Can Congress Reconcile Trump’s Needs With Medicaid’s Wants?
The Host
Congress returns from spring break subsequent week and can get to work crafting a invoice that might reduce taxes and increase immigration enforcement — however that additionally might reduce a minimum of $880 billion over the subsequent decade from a pool of funding that features Medicaid. Some Republicans, nevertheless, are beginning to query the political knowledge of constructing such massive cuts to a program that gives well being protection to so lots of their constituents.
In the meantime, the Supreme Courtroom heard arguments in a case difficult the requirement that almost all personal insurance coverage cowl sure preventive providers with no out-of-pocket price for sufferers.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- On the hunt for tactics to pay for an extension of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, many congressional Republicans are selecting their phrases fastidiously as they describe potential cuts to Medicaid — cuts that, contemplating heavy reliance on this system, particularly in crimson states, could possibly be politically unpopular.
- Amid the excitement over Medicaid cuts, one other federal program that helps thousands and thousands of Individuals afford well being care can also be on the chopping block: the improved authorities subsidies launched beneath the Biden administration that assist pay premiums for Inexpensive Care Act plans. The subsidies expire on the finish of this 12 months, and Congress has but to handle extending them.
- One little-discussed possibility for attaining deep authorities spending cuts is Medicare Benefit, the personal different to conventional Medicare that gives quite a lot of additional advantages for these over 65 — however that additionally prices the federal authorities a bundle. Even Mehmet Oz, the brand new head of the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Companies who as soon as pushed Medicare Benefit plans as a TV character, has solid sidelong glances at personal insurers over how a lot they cost the federal government.
- And the Supreme Courtroom heard oral arguments this week in a case that challenges the U.S. Preventive Companies Activity Pressure and will maintain main implications for preventive care protection nationwide. The justices’ questioning suggests the court docket might facet with the federal government and protect the duty drive’s authority — although that call would additionally give extra energy over preventive care to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the well being and human providers secretary.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews KFF Well being Information’ Rae Ellen Bichell about her story on how take care of transgender minors is altering in Colorado.
Plus, for “additional credit score” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you need to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: MedPage As we speak’s “Medical Journals Get Letters From DOJ,” by Kristina Fiore.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Tampa Bay Instances’ “Countering DeSantis, $10M Hope Florida Donation Got here From Medicaid, Draft Reveals,” by Alexandra Glorioso and Lawrence Mower.
Tami Luhby: Stat’s “In Eire, a World Hub for the Pharma Trade, Trump Tariffs Are a Supply of Deep Fear,” by Andrew Joseph.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Instances’ “A Scientist Is Paid to Research Maple Syrup. He’s Additionally Paid to Advertise,” by Will Evans, Ellen Gabler, and Anjali Tsui.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
- Stat’s “New England Journal of Medication Will get Swept Up in U.S. Lawyer Inquiry Into Alleged Bias,” by Anil Oza.
- KFF’s “KFF Monitoring Ballot on Well being Data and Belief: The Public’s Views on Measles Outbreaks and Misinformation,” by Alex Montero, Grace Sparks, Julian Montalvo III, Ashley Kirzinger, and Liz Hamel.
- Bloomberg Information’ “Meals Trade Says There’s No Settlement With US Well being Company to Reduce Dyes,” by Rachel Cohrs Zhang.
- Politico’s “RFK Jr. Eyes Reversing CDC’s Covid-19 Vaccine Advice for Kids,” by Adam Cancryn.
- The New Yorker’s “The Value of Defunding Harvard,” by Atul Gawande.
- The Wall Avenue Journal’s “Trump’s FDA Sends a Bullish Sign to Biotech,” by David Wainer
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