Schrödinger’s Authorities Shutdown – KFF Well being Information
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 knowledgeable 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.
Democrats and Republicans are each dealing with potential political penalties of their persevering with standoff over federal authorities funding. Republicans are prone to face a voter backlash in the event that they refuse to conform to Democrats’ calls for that they renew further tax credit for Reasonably priced Care Act market plans, because the majority of these dealing with premium hikes dwell in GOP-dominated states. For his or her half, Democrats are nervous that Republicans will violate the phrases of any potential spending deal.
On the identical time, the Trump administration is utilizing the shutdown to attempt to lay off hundreds of federal staff, together with these performing key public well being roles on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg College of Public Well being and Politico Journal, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Publish.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg Information
Joanne Kenen
Johns Hopkins College and Politico
Lauren Weber
The Washington Publish
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Because the federal authorities shutdown drags on, there was little progress towards a deal on authorities spending — or on the expiring ACA market subsidies Democrats are combating to resume. Potential subsidy compromises might, as an example, implement a minimal premium instead of $0 premiums, to cut back enrollment fraud, as Republicans need.
- A federal decide halted the Trump administration’s newest layoffs of federal staff amid questions in regards to the layoffs’ legality. The administration particularly dealt a heavy blow this spherical to the CDC, an company that has been battered by workers reductions, coverage shifts, and even violence.
- New reporting exhibits the Trump administration explored the feasibility of tracing abortion tablet residue in wastewater, following up on an anti-abortion declare that the medicine could also be contaminating the water provide. But advocates might have an ulterior motive: growing the flexibility to hint use of the tablet to additional crack down on abortions.
- And President Donald Trump unveiled a cope with a second drugmaker, AstraZeneca, that permits the corporate to keep away from tariffs in change for constructing a brand new U.S. facility. However as with the primary deal, it’s unclear how a lot cash the settlement will save sufferers.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews medical health insurance analyst Louise Norris of Medicareresources.org in regards to the Medicare open enrollment interval, which started Oct. 15.
Plus, for “further credit score” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: Politico’s “RFK Jr.’s Bought Recommendation for Pregnant Ladies. There’s Restricted Information To Assist It,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein.
Anna Edney: The New York Instances’ “The Drug That Took Away Extra Than Her Urge for food,” by Maia Szalavitz.
Joanne Kenen: Mom Jones’ “From Drugs to Mysticism: The Radicalization of Florida’s Prime Doc,” by Kiera Butler and Julianne McShane.
Lauren Weber: KFF Well being Information’ “Senators Press Deloitte, Different Contractors on Errors in Medicaid Eligibility Programs,” by Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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KFF Well being Information is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is among the core working packages at KFF—an impartial supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Study extra about KFF.
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