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 skilled on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference e book “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
In any case-night markups, two key Home committees permitted GOP price range laws that might reduce a whole lot of billions of {dollars} from federal well being applications over the following decade, principally from the Medicaid program for folks with low incomes or disabilities. The laws is much from a carried out deal, although, with at the least one Republican senator voicing opposition to Medicaid cuts.
In the meantime, Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified earlier than Congress for the primary time since taking workplace. In typically surprisingly combative exchanges with lawmakers within the Home and Senate, Kennedy denied chopping applications regardless of proof on the contrary and stated at one level that he doesn’t suppose People “must be taking medical recommendation from me.”
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Julie Appleby of KFF Well being Information, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins College Bloomberg College of Public Well being and Politico Journal, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Panelists
Julie Appleby
KFF Well being Information
Joanne Kenen
Johns Hopkins College and Politico
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Home Republicans this week launched — then rapidly ushered by way of committee — main laws that might make deep cuts to federal spending whereas funding President Donald Trump’s home priorities, together with renewing tax cuts and boosting border safety. A preliminary estimate by the Congressional Funds Workplace discovered the invoice would reduce at the least $715 billion from federal well being spending over 10 years — with most of that cash coming from the Medicaid program.
- General, the Home GOP’s proposal would make it tougher to enroll, and keep enrolled, in Medicaid and Reasonably priced Care Act protection. Amongst different modifications, the invoice would impose a requirement that nondisabled adults (with some exceptions) work, volunteer, or examine at the least 80 hours per 30 days to be eligible for protection. However Democrats and affected person advocates level to proof that, moderately than encouraging employment, such a mandate ends in extra folks dropping or dropping protection below burdensome paperwork necessities.
- Republicans additionally declined to increase the improved tax credit launched in the course of the covid-19 pandemic that assist many individuals afford ACA market protection. These tax credit expire on the finish of the yr, and premiums are anticipated to balloon, which may immediate many individuals to not renew their protection.
- And Kennedy’s appearances on Capitol Hill this week supplied Congress the primary alternative to query the well being secretary since he assumed his publish. He was grilled by Democrats about vaccines, congressionally appropriated funds, company firings, and rather more.
Plus, for “further credit score,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: The New York Occasions’ “Elizabeth Holmes’s Accomplice Has a New Blood-Testing Begin-Up,” by Rob Copeland.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica’s “He Turned the Face of Georgia’s Medicaid Work Requirement. Now He’s Fed Up With It.” by Margaret Coker, The Present.
Julie Appleby: Scientific American’s “How Trump’s Nationwide Climate Service Cuts Might Value Lives,” by Andrea Thompson.
Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic’s “Now Is Not the Time To Eat Bagged Lettuce,” by Nicholas Florko.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
To listen to all our podcasts, click on right here.
And subscribe to KFF Well being Information’ “What the Well being?” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you hearken to podcasts.
KFF Well being Information is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is without doubt one of the core working applications at KFF—an impartial supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Be taught extra about KFF.
USE OUR CONTENT
This story might be republished totally free (particulars).
We encourage organizations to republish our content material, freed from cost. Right here’s what we ask:
You need to credit score us as the unique writer, with a hyperlink to our kffhealthnews.org web site. If potential, please embody the unique creator(s) and KFF Well being Information” within the byline. Please protect the hyperlinks within the story.
It’s vital to notice, not the whole lot on kffhealthnews.org is out there for republishing. If a narrative is labeled “All Rights Reserved,” we can’t grant permission to republish that merchandise.
Have questions? Tell us at KHNHelp@kff.org
