Podcast appearances and mentions of julie rovner

When Republicans passed their big budget bill in 2025, they thought the effects of cuts to health programs wouldn't show up until after the 2026 midterms. They were wrong. Meanwhile, the party is trumpeting its efforts to lower drug prices. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Maya Goldman of Axios join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' editor-at-large for public health, Céline Gounder, to discuss the Ebola outbreak. Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: ProPublica's “She Faced a Life-Threatening Miscarriage. Under Arkansas' Abortion Ban, Even Calls to the Governor's Office Didn't Help,” by Kavitha Surana.  Lauren Weber: The New York Times' “Short Naps, Long Hours: How Autism Clinics Squeeze Medicaid Dollars Out of Preschoolers,” by Sarah Kliff and Margot Sanger-Katz.  Shefali Luthra: The New York Times' “Nine Months of Medical Attention. Then Almost Nothing,” by Sejal Hathi.  Maya Goldman: The Texas Tribune's “Texas Children's Hospital Must Create Country's First ‘Detransition Clinic' Under Legal Settlement With State,” by Terri Langford and Colleen DeGuzman. 

Health care leaders are navigating one of the most volatile policy environments in decades. The next major reform fight hasn't arrived yet — but in its place, a steady wave of rulemaking, regulatory shifts, and enforcement actions is driving real change. Policies are evolving faster, reversing more often, and creating a level of uncertainty that makes even the most seasoned strategists question what to act on, what to wait out, and what to ignore. This moment of policy whiplash isn't theoretical — it's reshaping care delivery models, workforce strategy, and long term investment decisions across the industry. In this live episode, recorded at Advisory Board's Washington, D.C. Summit on May 4, 2026, host Rae Woods sits down with Julie Rovner — chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast — to make sense of this “in between” moment of health policy. Drawing on four decades of reporting across multiple administrations and reform cycles, Julie helps leaders separate meaningful signals from noise, understand where real policy power sits today, and anticipate what could define the next era of health reform. We're here to help: Playlist | Radio Advisory Health Policy playlist Expert Insight | How policy changes will impact your bottom line Tool | Policy Scenario Impact Calculator Want to see a live recording of Radio Advisory? Register for an Advisory Board summit and get the insights your organization needs to navigate uncertainty and build lasting resilience. What the Health? From KFF Health News Archives - KFF Health News 4 ways health systems are reducing EVS costs while improving performance A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In just the first few days after losing his bid for reelection in Louisiana, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy has already started signaling that his loyalty to President Donald Trump has waned. But how much Cassidy will try to accomplish toward his health agenda in his remaining months in office remains to be seen. Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss this story and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews health policy professor Miranda Yaver, the author of a new book about health insurance denials.  Plus for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Wall Street Journal's “How Zyn Became All the Rage Inside Trump World — Including With RFK Jr.,” by Liz Essley Whyte, Josh Dawsey and C. Ryan Barber.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat's “1 in 8 Women Drink During Pregnancy. Experts Dread the Consequences,” by Isabella Cueto. Joanne Kenen: The Associated Press' “A Crisis of Conscience Spurred This Christian IVF Doctor's Career Pivot,” by Tiffany Stanley. Sheryl Gay Stolberg: KFF Health News' “Religious Anti-Abortion Center Finds Opportunity in Town Without OB-GYNs,” by Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez. 

In one of the most widely expected departures in recent memory, Marty Makary stepped down as head of the FDA this week. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is considering blocking telehealth prescriptions for the abortion pill mifepristone. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) about health issues before Congress. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: ProPublica's “A Unique Oregon Law Allows It To Block Healthcare Deals. In Five Years, the State Hasn't Done So Once,” by Rob Davis. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Wall Street Journal's “Inside Marty Makary's Downfall at the FDA,” by Liz Essley Whyte and Josh Dawsey.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's “Lawmakers' Prescription Data at Risk After Data Breach,” by Katherine Tully-McManus.  Lauren Weber: Stat's “Alcohol Is Wreaking Havoc on U.S. Public Health. American Society Looks the Other Way,” by Lev Facher and Isabella Cueto. 

A federal court's decision to override the FDA and restrict availability of the abortion pill mifepristone has launched abortion back into the national spotlight. It's also raised new questions about the job security of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Andrew Jones, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month,” about an emergency room bill for a visit that wasn't an emergency — but could have been.  Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “HHS' Healthy Food Agenda Puts Hospitals on Notice About Patients' Meals,” by Stephanie Armour.  Shefali Luthra: ProPublica's “Babies Are Bleeding to Death as Parents Reject a Vitamin Shot Given at Birth,” by Duaa Eldeib.  Sandhya Raman: The Cut's “Pediatricians Didn't Sign Up for This,” by Juno DeMelo.  Jessie Hellmann: Nature's “Key US Science Panels Are Being Axed — And Others Are Becoming Less Open,” by Max Kozlov, Alexandra Witze, and Dan Garisto.  

Democrats and Republicans on one of the House committees that oversees the Medicare program had strong words about high hospital pricing at a hearing on Capitol Hill this week, but it remains unclear whether the reality will match their rhetoric when it comes to reining in those prices. Meanwhile, some good health policy news: A study found the 988 suicide prevention hotline reduced suicides significantly in its first two years of operation. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists share their favorite health policy stories of the week that they think you should read, too. Julie Rovner: The New York Times' “While Advising Kennedy, Top Aide Had More Than $25 Million Stake in Wellness Company,” by Christina Jewett and Benjamin Mueller.  Joanne Kenen: ProPublica's “Unfounded Health Concerns Are Powering a Solar Backlash,” by Anna Clark.  Rachel Roubein: KFF Health News' “Big Companies Position Themselves for Payday from $50B Federal Rural Health Fund,” by Sarah Jane Tribble.  Shefali Luthra: The Atlantic and KFF Health News' “A ‘Barbaric' Problem in American Hospitals Is Only Getting Bigger,” by Elisabeth Rosenthal. 

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. completed his whirlwind tour of House and Senate committees this week, ostensibly to promote President Donald Trump's budget proposal for his department but also to answer for some of his more controversial positions, particularly on vaccines. Meanwhile, Trump signed an executive order to facilitate the use of hallucinogens to treat mental health conditions and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended a decades-old policy requiring members of the military to get annual flu shots. Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Victoria Knight of Bloomberg Government join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, in the latest installment of our “How Would You Fix It?” series, Rovner interviews doctor, author, and Harvard public health professor David Blumenthal about his ideas for making the health system work better.  Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “KitKat, Gatorade or granola bars? What's banned under new SNAP rules is mixed,” by Rachel Roubein.  Sheryl Gay Stolberg: Politico's “Trump's surgeon general pick faces mounting GOP opposition,” by Amanda Friedman and Alice Miranda Ollstein.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Washington Post's “Where U.S. science has been hit hardest after Trump's first year,” by Carolyn Y. Johnson, Lydia Sidhom and Susan Svrluga.  Victoria Knight: The New York Times's “A $440,000 Breast Reduction: How Doctors Cashed In on a Consumer Protection Law,” by Sarah Kliff and Margot Sanger-Katz. 

President Donald Trump tapped a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director — a former deputy surgeon general and vaccine supporter. Meanwhile, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the rounds on Capitol Hill to testify about the president's budget request, though the topics lawmakers wanted to discuss ran the gamut. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, KFF Health News' Julie Rovner interviews Michelle Canero, an immigration attorney, about how Trump's policies affect the medical workforce. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read (or wrote) this week that they think you should read, too: Mary Agnes Carey: Politico's “‘A Crisis in the Making': Nebraska Races To Impose Work Requirements on Medicaid,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein. Joanne Kenen: The New York Times' “He Warned About the Dangers of A.I. If Only His Father Had Listened,” by Teddy Rosenbluth. Anna Edney: Bloomberg's “Hormone Drugs Make $6.3 Billion Comeback After FDA Nixes Safety Warnings,” by Anna Edney. Emmarie Huetteman: KFF Health News' “Your New Therapist: Chatty, Leaky, and Hardly Human,” by Darius Tahir. 

This week, the Trump administration won a court battle to delay a ruling on access to the abortion pill mifepristone, angering its own anti-abortion allies. Meanwhile, the president's budget arrived on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are unlikely to agree to its proposed cuts to Health and Human Services programs. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Maya Goldman of Axios join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: The Atlantic's “HHS Officials' Year in Purgatory Is Ending,” by Katherine J. Wu.Maya Goldman: KFF Health News' “Trump's Personnel Agency Is Asking for Federal Workers' Medical Records,” by Amanda Seitz and Maia Rosenfeld.Lauren Weber: CNN's “These Common Drug Tests Lead to Tens of Thousands of Wrongful Arrests a Year, Experts Say. One State Is Fighting Back,” by Holly Yan.Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's “A Slowdown in US Visa Processing Is Wreaking Havoc on Foreign Doctors' Lives,” by Simon J. Levien.

Despite public opposition to the cuts they made to federal health programs in 2025, Republicans reportedly are considering still more cuts to help pay for the war in Iran. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado cannot ban mental health professionals from using “conversion therapy” on LGBTQ+ minors. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Elisabeth Rosenthal, who wrote the last two “Bill of the Month” stories. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: New York Magazine's “The Dog Owners Taking Their Injured Corgis and Doodles to Tijuana: Mexico Is to Pet MRIs What Turkey Has Become for Hair Transplants,” by Helaine Olen.  Jessie Hellmann: The Texas Tribune's “‘Don't Take Me to the Hospital': Undocumented Immigrants in Texas Are Delaying Medical Care,” by Colleen DeGuzman, Stephen Simpson, Terri Langford, and Dan Keemahill. Sandhya Raman: Science's “Supporters Push To Revive Moribund Agency Studying Patient Care,” by Jocelyn Kaiser.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say,” by Ed Augustin and Jack Nicas.  

The Trump administration faces the challenge of naming a new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who can both satisfy the Make America Healthy Again movement and get confirmed by the Senate. Meanwhile, a new Senate bill to rescind the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone is again elevating the abortion debate, which some Republicans would prefer to stay on the back burner until after the midterm elections. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Georgetown University Law Center's Katie Keith about the state of the Affordable Care Act on its 16th anniversary. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Stat's “The Potential Loophole in Trump's Plan To Get Other Countries To Pay More for Drugs,” by John Wilkerson. Shefali Luthra: NPR's “Yep. A Mom's COVID Shot During Pregnancy Protects Her Baby, a Large Study Finds,” by Tara Haelle. Lizzy Lawrence: The Atlantic's “The Meme-Washing of RFK Jr.,” by Nicholas Florko. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Boston Globe's “‘We're on the Inside Now': Meet the Man Building a Political Empire Behind RFK Jr.” by Tal Kopan. 

A federal judge in Massachusetts this week sided with public health groups to block changes to the federally recommended schedule of childhood vaccines, dealing at least a temporary setback to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts to remake the schedule. Meanwhile, Congress has put its debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act on the back burner, but the issue of rising health care costs is still front and center for the voting public. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF President and CEO Drew Altman to kick off a new series looking at health care solutions, called “How Would You Fix It?”  Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The New York Times' “Trump Promised the ‘World's Lowest' Drug Prices. We Checked the Numbers,” by Rebecca Robbins.  Lauren Weber: The Atlantic's “Sucker: My Year as a Degenerate Gambler,” by McKay Coppins. Margot Sanger-Katz: Stat's “How a Texas Couple Is Getting Rich Off Out-of-Network Medical Bills,” by Tara Bannow.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “U.S. Considers Withholding H.I.V. Aid Unless Zambia Expands Minerals Access,” by Stephanie Nolen.  

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had another tough week. In addition to Kennedy having surgery on a torn rotator cuff, the nomination of his ally to become surgeon general is teetering in the Senate, the controversial head of the Food and Drug Administration's vaccine center is resigning next month, and a new survey shows Americans trust government health officials less than they do former Biden official Anthony Fauci. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's fraud crackdown is reaching private Medicare insurance plans. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Andy Schneider of Georgetown University about the Trump administration's crackdown on Medicaid fraud in Democratic-led states.  Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for "extra credit" the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Marshall Project's "The Harrowing Journey Home for Families Leaving Immigration Detention," by Shannon Heffernan, Jesse Bogan, and Anna Flagg.  Anna Edney: The Wall Street Journal's "The Boom in Autism Therapy Is Medicaid's Fastest-Growing Jackpot," by Christopher Weaver, Tom McGinty, and Anna Wilde Mathews.  Shefali Luthra: The New York Times' "States Move To Limit Access to H.I.V. Treatment," by Apoorva Mandavilli.  Joanne Kenen: The Idaho Capital Sun's "988 Ended His Call. Now an Idaho Teen Is Pushing for a Fix to State's Parental Consent Law," by Laura Guido.  

This month is 40 years since host Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, began reporting on health policy in Washington. To mark the anniversary, Rovner is joined by two longtime sources to discuss what has — and has not — changed since 1986.This week's special guests are Chip Kahn, a former GOP House and Senate staffer and former head of the Federation of American Hospitals and the Health Insurance Association of America, and Chris Jennings, a former Democratic Senate staffer and a health policy adviser to Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.Visit our website to read a transcript of this episode.

Health care got barely a mention in President Donald Trump's record-long State of the Union address this week. Ahead of the midterms, the Trump administration has presented few concrete plans to address what Americans say is the biggest problem with health care: its skyrocketing costs. Meanwhile, Trump's pick to become U.S. surgeon general, Casey Means, got her long-delayed nomination hearing in the Senate, where she faced some skeptical questions from Democrats and Republicans alike. Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read (or wrote) this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “When It Comes to Health Insurance, Federal Dollars Support More Than ACA Plans,” by Julie Appleby.  Sheryl Gay Stolberg: ProPublica's “South Carolina Hospitals Aren't Required To Disclose Measles-Related Admissions. That Leaves Doctors in the Dark,” by Jennifer Berry Hawes.  Lauren Weber: The Washington Post's “Inside RFK Jr.'s Push Against the Flu Vaccine That He Links to His Voice Condition,” by Lauren Weber, Lena H. Sun, and Caitlin Gilbert.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat's “Pharma Lobbyists Focus on a Surprising New Target: The FDA,” by Daniel Payne and Lizzy Lawrence.  

It's been a busy week at the Food and Drug Administration, with a political appointee overruling agency scientists to reject an application for a new flu vaccine, a decision that's reverberating through the drug industry. Meanwhile, anti-abortion Republicans on Capitol Hill complain the agency is dragging its feet on reviewing the abortion pill mifepristone. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Jackie Fortiér of KFF Health News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: ProPublica's “The Children of Dilley,” by Mica Rosenberg.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's “Why Washington's All-In on Smart Rings,” by Amanda Chu.  Lizzy Lawrence: KFF Health News' “US Cancer Institute Studying Ivermectin's ‘Ability To Kill Cancer Cells,'” by Rachana Pradhan.  Jackie Fortiér: Stat's “The New Childhood Vaccine Guidelines Have a Paid Leave Problem,” by Ariana Hendrix.  

Congress has passed — and President Donald Trump has signed — the annual spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. But it's unclear whether the administration will spend the money as Congress directed.In 2025, billions of dollars were stalled, disrupting patient care and scientific research, until federal judges ordered funding resumed. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more.Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Renuka Rayasam about a new reporting project, “Priced Out.”Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Politico's “DeSantis' Canadian Drug Import Plan in Florida Goes From Campaign Trail to Tough Realities,” by Arek Sarkissian.  Sandhya Raman: The Washington Post's “Free HIV Drugs Save Lives. Why One State Is Restricting Access for Thousands,” by David Ovalle.  Anna Edney: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Associated Press's “Forever Stained: Inside America's Carpet Capital: An Empire and its Toxic Legacy,” by Dylan Jackson, Jason Dearan, and Justin Price.  Joanne Kenen: Inside Climate News' “‘Toxic Colonialism' on the Bay of Bengal,” by Johnny Sturgeon. 

The Trump administration's immigration crackdown is not just roiling politics but also directly affecting the provision of health care, medical groups say. Meanwhile, in Washington, federal spending bills on their way to passage have been stalled by the fight over immigration enforcement funding after the shooting death of a second person in Minneapolis this month. Maya Goldman of Axios, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Science's “U.S. Government Has Lost More Than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s Since Trump Took Office,” by Monica Hersher and Jeffrey Mervis.  Maya Goldman: NBC News' “Many Obamacare Enrollees Have Switched to Cheaper Bronze Plans. Here's Why That Could Be Risky,” by Berkeley Lovelace Jr.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “After Donations, Trump Administration Revoked Rule Requiring More Nursing Home Staff,” by Kenneth P. Vogel and Christina Jewett.  Rachel Roubein: Stat's “HHS Appoints 21 New Members to Federal Autism Advisory Committee,” by O. Rose Broderick.  

Lawmakers appear on the brink of passing a spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services and a bipartisan health policy bill delayed for over a year. But the outlook is considerably bleaker for the health care outline released by President Donald Trump last week. Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews oncologist and bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel to discuss his new book, “Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life.” Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: CIDRAP's “Minnesota Residents Delay Medical Care for Fear of Encountering ICE,” by Liz Szabo.  Sheryl Gay Stolberg: Rolling Stone's “HHS Gave a $1.6 Million Grant to a Controversial Vaccine Study. These Emails Show How That Happened,” by Katherine Eban.  Paige Winfield Cunningham: Politico's “RFK Jr. Is Bringing the GOP and the Trial Bar Together,” by Amanda Chu. Sandhya Raman: Popular Information's “ICE Has Stopped Paying for Detainee Medical Treatment,” by Judd Legum.  

With lawmakers still mired over renewing enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans, much of Washington has turned its attention to culture war issues, including abortion and gender-affirming care. Meanwhile, “confusion” remains the watchword at the Department of Health and Human Services as personnel and funding decisions continue to be made and unmade with little notice. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Elisabeth Rosenthal, who created the “Bill of the Month” series and wrote the latest installment, about a very hot pepper and a very late ER bill. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The New York Times' “E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution,” by Maxine Joselow.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica's “After Sowing Distrust in Fluoridated Water, Kennedy and Skeptics Turn to Obstructing Other Fluoride Sources,” by Anna Clark.  Joanne Kenen: The New Yorker's “What ‘The Pitt' Taught Me About Being a Doctor,” by Dhruv Khullar.  Anna Edney: MedPage Today's “Worried About Liability After CDC Vaccine Changes? You Shouldn't Be,” by Joedy McCreary.  

Congress returned from its holiday break facing a familiar question: whether to extend the expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans that expired at the end of 2025.  Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. broke a promise to Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the chairman of Senate health committee, by overhauling the federal government's childhood vaccine schedule to reduce the number of diseases for which vaccines will be recommended.  Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read (or wrote) this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Advertisements Promising Patients a ‘Dream Body' With Minimal Risk Get Little Scrutiny,” by Fred Schulte.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: SFGate's “A Calif. Teen Trusted ChatGPT for Drug Advice. He Died From an Overdose,” by Lester Black and Stephen Council.  Sarah Karlin-Smith: ProPublica's “The End of Aid: Trump Destroyed USAID. What Happens Now?” by Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Brett Murphy.  Lauren Weber: The Washington Post's “How RFK Jr. Upended the Public Health System,” by Rachel Roubein, Lena H. Sun, and Lauren Weber.  

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, joins Howie and Harlan to make sense of the fight over ACA subsidies and reflect on her decades of health policy reporting. Harlan reports on a new wave of breakthroughs in obesity treatment; Howie provides updates on the measles outbreak and a record-setting flu season. Show notes: Obesity treatments "Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered weight loss of up to an average of 71.2 lbs along with substantial relief from osteoarthritis pain in first successful Phase 3 trial" "Arrowhead's gene-silencing drugs cut fat in early obesity studies" "Novo launches Wegovy weight-loss pill for sale in US" "Older Americans Quit Weight-Loss Drugs in Droves" Julie Rovner What the Health? podcast What the Health? podcast: "Time's Up for Expanded ACA Tax Credits" What the Health? podcast: "What Do Republicans Really Want on Health Care?" "Trump wants GOP's flexibility on Hyde Amendment" Congressional Research Service: The Hyde Amendment Healthcare.gov: Health Savings Accounts "Republicans unveil health care plan to counter Democratic effort to extend ACA subsidies" 119th Congress: H.R.1 KFF: "The Impact of H.R. 1 on Two Medicaid Eligibility Rules" KFF: "Implementation Dates for 2025 Budget Reconciliation Law" KFF: "Health Care Costs and Affordability" Flu and Measles CDC: Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report "Flu cases, hospitalizations are rising sharply in CT" Connecticut Department of Public Health: Weekly Respiratory Viral Disease Report CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks CDC: Vaccination Coverage and Exemptions among Kindergartners
 In the Yale School of Management's MBA for Executives program, you'll get a full MBA education in 22 months while applying new skills to your organization in real time. Yale's Executive Master of Public Health offers a rigorous public health education for working professionals, with the flexibility of evening online classes alongside three on-campus trainings. Email Howie and Harlan comments or questions.

This past year marked the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, the twin government programs that have shaped the health care system into what it is today. In this special episode, re-aired for the holidays, KFF Health News' Julie Rovner interviews two experts on the history, significance, and future of these perennially popular programs. First up, Medicare historian and University of North Carolina health policy professor Jonathan Oberlander talks about Medicare. He's followed by Sara Rosenbaum of the George Washington University, who has not only studied Medicaid since nearly its beginning but has helped shape Medicaid policy over the past four decades.Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.

A last-minute push from Democrats and four moderate Republicans will force a House vote on renewing enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans, but not until January. That means millions will have to choose between paying dramatically more or dropping coverage next year. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially drops the federal recommendation for newborns to receive a hepatitis B shot. Tami Luhby of CNN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Lizzy Lawrence of Stat join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Tony Leys, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, and the panel discusses the year's biggest developments in health policy.  Plus, for a special year-end “extra-credit” segment, the panelists suggest what they consider 2025's biggest health policy themes: Julie Rovner: The future of the workforce in biomedical research and health care. Lizzy Lawrence: The politicization of science. Tami Luhby: The systemic impacts of cuts to the Medicaid program. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The resurgence of infectious diseases. 

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discusses the latest over the battle in Congress over the fate of the Affordable Care Act

The Senate rejects health care bills as premiums are set to spike for millions next month. Then, new reporting on the White House preparing to seize more oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela. Plus, Disney's deal with OpenAI, and what it could mean for the future of media and artificial intelligence. Peter Baker, David Drucker, Julie Rovner, Brian Barrett, Max Chafkin, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, and Rabbi Marc Schneier join The 11th Hour this Thursday night. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Monday is your deadline to pick an insurance plan on the Affordable Care Act marketplace – and there is still zero plan to ensure that the enhanced subsidies that make those premiums affordable – or, more affordable – will stay in place. But that won't stop Congress from trying! The Senate is expected to vote today on two healthcare plans — one from Republicans, and one from Democrats. For details on what's in those proposals, some of the plans formulating in the House, and whether any of them stand a chance of passing, we spoke with Julie Rovner. She's the chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of KFF Health News' "What the Health?" podcast.And in headlines, the Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate for the third time in a row, President Trump uses the U.S. military to seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, and a new proposal could require travelers from all over the world to hand over their social media for vetting before entering the U.S.A.Show Notes:Check out What The Health – https://tinyurl.com/yuvzedcyCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

December 15 is the deadline to sign up for Affordable Care Act plans that begin January 1. Congress remains at odds over letting expanded tax credits for the plans' premiums expire, dramatically increasing the cost of insurance for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to remake vaccine policy to reflect ideology rather than science. Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Maya Goldman of Axios join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Georgetown University professor Linda Blumberg about what the GOP's health plans have in common.  Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read (or wrote) this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “Rural America Relies on Foreign Doctors. Trump's Visa Fee Shuts Them Out,” by David Ovalle.  Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “Abbott Fired a Warning Shot on Baby Formula — Then Launched a Lobbying Blitz,” by Anna Edney.  Sheryl Gay Stolberg: The New York Times' “The Married Scientists Torn Apart by a Covid Bioweapon Theory,” by Katie J.M. Baker.  Maya Goldman: ProPublica's “These Health Centers Are Supposed to Make Care Affordable. One Has Sued Patients for as Little as $59 in Unpaid Bills,” by Aliyya Swaby.  

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and NPR reporter Jude Joffe-Block discuss the latest in health-related news, including potential changes to SNAP, the vote changing the hepatitis vaccine recommendation and the latest fight in Washington over extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Senate Democrats were promised a vote by mid-December on extending the enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, but Republicans still can't decide whether they want to put forward their own alternative or what that might include. Meanwhile, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are roiled by debates over vaccines. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Aneri Pattani about her project tracking the distribution of $50 billion in opioid legal-settlement payments.  Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The New York Times' “These Hospitals Figured Out How To Slash C-Section Rates,” by Sarah Kliff and Bianca Pallaro.  Joanne Kenen: Wired's “A Fentanyl Vaccine Is About To Get Its First Major Test,” by Emily Mullin.  Paige Winfield Cunningham: The New York Times' “A Smartphone Before Age 12 Could Carry Health Risks, Study Says,” by Catherine Pearson.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Independent's “Miscarriages, Infections, Neglect: The Pregnant Women Detained by ICE,” by Kelly Rissman.  

Even in an administration filled with unorthodox characters, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., stands out. He's more famous, more popular and more influential than any of his peers. And he's the most important figure in American health and science today. Join moderator Jeffrey Goldberg, Michael Scherer of The Atlantic, Dan Diamond of The Washington Post and Julie Rovner of KFF Health News to discuss.

Just weeks before some tax credits for Affordable Care Act premiums expire, the Trump administration floated a plan to extend the enhanced aid — but it was met with immediate GOP pushback. Meanwhile, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise its website to suggest childhood vaccines might be linked to autism. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Joanne Kenen and Joshua Sharfstein about their new book, “Information Sick: How Journalism's Decline and Misinformation's Rise Are Harming Our Health — And What We Can Do About It.” Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The New Yorker's “A Battle With My Blood,” by Tatiana Schlossberg.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: CNBC's “Meta Halted Research Suggesting Social Media Harm, Court Filing Alleges,” by Jonathan Vanian.  Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Guardian's “Influencers Made Millions Pushing ‘Wild' Births — Now the Free Birth Society Is Linked To Baby Deaths Around the World,” by Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne.  Sandhya Raman: KFF Health News' “Kids and Teens Go Full Throttle for E-Bikes as Federal Oversight Stalls,” by Kate Ruder.  

Led by President Donald Trump, Republicans in Congress are solidifying their opposition to extending pandemic-era subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans and seem to be coalescing around giving money directly to consumers to spend on health care. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to leave his mark on the agency, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention altering its website to suggest childhood vaccines could play a role in causing autism. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Avik Roy, a GOP health policy adviser and co-founder and chair of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity.  Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: CNBC's “Cheaper Medicines, Free Beach Trips: U.S. Health Plans Tap Prescriptions That Feds Say Are Illegal,” by Scott Zamost, Paige Tortorelli, and Melissa Lee.  Paige Winfield Cunningham: The Wall Street Journal's “Medicaid Insurers Promise Lots of Doctors. Good Luck Seeing One,” by Christopher Weaver, Anna Wilde Mathews, and Tom McGinty.  Joanne Kenen: ProPublica's “What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic,” by Nat Lash.  Shefali Luthra: ProPublica's “‘Ticking Time Bomb': A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn't Get an Abortion in Texas,” by Kavitha Surana and Lizzie Presser.  

For the Affordable Care Act, it's been one battle after another. The ongoing fight over the ACA subsidies at the center of the government shutdown are just the latest flash point in the law's 15-year history. KFF Health News' Julie Rovner joins Kimberly to break down where things stand with the ACA and whether we're on the cusp of another national healthcare debate. Plus, the other health policy changes coming under the Trump administration.Here's everything we talked about today:"The State of the Affordable Care Act" from KFF Health News"Oz: Trump administration weighing ACA subsidies extension" from The Hill "8 Things to Watch for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period" from KFF "Obamacare sticker shock is more shocking in some states than others" from Politico"GOP plans to replace Obamacare have failed. Here's what lawmakers propose now." from Washington Post  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

For the Affordable Care Act, it's been one battle after another. The ongoing fight over the ACA subsidies at the center of the government shutdown are just the latest flash point in the law's 15-year history. KFF Health News' Julie Rovner joins Kimberly to break down where things stand with the ACA and whether we're on the cusp of another national healthcare debate. Plus, the other health policy changes coming under the Trump administration.Here's everything we talked about today:"The State of the Affordable Care Act" from KFF Health News"Oz: Trump administration weighing ACA subsidies extension" from The Hill "8 Things to Watch for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period" from KFF "Obamacare sticker shock is more shocking in some states than others" from Politico"GOP plans to replace Obamacare have failed. Here's what lawmakers propose now." from Washington Post  We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The record-long federal shutdown is over after a small group of Democrats agreed to a deal with most Republicans that funds the government through January — but, notably, does not extend more generous Affordable Care Act tax credits. Plus, new details are emerging about how the Trump administration is using the Medicaid program to advance its policy goals. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, KFF Health News' Julie Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Julie Appleby, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Emmarie Huetteman: KFF Health News' “Immigrants With Health Conditions May Be Denied Visas Under New Trump Administration Guidance,” by Amanda Seitz. Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “Bayer Weighs Roundup Exit as Cancer Legal Bill Nears $18 Billion,” by Tim Loh, Hayley Warren, and Julia Janicki. Shefali Luthra: The 19th's “Detransition Is Rare, but It's Driving Anti-Trans Policy Anyway,” by Orion Rummler. Sandhya Raman: BBC's “Canada Loses Its Measles-Free status, With US on Track To Follow,” by Nadine Yousif. 

November 1 marked the start of open enrollment for 2026 health plans bought from Affordable Care Act marketplaces in most states. But this sign-up season is like no other in the health law's 15-year history. It remains unclear, even at this late date, whether expanded tax credits launched during the pandemic in 2021 will be continued or allowed to expire, exposing millions of Americans to much higher out-of-pocket costs. In this special episode of “What the Health?” from KFF Health News and WAMU, host Julie Rovner interviews KFF vice president Cynthia Cox about the past, present, and possible future of the health law and how those who purchase ACA coverage should proceed during this time of uncertainty. 

A standoff in Congress is keeping much of the federal government shut down as open enrollment begins in most states for Affordable Care Act plans. Democrats have refused to vote on spending until Republicans agree to extend more generous ACA premium tax credits, but so far there has been little negotiating — even as customers are learning what they'll pay for coverage next year. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is telling states they can't pass their own laws to keep medical debt off consumers' credit reports, after killing a Biden-era effort to end the practice nationwide. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Maya Goldman of Axios join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Many Fear Federal Loan Caps Will Deter Aspiring Doctors and Worsen MD Shortage,” by Bernard J. Wolfson. Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica's “Citing Trump Order on ‘Biological Truth,' VA Makes It Harder for Male Veterans With Breast Cancer To Get Coverage,” by Eric Umansky.  Paige Winfield Cunningham: The Washington Post's “Study Finds mRNA Coronavirus Vaccines Prolonged Life of Cancer Patients,” by Mark Johnson.  Maya Goldman: KFF Health News' “As Sports Betting Explodes, States Try To Set Limits To Stop Gambling Addiction,” by Karen Brown, New England Public Media.  

Two major nutrition programs — supporting low-income families, as well as young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women — are likely to exhaust their funding in November, and the furloughs and firings at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have left the agency unable to perform some of its major functions.Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's new policy on in vitro fertilization is being met with dissatisfaction from both sides of the controversial issue.Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Katheryn Houghton, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, about a broken elbow and a nearly six-figure bill.  Visit our website for a transcript of the episode.Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: ProPublica's “The Shadow President,” by Andy Kroll. Shefali Luthra: The 19th's “More People Are Freezing Their Eggs — But Most Will Never Use Them,” by Shalini Kathuria Narang, Rewire News Group.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: Brown University's “New Study: AI Chatbots Systematically Violate Mental Health Ethics Standards.”  Rachel Roubein: The Washington Post's “Errors in New Medicare Plan Portal Mislead Seniors on Coverage,” by Dan Diamond and Akilah Johnson.  

Two major nutrition programs — supporting low-income families, as well as young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women — are likely to exhaust their funding in November, and the furloughs and firings at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have left the agency unable to perform some of its major functions.Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's new policy on in vitro fertilization is being met with dissatisfaction from both sides of the controversial issue.Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Katheryn Houghton, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, about a broken elbow and a nearly six-figure bill. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: ProPublica's “The Shadow President,” by Andy Kroll. Shefali Luthra: The 19th's “More People Are Freezing Their Eggs — But Most Will Never Use Them,” by Shalini Kathuria Narang, Rewire News Group. Alice Miranda Ollstein: Brown University's “New Study: AI Chatbots Systematically Violate Mental Health Ethics Standards.” Rachel Roubein: The Washington Post's “Errors in New Medicare Plan Portal Mislead Seniors on Coverage,” by Dan Diamond and Akilah Johnson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats and Republicans remain stalled over funding the federal government as Republicans launch a new attack on the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is taking advantage of the shutdown to lay off workers from programs supported mostly by Democrats. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews health insurance analyst Louise Norris about Medicare open enrollment, which began Oct. 15. Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Politico's “RFK Jr.'s Got Advice for Pregnant Women. There's Limited Data To Support It,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein.  Joanne Kenen: Mother Jones' “From Medicine to Mysticism: The Radicalization of Florida's Top Doc,” by Kiera Butler and Julianne McShane.  Lauren Weber: KFF Health News' “Senators Press Deloitte, Other Contractors on Errors in Medicaid Eligibility Systems,” by Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss.  Anna Edney: The New York Times' “The Drug That Took Away More Than Her Appetite,” by Maia Szalavitz.  

Democrats and Republicans remain stalled over funding the federal government as Republicans launch a new attack on the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is taking advantage of the shutdown to lay off workers from programs supported mostly by Democrats. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews health insurance analyst Louise Norris about Medicare open enrollment, which began Oct. 15. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Politico's “RFK Jr.'s Got Advice for Pregnant Women. There's Limited Data To Support It,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein. Joanne Kenen: Mother Jones' “From Medicine to Mysticism: The Radicalization of Florida's Top Doc,” by Kiera Butler and Julianne McShane. Lauren Weber: KFF Health News' “Senators Press Deloitte, Other Contractors on Errors in Medicaid Eligibility Systems,” by Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss. Anna Edney: The New York Times' “The Drug That Took Away More Than Her Appetite,” by Maia Szalavitz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government shutdown continues with no obvious end in sight, and while it theoretically should not affect entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the lapse of some related authorizations — like for Medicare telehealth programs — is leaving some doctors and patients high and dry. Meanwhile, the FDA quietly approved a new generic abortion pill, prompting a not-so-quiet reaction from anti-abortion groups. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Grusin of the National Health Law Program about the GOP's misleading claims that Democrats shut down the government in pursuit of free health care for immigrants who are in the country illegally. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “How Some Veterans Exploit $193 Billion VA Program, Due to Lax Controls,” by Craig Whitlock, Lisa Rein, and Caitlin Gilbert. Tami Luhby: The Washington Post's “Trump Plan Would Limit Disability Benefits for Older Americans,” by Meryl Kornfield and Lisa Rein. Sarah Karlin-Smith: The New York Times' “It's Just a Virus, the E.R. Told Him. Days Later, He Was Dead,” by Lisa Miller. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The 19th's “Ice Fears Put Pregnant Immigrants and Their Babies at Risk” by Mel Leonor Barclay and Shefali Luthra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As long predicted, much of the federal government shut down Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass required spending bills, with Democrats demanding Republicans renew the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies in exchange for votes. While a shutdown does not affect Medicare and Medicaid, it could eventually hinder activities from every corner of the Department of Health and Human Services. Meanwhile, as Democrats and Republicans point fingers, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pursues policies and personnel undermining vaccines. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss the news. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Cara Anthony, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, about an out-of-network eye surgery that left one kindergartner's family with a big bill. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Big Loopholes in Hospital Charity Care Programs Mean Patients Still Get Stuck With the Tab,” by Michelle Andrews. Shefali Luthra: The Washington Post's “Trump's USAID Pause Stranded Lifesaving Drugs. Children Died Waiting,” by Meg Kelly, Joyce Sohyun Lee, Rael Ombuor, Sarah Blaskey, Andrew Ba Tran, Artur Galocha, Eric Lau, and Katharine Houreld. Lauren Weber: Time Magazine's “Trump Is Breaking Americans' Trust in Doctors,” by Dr. Craig Spencer. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: ProPublica's “Georgia's Medicaid Work Requirement Program Spent Twice as Much on Administrative Costs as on Health Care, GAO Says,” by Margaret Coker, The Current. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the government about to shut down? Congressional leaders and the White House appear to be at an impasse, even after President Donald Trump gave in and scheduled a meeting for Monday to try and get a deal done (though that meeting did not go well). The core of the issue is subsidies connected with the Affordable Care Act, financial assistance that is due to expire at the end of the year. Without it, millions of Americans could see their healthcare premiums skyrocket, with costs rising by hundreds of dollars a month. But the GOP hasn't been very interested in talking about these funds, despite the fact that millions of Republican voters benefit from them. To understand what the healthcare fight is really about and what happens next, we spoke to Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF and host of the healthcare podcast, “What the Health.”And in headlines, Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer tries to turn down the temperature on rhetoric after a deadly attack at a Latter-Day Saints church, Jared Kushner is a gamer (or at least he's going to buy a video game company along with Saudi Arabia), and MAGA world reacts to the news that Bad Bunny will play the Super Bowl halftime show.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a rambling news conference that shocked public health experts, President Donald Trump this week — without scientific evidence — blamed the over-the-counter drug acetaminophen, and too many childhood vaccines, for the increase in autism diagnoses in the U.S. That came days after a key immunization advisory committee, newly reconstituted with vaccine doubters, changed several long-standing recommendations. Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official Demetre Daskalakis joins KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss those stories. Meanwhile, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join Rovner with the rest of the news, including a threat by the Trump administration to fire rather than furlough federal workers if Congress fails to fund the government beyond the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: NBC News' “RFK Jr. Has the Federal Vaccine Court in His Sights. Attacking It Could Threaten Vaccine Production in the U.S.,” by Liz Szabo. Anna Edney: The Washington Post's “Do State Abortion Laws Affect Women's Recruiting? That's Up to Athletes,” by Kevin B. Blackistone. Sandhya Raman: ProPublica's “Psychiatric Hospitals Turn Away Patients Who Need Urgent Care. The Facilities Face Few Consequences,” by Eli Cahan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The recently fired head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told senators that health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered her to fire top officials and agree to approve changes to national vaccine recommendations — before the recommendations were made and regardless of what the science says. Meanwhile, Congress heads toward a government shutdown, with expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans in the balance. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss the news. Also, Rovner interviews Troyen Brennan, former chief medical officer at Aetna and CVS, about his new book on primary care.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read (or wrote) this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The New York Times Magazine's “Trump Is Shutting Down the War on Cancer,” by Jonathan Mahler. Margot Sanger-Katz: ProPublica's “Programs for Students With Hearing and Vision Loss Harmed by Trump's Anti-Diversity Push,” by Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “I Have Dental Insurance. Why Do I Pay So Much for Care?” by Erica Sweeney. Joanne Kenen: Politico Magazine's “Why Voters Will Feel the Impact of GOP Health Cuts Before the Midterms,” by Joanne Kenen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a report on the state of children's health. Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, talks about the details of the report and where it fits into the Trump administration's MAHA initiative.

With less than three weeks to go before the deadline to pass legislation to keep the federal government running, lawmakers are still far apart on a strategy. Democrats hope Republicans agree to extend expanded tax credits for the Affordable Care Act as part of a compromise, but so far Republicans are not negotiating. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released his long-awaited “Make America Healthy Again” report, with few specific action items. Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read (or wrote) this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: NPR's “What Kind of Dairy Does a Body Good? Science Is Updating the Answer,” by Will Stone. Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “The Implants Were Supposed to Dissolve. They Didn't,” by Anna Edney and Tanaz Meghjani. Sandhya Raman: The Texas Tribune's “Texas' New Parental Consent Law Leaves School Nurses Confused About Which Services They Can Provide to Students,” by Jaden Edison. Lauren Weber: ProPublica's “‘Just Let Me Die,'” by Duaa Eldeib. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz Stein, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking, joins us to talk about why she wants the Department of Justice to continue investigating the case, but doesn't support publicly releasing a list of Epstein's associates.Then, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny from Democrats and some Republicans over his views on vaccines during a Senate hearing on Thursday. Julie Rovner of KFF Health News breaks down what was said.And, as Kennedy moves to change guidance around the COVID-19 vaccine, some states are going around the CDC and making it available to almost everyone who wants it. Dr. Nahid Bhadelia of the Boston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases explains the latest in vaccine turmoil.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy