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 ebook “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third version.
After explicitly promising senators throughout his affirmation listening to that he wouldn’t intrude in scientific coverage over which Americans ought to obtain which vaccines, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week fired each member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the group of specialists who assist the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention make these evidence-based judgments. Kennedy then appointed new members, together with vaccine skeptics, prompting alarm from the broader medical neighborhood.
Meanwhile, over on the National Institutes of Health, some 300 staff — many utilizing their full names — despatched a letter of dissent to the company’s director, Jay Bhattacharya, saying the administration’s insurance policies “undermine the NIH mission, waste our public resources, and harm the health of Americans and people across the globe.”
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg News
Sarah Karlin-Smith
Pink Sheet
@sarahkarlin-smith.bsky.social
Joanne Kenen
Johns Hopkins University and Politico
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
After eradicating all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee, Kennedy on Wednesday introduced eight picks to switch them — a number of of whom lack the experience to vet vaccine analysis and no less than a pair who’ve spoken out towards vaccines. Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the Republican head of the chamber’s well being committee, has stated little, although Kennedy’s actions violate a promise he made to Cassidy throughout his affirmation listening to to not contact the vaccine panel.
In different vaccine information, the Department of Health and Human Services has canceled private-sector contracts exploring using mRNA know-how in creating vaccines for chicken flu and HIV. The transfer raises issues in regards to the nation’s readiness towards creating and probably devastating well being threats.
Hundreds of NIH staff took the putting step of signing a letter referred to as the “Bethesda Declaration,” protesting Trump administration insurance policies that they are saying undermine the company’s assets and mission. It is uncommon for federal staff to make use of their very own names to voice public objections to an administration, not to mention President Donald Trump’s, signaling the seriousness of their issues.
Lawmakers have been contemplating including Medicare adjustments to the tax-and-spend funds reconciliation laws now earlier than the Senate — particularly, concentrating on using what’s referred to as “upcoding.” Curtailing the apply, via which medical suppliers successfully inflate diagnoses and procedures to cost extra, has bipartisan assist and will enhance the financial savings by lowering the quantity the federal government pays for care.
Also this week, Rovner interviews Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, to debate how the CBO works and why it’s so controversial.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: Stat’s “Lawmakers Lobby Doctors To Keep Quiet — or Speak Up — on Medicaid Cuts in Trump’s Tax Bill,” by Daniel Payne.
Anna Edney: KFF Health News’ “Two Patients Faced Chemo. The One Who Survived Demanded a Test To See if It Was Safe,” by Arthur Allen.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: Wired’s “The Bleach Community Is Ready for RFK Jr. To Make Their Dreams Come True,” by David Gilbert.
Joanne Kenen: ProfessionalPublica’s “DOGE Developed Error-Prone AI Tool To ‘Munch’ Veterans Affairs Contracts,” by Brandon Roberts, Vernal Coleman, and Eric Umansky.
Also talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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