The Host
Emmarie Huetteman
KFF Health News
Emmarie Huetteman, senior editor, oversees a staff of Washington reporters, in addition to “Bill of the Month” and “What the Health? From KFF Health News.” She beforehand spent greater than a decade reporting on the federal authorities, most lately masking shock medical payments, drug pricing reform, and different well being coverage debates in Washington and on the marketing campaign path.
The longest federal authorities shutdown in historical past is over, after a handful of House and Senate Democrats joined most Republicans in approving laws that funds the federal government by January. Despite Democrats’ calls for, the bundle didn’t embrace an extension of the expanded tax credit that assist most Affordable Care Act enrollees afford their plans — which means most individuals with ACA plans are slated to pay rather more towards their premiums subsequent 12 months.
Also, new particulars are rising in regards to the Trump administration’s efforts to make use of the Medicaid program — for low-income and disabled individuals — to advance its immigration and trans well being coverage targets. And President Donald Trump has unveiled offers with two main pharmaceutical firms designed to extend entry to weight reduction medication for some Americans.
This week’s panelists are Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Shefali Luthra of The nineteenth, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg News
Shefali Luthra
The nineteenth
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Call
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
Though the shutdown deal didn’t embrace an extension of the improved ACA subsidies, it got here with a plan for a Senate vote by subsequent month — on what precisely, it’s unclear. Senate Republicans look like coalescing round offering cash by way of well being financial savings accounts moderately than by the subsidies, whereas House Republicans appear extra fragmented. The clock is ticking; the present credit expire on Jan. 1, and open enrollment has begun.
Even because the Trump administration is prone to be tied up in courtroom over its efforts to make use of Medicaid to crack down on well being look after immigrants and trans individuals, they’ve had an actual chilling impact. Immigrants, for example, are skipping medical care, and hospitals are chopping again on providing gender-affirming look after trans individuals for worry of shedding federal funding.
Trump’s newly introduced GLP-1 worth offers might assist Medicare enrollees afford the load loss medication, probably opening up entry to a brand new inhabitants of sufferers — and prospects. And a gentle stream of coverage reversals, unexplained dismissals, and damaging information protection is resulting in worries that the FDA’s credibility is being undermined by inner drama. Also in query is whether or not it’s interfering with the company’s work. Drug firms would possible say sure, and a few throughout the FDA try to fight these considerations.
A significant anti-abortion group is leaning into the present electoral second, concentrating on key states and getting ready for sizable political contributions forward of subsequent 12 months’s midterm elections. Abortion opponents see a chance to capitalize on voters’ altering motivations and reposition themselves to suit into the post-Trump Republican Party.
Also this week, KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Julie Appleby, who wrote the newest “Bill of the Month” function, about a physician who grew to become the affected person after a automotive accident despatched her to the hospital — and $64,000 into debt. Do you might have an outrageous medical invoice? Tell us about it!
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it is best to learn, too:
Emmarie Huetteman: KFF Health News’ “Immigrants With Health Conditions May Be Denied Visas Under New Trump Administration Guidance,” by Amanda Seitz.
Anna Edney: Bloomberg News’ “Bayer Weighs Roundup Exit as Cancer Legal Bill Nears $18 Billion,” by Tim Loh, Hayley Warren, and Julia Janicki.
Shefali Luthra: The nineteenth’s “Detransition Is Rare, but It’s Driving Anti-Trans Policy Anyway,” by Orion Rummler.
Sandhya Raman: BBC’s “Canada Loses Its Measles-Free Status, With US on Track To Follow,” by Nadine Yousif.
Also talked about on this week’s episode:
KFF’s “KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public Weighs in on Health Care Debate and Government Shutdown,” by Audrey Kearney, Alex Montero, Mardet Mulugeta, Ashley Kirzinger, and Liz Hamel.
KFF Health News’ “Trump’s HHS Orders State Medicaid Programs To Help Find Undocumented Immigrants,” by Phil Galewitz.
NPR’s “Trump Pushes an End to Medical Care for Transgender Youth Nationally,” by Selena Simmons-Duffin.
Stat’s “FDA’s Top Drug Regulator Resigns Amid Investigation,” by Lizzy Lawrence and Adam Feuerstein.
Stat’s “Under Vinay Prasad, Employees at a Key FDA Center Fear Speaking Out, Look for the Exits,” by Lizzy Lawrence.
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Stephanie Stapleton
Editor
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KFF Health News is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is likely one of the core working packages at KFF—an unbiased supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Learn extra about KFF.
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