares to signal an govt order directing companies to look into “most-favored-nation” pricing, a coverage that might set U.S. drug costs to the bottom degree paid by comparable nations. The president explored that coverage throughout his first administration, and the drug trade sued to cease it. Drugmakers are already on edge over Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on medicine and their components.
And Kennedy is scheduled to seem earlier than the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee subsequent week. The listening to could be the primary time the secretary of Health and Human Services has appeared earlier than the HELP Committee since his affirmation hearings — and all eyes are on the committee’s GOP chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who expressed deep considerations on the time, together with about Kennedy’s stances on vaccines.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Lauren Sausser, who co-reported and co-wrote the newest KFF Health News’ “Bill of the Month” installment, about an sudden invoice for what appeared like preventive care. If you could have an outrageous, baffling, or infuriating medical invoice you’d wish to share with us, you can do that here.
Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: NPR’s “Fired, Rehired, and Fired Again: Some Federal Workers Find They’re Suddenly Uninsured,” by Andrea Hsu.
Maya Goldman: Stat’s “Europe Unveils $565 Million Package To Retain Scientists, and Attract New Ones,” by Andrew Joseph.
Anna Edney: Bloomberg News’ “A Former TV Writer Found a Health-Care Loophole That Threatens To Blow Up Obamacare,” by Zachary R. Mider and Zeke Faux.
Sandhya Raman: The Louisiana Illuminator’s “In the Deep South, Health Care Fights Echo Civil Rights Battles,” by Anna Claire Vollers.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
To hear all our podcasts, click here.
And subscribe to KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you take heed to podcasts.
KFF Health News is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is likely one of the core working applications at KFF—an impartial supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Learn extra about KFF.
USE OUR CONTENT
This story may be republished free of charge (details).
We encourage organizations to republish our content material, freed from cost. Here’s what we ask:
You should credit score us as the unique writer, with a hyperlink to our kffhealthnews.org website. If potential, please embody the unique writer(s) and KFF Health News” within the byline. Please protect the hyperlinks within the story.
It’s essential to notice, not all the things on kffhealthnews.org is accessible for republishing. If a narrative is labeled “All Rights Reserved,” we can not grant permission to republish that merchandise.
Have questions? Let us know at [email protected]”>[email protected]
src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″>
