The Host
Julie Rovner
KFF Well being Information
Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Well being Information’ weekly well being coverage information podcast, “What the Well being?” A famous professional on well being coverage points, Julie is the writer of the critically praised reference ebook “Well being Care Politics and Coverage 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 bother agreeing on particular methods to save lots of billions of {dollars} from a pool of funding that pays for this system with out chopping advantages on which thousands and thousands of Individuals rely. Moderates resist adjustments they are saying would hurt their constituents, whereas fiscal conservatives say they received’t vote for smaller cuts than these referred to as for within the funds decision. The destiny of President Donald Trump’s “one large, lovely invoice” containing renewed tax cuts and boosted immigration enforcement might grasp on a Medicaid deal.
In the meantime, 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 capsule mifepristone needs to be dropped. It’s clear the administration’s request is solely technical, although, and has no bearing on whether or not officers plan to guard the abortion capsule’s availability.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg Information
Maya Goldman
Axios
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Name
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Congressional Republicans are making halting progress on negotiations over authorities spending cuts. As hard-line Home conservatives push for deeper cuts to the Medicaid program, their GOP colleagues representing districts that closely rely on Medicaid protection are pushing again. Home Republican leaders are eying a Memorial Day deadline, and key committees are scheduled to evaluate the laws subsequent week — however first, Republicans have to agree on what that laws says.
- Trump withdrew his nomination of Janette Nesheiwat for U.S. surgeon common 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 outstanding advocate of the “Make America Wholesome Once more” motion.
- The pharmaceutical business is on alert as Trump prepares to signal an government 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 business sued to cease it. Drugmakers are already on edge over Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on medication and their substances.
- And Kennedy is scheduled to look earlier than the Senate’s Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee subsequent week. The listening to could be the primary time the secretary of Well being and Human Companies has appeared earlier than the HELP Committee since his affirmation hearings — and all eyes are on the committee’s GOP chairman, Sen. Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who expressed deep considerations on the time, together with about Kennedy’s stances on vaccines.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews KFF Well being Information’ Lauren Sausser, who co-reported and co-wrote the most recent KFF Well being Information’ “Invoice of the Month” installment, about an surprising invoice for what appeared like preventive care. When you have an outrageous, baffling, or infuriating medical invoice you’d prefer to share with us, you are able to do that right here.
Plus, for “further credit score” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: NPR’s “Fired, Rehired, and Fired Once more: Some Federal Employees Discover They’re All of a sudden Uninsured,” by Andrea Hsu.
Maya Goldman: Stat’s “Europe Unveils $565 Million Package deal To Retain Scientists, and Appeal to New Ones,” by Andrew Joseph.
Anna Edney: Bloomberg Information’ “A Former TV Author Discovered a Well being-Care Loophole That Threatens To Blow Up Obamacare,” by Zachary R. Mider and Zeke Fake.
Sandhya Raman: The Louisiana Illuminator’s “Within the Deep South, Well being Care Fights Echo Civil Rights Battles,” by Anna Claire Vollers.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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