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 e book “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
President Joe Biden is working to put out his well being agenda for a second time period, whilst Congress races to complete its overdue spending payments for the fiscal yr that started final October.
In the meantime, Alabama lawmakers attempt to reopen the state’s fertility clinics over the protests of abortion opponents, and pharmacy giants CVS and Walgreens announce they’re prepared to start federally regulated gross sales of the abortion tablet mifepristone.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name.
Panelists
Sarah Karlin-Smith
Pink Sheet
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Name
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Lawmakers in Washington are finishing work on the primary batch of spending payments to avert a authorities shutdown. The package deal features a bare-bones well being invoice, leaving out sure bipartisan proposals which were within the works on drug costs and pandemic preparedness. Medical doctors do get some reduction within the invoice from Medicare cuts that took impact in January, however the pay cuts should not canceled.
- The White Home is floating proposals on drug costs that embrace increasing Medicare negotiations to extra medication; making use of negotiated costs earlier out there life of medicine; and capping out-of-pocket most drug funds at $2,000 for all sufferers, not simply seniors. At the least among the concepts have been proposed earlier than and couldn’t clear even a Democratic-controlled Congress. However additionally they sustain stress on the pharmaceutical business because it challenges the federal government in court docket — and as Election Day nears.
- Many in public well being are expressing frustration after the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention softened its covid-19 isolation steerage. The change factors to the necessity for a nationwide dialogue about societal assist for finest practices in public well being — particularly by increasing entry to paid depart and baby care.
- In the meantime, CVS and Walgreens introduced their pharmacies will distribute the abortion tablet mifepristone, and enthusiasm is waning for the primary over-the-counter contraception tablet amid questions on how sufferers can pay its higher-than-anticipated checklist worth of $20 per thirty days.
- Alabama’s governor signed a regulation defending entry to in vitro fertilization, granting suppliers immunity from the state Supreme Courtroom’s latest “embryonic personhood” determination. However with opposition from conservative teams, is the brand new regulation additionally sure for the Alabama Supreme Courtroom?
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews White Home home coverage adviser Neera Tanden about Biden’s well being agenda.
Plus, for “further credit score” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: NPR’s “How States Giving Rights to Fetuses May Set Up a Nationwide Case on Abortion,” by Regan McCarthy.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: Stat’s “The Struggle on Restoration,” by Lev Facher.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: KFF Well being Information’ “Why Even Public Well being Specialists Have Restricted Perception Into Stopping Gun Violence in America,” by Christine Spolar.
Sandhya Raman: The Journal’s “‘My Son Is Not There Anymore’: How Younger Folks With Psychosis Are Falling Via the Cracks,” by Órla Ryan.
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 take heed to podcasts.
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 website. If attainable, please embrace the unique writer(s) and KFF Well being Information” within the byline. Please protect the hyperlinks within the story.
It’s necessary to notice, not all the things on kffhealthnews.org is accessible 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