Podcast appearances and mentions of julie rovner

President Donald Trump's big budget bill became his big budget law on July 4, codifying about $1 trillion in cuts to the Medicaid program. But the law includes many less-publicized provisions that could reshape the way the nation pays for and receives health care. Meanwhile, at the Department of Health and Human Services, uncertainty reigns as both staff and outside recipients of federal funds face cuts. Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Julie Appleby, who reported the latest KFF Health News' “Bill of the Month” feature, about some very pricey childhood immunizations.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 England Journal of Medicine's “The Corporatization of U.S. Health Care — A New Perspective Series,” by Debra Malina, et al. Rachel Roubein: The AP's “RFK Jr. Promoted a Food Company He Says Will Make Americans Healthy. Their Meals Are Ultraprocessed,” by Amanda Seitz and JoNel Aleccia. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Wall Street Journal's “Prosecutors Question Doctors About UnitedHealth's Medicare Billing Practices,” by Christopher Weaver and Anna Wilde Mathews. Tami Luhby: The Washington Post's “A New D.C. Hospital Grapples With Too Many Patients and Too Few Nurses,” by Jenna Portnoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Medicaid cuts add up to nearly a trillion dollars over ten years, and 12 million people could lose access to health care. Medicare also faces deep reductions in spending, even though it's not slashed in this legislation. It insures the elderly, and it may lose half a trillion dollars to sequestration. KFF Health News DC correspondent Julie Rovner told Bonnie Petrie that no one will be unaffected.

The House on Thursday moved to approve the largest-ever cuts to federal safety net programs, the last step before the measure goes to President Donald Trump's desk. After the Senate very narrowly passed the bill, House GOP leaders ushered it past resistance from conservatives wary of adding trillions to the federal debt and moderates concerned about its cuts to Medicaid. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has continued to pursue his anti-vaccine agenda, despite promises that he would not. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet 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 Lancet's “Evaluating the Impact of Two Decades of USAID Interventions and Projecting the Effects of Defunding on Mortality up to 2030: A Retrospective Impact Evaluation and Forecasting Analysis,” by Daniella Medeiros Cavalcanti, et al. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “‘I Feel Like I've Been Lied To': When a Measles Outbreak Hits Home,” by Eli Saslow. Maya Goldman: Axios' “New Docs Get Schooled in Old Diseases as Vax Rates Fall,” by Tina Reed. Sarah Karlin-Smith: Wired's “Snake Venom, Urine, and a Quest to Live Forever: Inside a Biohacking Conference Emboldened by MAHA,” by Will Bahr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, talks about the House and Senate budget bills and what they would mean for Americans' access to healthcare.

In this special episode taped before a live audience at Aspen Ideas: Health, three former governors — one of whom also served as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — have a wide-ranging discussion about how state and federal officials can more effectively work together to improve Americans' health. Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, a former governor of Kansas and HHS secretary under President Barack Obama; Republican Chris Sununu, former governor of New Hampshire; and Democrat Roy Cooper, former governor of North Carolina, join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner for this discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court this week said Tennessee may continue to enforce its law banning most types of gender-affirming care for minors. The ruling is likely to greenlight similar laws in two dozen states. Meanwhile, the Senate is preparing to vote on a budget reconciliation bill that includes even deeper Medicaid cuts than the bill that barely passed the House in May. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Victoria Knight 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 New York Times' “The Bureaucrat and the Billionaire: Inside DOGE's Chaotic Takeover of Social Security,” by Alexandra Berzon, Nicholas Nehamas, and Tara Siegel Bernard. Alice Miranda Ollstein: Wired's “What Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets Do to the Human Body,” by Emily Mullin. Victoria Knight: The New York Times' “They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling,” by Kashmir Hill. Sandhya Raman: North Carolina Health News' “Ambulance Companies Collect Millions by Seizing Wages, State Tax Refunds,” by Michelle Crouch and Charlotte Ledger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week did something he had promised not to do: He fired every member of the scientific advisory committee that recommends which vaccines should be given to whom. And he replaced them, in some cases, with vaccine skeptics. Meanwhile, hundreds of employees of the National Institutes of Health sent an open letter of dissent to the agency's director, Jay Bhattacharya, accusing the Trump administration of policies that “undermine the NIH mission, waste our public resources, and harm the health of Americans and people across the globe.” Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, 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 Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, to discuss how the CBO works and why it's so controversial. 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 “Lawmakers Lobby Doctors To Keep Quiet — or Speak Up — on Medicaid Cuts in Trump's Tax Bill,” by Daniel Payne. Joanne Kenen: ProPublica's “DOGE Developed Error-Prone AI Tool To ‘Munch' Veterans Affairs Contracts,” by Brandon Roberts, Vernal Coleman, and Eric Umansky. Anna Edney: KFF Health News' “Two Patients Faced Chemo. The One Who Survived Demanded a Test To See if It Was Safe,” by Arthur Allen. Sarah Karlin-Smith: Wired's “The Bleach Community Is Ready for RFK Jr. To Make Their Dreams Come True,” by David Gilbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The House's gigantic tax-and-spending budget reconciliation bill has landed with a thud in the Senate, where lawmakers are divided in their criticism over whether it increases the deficit too much or cuts Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act too deeply. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office's estimate that the bill, if enacted, could increase the ranks of the uninsured by nearly 11 million people over a decade won't make it an easy sell.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Arielle Zionts, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, about a Medicaid patient who had an out-of-state emergency.Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.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' “Native Americans Hurt by Federal Health Cuts, Despite RFK Jr.'s Promises of Protection,” by Katheryn Houghton, Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez, and Arielle Zionts.Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's “‘They're the Backbone': Trump's Targeting of Legal Immigrants Threatens Health Sector,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein.Lauren Weber: The New York Times' “Take the Quiz: Could You Manage as a Poor American?” by Emily Badger and Margot Sanger-Katz.Jessie Hellmann: The New York Times' “A DNA Technique Is Finding Women Who Left Their Babies for Dead,” by Isabelle Taft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year's WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation continues with a look at the current state of cancer research in the United States. Sudip Parikh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and executive publisher of the Science family of journals, and Otis Brawley, professor of oncology at The Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkin and co-editor of The Cancer History Project, and Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discuss what the impacts of the Trump administration's funding cuts to the National Health Institute have meant to clinical trials, and what a future without government funding to find a cure might look like should the science continue to be underfunded.

After an unusual all-night session, the House narrowly passed a budget reconciliation bill, including billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy, along with billions of dollars in spending cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the food stamp program. But the Senate is expected to make major changes to the measure before it can go to President Trump for his signature.Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services has made some significant changes affecting the availability of covid-19 vaccines.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.Also this week, Rovner interviews University of California-Davis School of Law professor and abortion historian Mary Ziegler about her new book on the past and future of the “personhood” movement aimed at granting legal rights to fetuses and embryos.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 “White House Officials Wanted To Put Federal Workers ‘in Trauma.' It's Working,” by William Wan and Hannah Natanson.Alice Miranda Ollstein: NPR's “Diseases Are Spreading. The CDC Isn't Warning the Public Like It Was Months Ago,” by Chiara Eisner.Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “The Potential Cancer, Health Risks Lurking in One Popular OTC Drug,” by Anna Edney.Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Farmingdale Observer's “Scientists Have Been Studying Remote Work for Four Years and Have Reached a Very Clear Conclusion: ‘Working From Home Makes Us Happier,'” by Bob Rubila. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Very early this morning the U.S. House passed a bill that would result in more than 7 million people losing Medicaid coverage if it became law; that estimate is from the Congressional Budget Office. As the bill was coming together, the chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News shared her analysis. Julie Rovner highlighted that to get a bill across the finish line was going to require overcoming the skepticism of some politicians. “There's a growing group of Republicans who... Read More Read More The post Breaking News: House Budget Hawks Victorious Over Medicaid Defenders   appeared first on Healthy Communities Online.

Very early this morning the U.S. House passed a bill that would result in more than 7 million people losing Medicaid coverage if it became law; that estimate is from the Congressional Budget Office.As the bill was coming together, the chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News shared her analysis. Julie Rovner highlighted that to get a bill across the finish line was going to require overcoming the skepticism of some politicians. “There's a growing group of Republicans who are unhappy with how many reductions there are to the Medicaid program… including people who voted for the Republican [Party] and President Trump,” she said. Rovner also reviewed the Trump administration's efforts to ignore congressional appropriations and other laws. “As I say, this administration… is not following the law” and Rovner explained how that threatens the country's public health. From the future of Medicaid and food assistance to questions about accountability and health infrastructure, this conversation offers crucial insights into the latest health policy flashpoints with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GOP-controlled House committees approved parts of President Donald Trump's “one big, beautiful bill” this week, including more than $700 billion in cuts to health programs over the next decade — mostly from Medicaid, which covers people with low incomes or disabilities.Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before Congress for the first time since taking office and told lawmakers that Americans shouldn't take medical advice from him.Julie Appleby of KFF Health News, 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 these stories and more. 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' “Elizabeth Holmes's Partner Has a New Blood-Testing Start-Up,” by Rob Copeland. Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica's “He Became the Face of Georgia's Medicaid Work Requirement. Now He's Fed Up With It.” by Margaret Coker, The Current. Julie Appleby: Scientific American's “How Trump's National Weather Service Cuts Could Cost Lives,” by Andrea Thompson. Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic's “Now Is Not the Time To Eat Bagged Lettuce,” by Nicholas Florko. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are struggling to reach consensus on cutting the Medicaid program as they search for nearly a trillion dollars in savings over the next decade — as many observers predicted.Meanwhile, turmoil continues at the Department of Health and Human Services, with more controversial cuts and personnel moves, including the sudden nomination of Casey Means, an ally of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s, to become surgeon general.Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Lauren Sausser, who co-reported the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, about an unexpected bill for what seemed like preventive care. 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: NPR's “Fired, Rehired, and Fired Again: Some Federal Workers Find They're Suddenly Uninsured,” by Andrea Hsu. Maya Goldman: STAT's “Europe Unveils $565 Million Package To Retain Scientists, and Attract New Ones,” by Andrew Joseph. Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “A Former TV Writer Found a Health-Care Loophole That Threatens To Blow Up Obamacare,” by Zachary R. Mider and Zeke Faux. Sandhya Raman: The Louisiana Illuminator's “In the Deep South, Health Care Fights Echo Civil Rights Battles,” by Anna Claire Vollers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress is back in Washington this week, and Republicans are struggling to find ways to reduce Medicaid spending without cutting benefits, as the program has grown in popularity and relevance with their voters. Meanwhile, confusion continues to reign at the Department of Health and Human Services as programs are cut, reinstated, and then cut again — often leaving even agency leaders unsure what remains. 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 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: KFF Health News' “As a Diversity Grant Dies, Young Scientists Fear It Will Haunt Their Careers,” by Brett Kelman. Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica's “Utah Farmers Signed Up for Federally Funded Therapy. Then the Money Stopped,” by Jessica Schreifels, The Salt Lake Tribune. Margot Sanger-Katz: CNBC's “GLP-1s Can Help Employers Lower Medical Costs in 2 Years, New Study Finds,” by Bertha Coombs. Joanne Kenen: NJ.com's “Many Nursing Homes Feed Residents on Less Than $10 a Day: ‘That's Appallingly Low'” and “Inside the ‘Multibillion-Dollar Game' To Funnel Cash From Nursing Homes to Sister Companies,” by Ted Sherman, Susan K. Livio, and Matthew Miller. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Congress returns from spring break next week, its first order of business will be writing a budget reconciliation bill that's expected to cut taxes but also make deep cuts to Medicaid. But at least some Republicans are concerned about cutting a program that aids so many of their constituents. Also this week, the Supreme Court heard a case that could threaten the availability of no-cost preventive care under the Affordable Care Act. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these breaking stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Rae Ellen Bichell about her story on how care for transgender minors is changing in Colorado. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: MedPage Today's “Medical Journals Get Letters From DOJ,” by Kristina Fiore. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “A Scientist Is Paid to Study Maple Syrup. He's Also Paid to Promote it,” by Will Evans, Ellen Gabler, and Anjali Tsui. Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Tampa Bay Times' “Countering DeSantis, $10M Hope Florida Donation Came From Medicaid, Draft Shows,” by Alexandra Glorioso and Lawrence Mower. Tami Luhby: Stat's “In Ireland, a Global Hub for the Pharma Industry, Trump Tariffs Are a Source of Deep Worry,” by Andrew Joseph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tensions between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his employees at the Department of Health and Human Services are mounting, as he made a series of claims about autism this week — contradicting his agency's findings. Plus, President Donald Trump unveiled an executive order to lower drug prices as his administration explores tariffs that could raise them.Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more.Plus, KFF Health News' Julie Rovner interviews two University of California-San Francisco researchers about an upcoming Supreme Court case that could have major ramifications for preventive care. 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' “States Push Medicaid Work Rules, but Few Programs Help Enrollees Find Jobs,” by Sam Whitehead, Phil Galewitz, and Katheryn Houghton. Anna Edney: ProPublica's “Unsanitary Practices Persist at Baby Formula Factory Whose Shutdown Led to Mass Shortages, Workers Say,” by Heather Vogell. Jessie Hellmann: The Hill's “Military's Use of Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals' Leaves Lasting Scars,” by Sharon Udasin and Rachel Frazin. Shefali Luthra: The 19th's “Trump's Push for ‘Beautiful Clean Coal' Could Lead to More Premature Births,” by Jessica Kutz. Visit our website to read a transcript of this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, breaks down the headlines from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s so-called "Make American Healthy Again" tour, designed to highlight Kennedy's plan to fight chronic disease and promote a healthy diet, amid cuts to chronic disease prevention programs and widespread layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration.

A week after the announcement of the reorganization and staff cuts ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the scope of the reductions is only starting to crystallize. Across such agencies as the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and FDA, entire divisions have been wiped out, and it is unclear who will be left to enforce hundreds of laws and regulate millions of products. Meanwhile, legislators in a growing number of states are introducing abortion bans that would punish women as well as abortion providers. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss this enormous breaking story and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Georgetown Law School professor Stephen Vladeck about the limits of presidential power. 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' “Why the Right Still Embraces Ivermectin,” by Richard Fausset. Victoria Knight: Wired's “Dr. Oz Pushed for AI Health Care in First Medicare Agency Town Hall,” by Leah Feiger and Steven Levy. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Guardian's “‘We Are Failing': Doctors and Students in the US Look to Mexico for Basic Abortion Training,” by Carter Sherman. Sandhya Raman: CQ Roll Call's “In Sweden, a Focus on Smokeless Tobacco,” by Sandhya Raman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Health and Human Services underwent an unprecedented purge this week, as thousands of employees from the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other agencies were fired, placed on administrative leave, or offered transfers to far-flung Indian Health Service facilities. Altogether, the layoffs mean the federal government, in a single day, shed hundreds if not thousands of combined years of health and science expertise. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Bloomberg News, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss this enormous breaking story and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Julie Appleby, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature about a short-term health plan and a very expensive colonoscopy. 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 “Uber for Nursing Is Here — And It's Not Good for Patients or Nurses,” by Katie J. Wells and Funda Ustek Spilda. Sarah Karlin-Smith: MSNBC's “Florida Considers Easing Child Labor Laws After Pushing Out Immigrants,” by Ja'han Jones. Lauren Weber: The Atlantic's “Miscarriage and Motherhood,” by Ashley Parker. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Wall Street Journal's “FDA Punts on Major Covid-19 Vaccine Decision After Ouster of Top Official,” by Liz Essley White. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Veteran health care reporter Julie Rovner breaks down the massive cuts and reorganization at HHS and answers listeners' questions about what to expect next.Guest:Julie Rovner, Chief Washington Correspondent, KFF Health NewsLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a proposed reorganization for the department — which, counting those who already have left the agency, amounts to about a 25% cut in its workforce — as well as a new “Administration for a Healthy America” that will collapse several existing HHS agencies into one. Meanwhile, the department continues to cut billions of dollars in health spending at a time when the nation is facing measles outbreaks in several states and the continuing possibility of another pandemic, such as bird flu. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Maya Goldman of Axios News, 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 KFF senior vice president Larry Levitt about the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act and the threats the health law continues to face. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: CNN's “State Lawmakers Are Looking To Ban Non-Existent ‘Chemtrails.' It Could Have Real-Life Side Effects,” by Ramishah Maruf and Brandon Miller. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times Wirecutter's “23andMe Just Filed for Bankruptcy. You Should Delete Your Data Now,” by Max Eddy. Maya Goldman: KFF Health News' “‘I Am Going Through Hell': Job Loss, Mental Health, and the Fate of Federal Workers,” by Rachana Pradhan and Aneri Pattani. Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic's “America Is Done Pretending About Meat,” by Yasmin Tayag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the Trump administration vs. the federal courts, as the Department of Government Efficiency continues to try to cancel federal contracts and programs and fire workers — while federal judges continue to label those efforts illegal. In the haste to cut things, jobs and programs are being eliminated even if they align with the new administration's goal to “Make America Healthy Again.” Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call 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 Washington Post's “The Free-Living Bureaucrat,” by Michael Lewis. Rachel Roubein: The Washington Post's “Her Research Grant Mentioned ‘Hesitancy.' Now Her Funding Is Gone.” by Carolyn Y. Johnson. Sarah Karlin-Smith: KFF Health News' “Scientists Say NIH Officials Told Them To Scrub mRNA References on Grants,” by Arthur Allen. Jessie Hellmann: Stat's “NIH Cancels Funding for a Landmark Diabetes Study at a Time of Focus on Chronic Disease,” by Elaine Chen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Senate Finance Committee got its chance March 14 to question Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the vast Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the largest agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Oz, with his long history in television, was as polished as one would expect, brushing off even some more controversial parts of his past with apparent ease. In this special bonus episode of “What the Health?,” KFF Health News' Rachana Pradhan and Stephanie Armour join Julie Rovner to recap the Oz hearing. They also provide an update on the progress of nominees to lead the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal government continue, with both personnel and programs being cut at the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Social Security Administration. Meanwhile, the fight over cuts to the Medicaid program for those with low incomes heats up, as Republicans worry that more of their voters than ever before are Medicaid beneficiaries. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Jeff Grant, who recently retired from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services after 41 years in government service. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: NBC News' “‘You Lose All Hope': Federal Workers Gripped by Mental Health Distress Amid Trump Cuts,” by Natasha Korecki. Shefali Luthra: The New York Times' “15 Lessons Scientists Learned About Us When the World Stood Still,” by Claire Cain Miller and Irineo Cabreros. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Atlantic's “His Daughter Was America's First Measles Death in a Decade,” by Tom Bartlett. Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “India Trade Group Blasts Study Linking Drugs to Safety Risks,” by Satviki Sanjay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court opined for the first time that Trump administration officials may be exceeding their authority to reshape the federal government by refusing to honor completed contracts, even as lower-court judges started blocking efforts to fire workers, freeze funding, and cancel ongoing contracts. Meanwhile, public health officials are alarmed at the Department of Health and Human Services' public handling of Texas' widening measles outbreak, particularly the secretary's less-than-full endorsement of vaccines. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Stephanie Armour of KFF Health 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 this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Future of Cancer Coverage for Women Federal Firefighters Uncertain Under Trump,” by Kylie Mohr. Joanne Kenen: ProPublica's “How Illinois' Hands-Off Approach to Homeschooling Leaves Children at Risk,” by Molly Parker and Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois. Stephanie Armour: The New York Times' “Organ Transplant System ‘in Chaos' as Waiting Lists Are Ignored,” by Brian M. Rosenthal, Mark Hansen, and Jeremy White. Lauren Weber: The Washington Post's “Amid West Texas Measles Outbreak, Vaccine Resistance Hardens,” by Fenit Nirappil and Elana Gordon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The House passed a budget plan that likely would result in major cuts to the Medicaid program. But the plan now faces a battle in the Senate, where even Republicans seem reluctant to dramatically reduce a health program that covers roughly 1 in 5 Americans. Meanwhile, federal judges and the Trump administration continue to differ over whether the administration has the authority to unilaterally cancel programs approved and funded by Congress and to fire federal workers. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent 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: WBUR's “Canceled Meetings and Confusion: NIH Grant Funding in Limbo Despite Court Injunction,” by Anna Rubenstein. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Transmitter's “Exclusive: NIH Appears To Archive Policy Requiring Female Animals in Studies,” by Claudia López Lloreda. Victoria Knight: KFF Health News' “With RFK Jr. in Charge, Supplement Makers See Chance To Cash In,” by Arthur Allen. Shefali Luthra: NBC News' “They Were Told To Get Extra Breast Cancer Screenings. Then They Got Stuck With the Bill,” by Gretchen Morgenson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today Wellness reporter, discuss moves made by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including a recent vow to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule and SSRIs.

President Donald Trump has said he won't support major cuts to the Medicaid health insurance program for people with low incomes, but he has endorsed a House budget plan that calls for major cuts, leaving the program's future in doubt. Meanwhile, thousands of workers at the Department of Health and Human Services were fired over the holiday weekend, from the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with possibly more cuts to come.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet 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: KFF Health News' “Pain Clinics Made Millions From ‘Unnecessary' Injections Into ‘Human Pin Cushions'” by Brett Kelman. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Washington Post's “U.S. Reverses Plan To Shut Down Free Covid Test Program,” by Lena H. Sun and Carolyn Y. Johnson. Joanne Kenen: Wired's “The Ketamine-Fueled ‘Psychedelic Slumber Parties' That Get Tech Execs Back on Track,” by Elana Klein. Sarah Karlin-Smith: Fortune's “The Dietary Supplements You Think Are Improving Your Health May Be Damaging Your Liver, Research Warns,” by Lindsey Leake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of the Trump administration's dramatic funding and policy shifts are facing major pushback for the first time — not from Congress, but from the courts. Federal judges around the country are attempting to pump the brakes on efforts to freeze government spending, shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, eliminate access to health-related webpages and datasets, and limit grant funding provided by the National Institutes of Health. Meanwhile, Congress is off to a slow start in trying to turn President Donald Trump's agenda into legislation, although Medicaid is clearly high on the list for potential funding cuts. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Maya Goldman of Axios News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Mark McClellan, director of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy and a former health official during the George W. Bush administration, about the impact of cutting funding to research universities. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Axios' “Nonprofit Hospital Draws Backlash for Super Bowl Ad,” by Maya Goldman. Shefali Luthra: Politico's “‘Americans Can and Will Die From This': USAID Worker Details Dangers, Chaos,” by Jonathan Martin. Maya Goldman: KFF Health News' “Doctor Wanted: Small Town in Florida Offers Big Perks To Attract a Physician,” by Daniel Chang. Jessie Hellmann: NPR's “Trump's Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Young People Puts Hospitals in a Bind,” by Selena Simmons-Duffin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Senate has yet to confirm a Health and Human Services secretary, but things around the department continue to change at a breakneck pace to comply with President Donald Trump's executive orders. Payment systems have been shut down, webpages and entire datasets have been taken offline, and workers — including those with civil service protections — have been urged to quit or threatened with layoffs. Meanwhile, foreign and trade policy changes are also affecting health policy. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Julie Appleby, who reported the latest “Bill of the Month” feature, about a young woman, a grandfathered health plan, and a $14,000 IUD. 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' “How R.F.K. Jr. and ‘Medical Freedom' Rose to Power,” on “The Daily” podcast. Lauren Weber: CNN's “Human Brain Samples Contain an Entire Spoon's Worth of Nanoplastics, Study Says,” by Sandee LaMotte. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Washington Post's “Did RFK Jr. or Michelle Obama Say It About Food? Take Our Quiz,” by Lauren Weber. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Donald Trump's choice to lead the vast Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced sharp questioning from senators this week, particularly over his history of vaccine denialism. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's second week has been even more disruptive than its first, with an on-again, off-again funding freeze that left many around the country scrambling to understand what was going on. Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Nicholas Bagley, a University of Michigan law professor, who explains how the federal regulatory system is supposed to operate to make health policy.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: 404 Media's “Medical Device Company Tells Hospitals They're No Longer Allowed to Fix Machine That Costs Six Figures,” by Jason Koebler.Sandhya Raman: ProPublica's “Dozens of People Died in Arizona Sober Living Homes as State Officials Fumbled Medicaid Fraud Response,” by Mary Hudetz and Hannah Bassett.Sarah Karlin-Smith: CBS News' “Wind-Blown Bird Poop May Help Transmit Bird Flu, Minnesota's Infectious Disease Expert Warns,” by Mackenzie Lofgren. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Donald Trump was sworn in Monday and by Wednesday had virtually stopped scientific policymaking at the Department of Health and Human Services. While incoming administrations often pause public communications, the acting HHS head ordered an unprecedented shutdown of all outside meetings, travel, and publications. Meanwhile, Trump issued a broad array of mostly nonbinding executive orders, but notably none directly concerning abortion. Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Rodney Whitlock, a former congressional staffer, who explains the convoluted “budget reconciliation” process Republicans hope to use to enact Trump's agenda. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: CNN's “With Bird Flu Cases Rising, Certain Kinds of Pet Food May Be Risky for Animals — And People,” by Brenda Goodman. Rachel Roubein: The Washington Post's “Antiabortion Advocates Look for Men To Report Their Partners' Abortion,” by Caroline Kitchener. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Washington Post's “In Florida, a Rebellion Against Fluoride Is Winning,” by Fenit Nirappil. Alice Ollstein: The Los Angeles Times' “Now That You Can Return Home After the Fires, How Do You Clean Up Safely?” by Karen Garcia and Tony Briscoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just days to go before the official launch of a new administration, the GOP-led Congress is putting together plans on how to enact incoming President Donald Trump's agenda, with a particular emphasis on cutting spending on the Medicaid program. Meanwhile, the Biden administration makes major moves in its last days, including banning a controversial food dye and ordering cigarette companies to minimize their nicotine content.Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Harris Meyer, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News “Bill of the Month” feature, about a colonoscopy that came with a much larger price tag than estimated. 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' “Can Medical Schools Funnel More Doctors Into the Primary Care Pipeline?” by Felice J. Freyer. Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “It's Not Just Sunscreen. Toxic Products Line the Drugstore Aisles,” by Anna Edney. Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic's “A Secret Way To Fight Off Stomach Bugs,” by Daniel Engber. Sandhya Raman: Nature's “New Obesity Definition Sidelines BMI To Focus on Health,” by Giorgia Guglielmi. Visit our website to read a transcript of this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Health Policy Analyst Bill Hammond, Commonwealth Fund Journalist in Residence, Assistant Lecturer at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Joanne Kenen, and chief Washington correspondent who hosts the KFF Health News weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" Julie Rovner.

In this episode, U.S. Army Iraq Combat Medic Veteran Col. Dr. Damon Arnold is joined by Julie Rovner, KFF Health News' Chief Washington Correspondent, to discuss her insightful article, Trump's Picks for Top Health Jobs: Not Just Team of Rivals but Team of Opponents. Julie sheds light on the controversial nominations for key health agencies, exploring how these appointments could impact public health policy, the role of scientific expertise, and the future of government agencies like the FDA, NIH, and CDC. Together, they analyze the broader implications of health leadership in the current political climate and the critical need for expertise amidst rising misinformation.

Health is unlikely to be a top priority for the new GOP-led 119th Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. But it's likely to play a key supporting role, with an abortion bill already scheduled for debate in the Senate. Meanwhile, it's unclear when and how the new Congress will deal with the bipartisan bills jettisoned from the previous Congress' year-end omnibus measure — including a major deal to rein in the power of pharmacy benefit managers. In this “catch up on all the news you missed” episode, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post 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 Wall Street Journal's “UnitedHealth's Army of Doctors Helped It Collect Billions More From Medicare,” by Christopher Weaver, Anna Wilde Mathews, and Tom McGinty. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “Ozempic, Lego Bricks and Hearing Aids: What Trump's Greenland Plan Could Hit,” by Ana Swanson and Jenny Gross. Shefali Luthra: Vox.com's “Gigantic SUVs Are a Public Health Threat. Why Don't We Treat Them Like One?” by David Zipper. Lauren Weber: The Washington Post's “Laws Restrict U.S. Shipping of Vape Products. Many Companies Do It Anyway,” by David Ovalle and Rachel Roubein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francis Collins led the National Institutes of Health for 12 years, under three presidents. During the Biden administration, he added White House science adviser to his long list of roles. Now he runs his own lab on the NIH campus, and his latest book, “The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust,” came out in September. In this special holiday episode of KFF Health News' “What the Health?” Collins joins host and chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss health misinformation, the Trump administration's plans for the NIH, and bringing together a fractured society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate successfully negotiated an enormous end-of-Congress health package, including bipartisan efforts to address prescription drug prices — only to see it blown up at the last minute after Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump applied pressure. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court accepted its first abortion-related case of the term, and the attorney general of Texas sued a doctor in New York for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas patient. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF President and CEO Drew Altman about what happened in health policy in 2024 and what to expect in 2025.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: Vox.com's “The Deep Roots of Americans' Hatred of Their Health Care System,” by Dylan Scott. Alice Miranda Ollstein: KFF Health News' “Native American Patients Are Sent to Collections for Debts the Government Owes,” by Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts. Jessie Hellmann: KFF Health News' “How a Duty To Spend Wisely on Worker Benefits Could Loosen PBMs' Grip on Drug Prices,” by Arthur Allen. Victoria Knight: Bloomberg News' “The Weight-Loss Drug Gold Rush Has a Dangerous Prescription Problem,” by Madison Muller. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shocking shooting death of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive in Midtown Manhattan prompted a public outcry about the problems with the nation's health care system, as stories of delayed and denied care filled social media. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump continues to avoid providing specifics about his plans for the Affordable Care Act and other health issues.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Francis Collins, who was the director of the National Institutes of Health and a science adviser to President Joe Biden. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF's “Medicare Spending was 27% More for People Who Disenrolled From Medicare Advantage Than for Similar People in Traditional Medicare,” by Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Alex Cottrill, Nolan Sroczynski, and Tricia Neuman. Alice Miranda Ollstein: CNN's “Most Women in the US Aren't Accessing Family Planning Services, Even as Abortion Restrictions Grow,” by Deidre McPhillips. Sandhya Raman: Stat's “Spending Less, Living Longer: What the U.S. Can Learn From Portugal's Innovative Health System,” by Usha Lee McFarling. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: ProPublica's “‘Eat What You Kill,'” by J. David McSwane. Visit our website for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President-elect Donald Trump has made his choices to fill some top jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services. They include controversial figures who were vocal critics of the Biden administration's handling of the covid pandemic and have proposed sweeping changes to the agencies they would lead. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard its first two health-related cases of the term, challenging a Tennessee law barring transgender medical care for minors and, separately, challenging the FDA's handling of e-cigarettes. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University and Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Bram Sable-Smith, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-Washington Post Well+Being “Bill of the Month” feature, about an emergency room bill for a visit that didn't get past the waiting room. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The New Yorker's “The Texas OB-GYN Exodus,” by Stephania Taladrid. Shefali Luthra: The Washington Post's “Post Reports” podcast's “A Trans Teen Takes Her Case to the Supreme Court,” by Casey Parks, Emma Talkoff, Ariel Plotnick, and Bishop Sand. Joanne Kenen: ProPublica's “For Decades, Calls for Reform to Idaho's Troubled Coroner System Have Gone Unanswered,” by Audrey Dutton. Sarah Karlin-Smith: Stat's “What YouTube Health Is Doing To Combat Misinformation and Promote Evidence-Based Content,” by Nicholas St. Fleur. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Public health, one of the more misunderstood concepts in the health world, is about the health of entire populations, rather than individuals. As a result, public health is closely tied to things like the environment, nutrition, and safety. With major concerns such as bird flu looming, President-elect Donald Trump's priorities could translate into efforts that undermine those of public health workers.In this special episode of KFF Health News' “What the Health?”, chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner is joined by Healthbeat editor-in-chief Charlene Pacenti, KFF Health News public health correspondent Amy Maxmen, and Healthbeat New York City reporter Eliza Fawcett. Read a transcript of the episode on kffhealthnews.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not only has President-elect Donald Trump chosen prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Trump also has said he will nominate controversial TV host Mehmet Oz to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees coverage for nearly half of Americans. Meanwhile, the lame-duck Congress is back in Washington with just a few weeks to figure out how to wrap up work for the year.Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Riley Griffin of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Varney, who has been covering a trial in Idaho challenging the lack of medical exceptions in that state's abortion ban. 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 “How Lincare Became a Multibillion-Dollar Medicare Scofflaw,” by Peter Elkind. Sandhya Raman: ProPublica's “How UnitedHealth's Playbook for Limiting Mental Health Coverage Puts Countless Americans' Treatment at Risk,” by Annie Waldman. Riley Ray Griffin: The New York Times' “A.I. Chatbots Defeated Doctors at Diagnosing Illness,” by Gina Kolata. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: CNBC's “Dental Supply Stock Surges on RFK's Anti-Fluoride Stance, Activist Involvement,” by Alex Harring. Click here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to nominate former TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The agency oversees insurance programs covering more than 150 million Americans. Julie Rovner of KFF News breaks down Dr. Oz's views on health care. Then, the ACLU filed a lawsuit this week against ICE, seeking more information about how it might carry out large-scale deportations in the incoming Trump administration. The ACLU's Eunice Cho joins us. And, comedian, actor and author Jenny Slate recently released "Lifeform," a new collection of essays about life, love and having a child. Here & Now's Emiko Tamagawa speaks with Slate.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

With Republicans now set to control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives starting in January, their health agenda remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that just about anything could be on the table, from Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, to drug prices and public health. Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups are preparing to fight the implementation of abortion rights ballot measures just passed by voters in seven states. Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post 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: KFF Health News' “In Vermont, Where Almost Everyone Has Insurance, Many Can't Find or Afford Care,” by Phil Galewitz. Anna Edney: The Atlantic's “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula,” by Zoë Schlanger. Rachel Roubein: Politico's “‘Been a Long Time Since I Felt That Way': Sexually Transmitted Infection Numbers Provide New Hope,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein. Lauren Weber: JAMA Network Open's “Medical Board Discipline of Physicians for Spreading Medical Misinformation,” by Richard S. Saver. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump readies for his return to the White House — with the backing of a GOP majority in the Senate and, possibly, the House — the entire health care industry is waiting to see what happens next. Clearly on the agenda: the future of abortion and reproductive rights, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and public health's infrastructure. Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Jackie Fortiér, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-Washington Post “Bill of the Month” feature, about a 2-year-old who had a very expensive run-in with a rattlesnake. 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' “Dentists Are Pulling ‘Healthy' and Treatable Teeth to Profit From Implants, Experts Warn,” by Brett Kelman and Anna Werner of CBS News. Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's “The Election's Stakes for Global Health,” by Carmen Paun. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: KFF Health News' “As Nuns Disappear, Many Catholic Hospitals Look More Like Megacorporations,” by Samantha Liss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final days of the 2024 campaign, and Republicans are suddenly talking again about making changes to the Affordable Care Act if former President Donald Trump wins. Meanwhile, new reporting uncovers more maternal deaths under state abortion bans — and a case in which a Nevada woman was jailed after a miscarriage. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Jessie Hellmann 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 Irving Washington, a senior vice president at KFF and the executive director of its Health Misinformation and Trust Initiative.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' “‘Dreamers' Can Enroll in ACA Plans This Year — But a Court Challenge Could Get in the Way,” by Julie Appleby. Lauren Weber: The New York Times' “What Drugmakers Did Not Tell Volunteers in Alzheimer's Trials,” by Walt Bogdanich and Carson Kessler. Shefali Luthra: NBC News' “They're Middle Class and Insured. Childbirth Still Left Them With Crippling Debt,” by Aria Bendix. Jessie Hellmann: ProPublica's “‘Not Medically Necessary': Inside the Company Helping America's Biggest Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Care,” by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica; Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum; and David Armstrong, ProPublica. Also mentioned on this week's podcast: KFF Health News' “Ghosts, Ghouls, and Ghastly Drug Prices in Winning Halloween Haikus.” A transcript of this episode will be available Nov. 1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Election Day rapidly approaching, abortion is gaining traction as a voting issue, according to public opinion polls. Meanwhile, states with abortion bans are reviving the lawsuit — dismissed by the Supreme Court on a technicality this year — that could roll back the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone. Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Tricia Neuman, senior vice president of KFF and executive director of its Program on Medicare Policy, about Medicare open enrollment and the changes to the federal program for 2025. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: NBC News' “Crisis Pregnancy Center's Forms Give Rare Insight Into Anti-Abortion Practices,” by Abigail Brooks. Sarah Karlin-Smith: Vanity Fair's “Inside the Bungled Bird Flu Response, Where Profits Collide With Public Health,” by Katherine Eban. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Atlantic's “The Perverse Consequences of Tuition-Free Medical School,” by Rose Horowitch. Victoria Knight: NPR's “Why Catholic Bishops Are Donating Less To Oppose Abortion Rights Measures This Year,” by Rosemary Westwood and Jack Jenkins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Affordable Care Act has not been a major issue in the 2024 campaign, but abortion and reproductive rights have been front and center. Those are just two of the dozens of health issues that could be profoundly affected by who is elected president and which party controls Congress in 2025. In this special live episode, Tamara Keith of NPR, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Cynthia Cox and Ashley Kirzinger of KFF join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss how health policy has affected the campaign and how the election results might affect health policy. Plus, the panel answers questions from the live audience.Click here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WNYC's election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the presidential candidates' different approaches to healthcare costs. Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast “Make Me Smart",  and Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News, talk about drug prices, the insurance system and the healthcare policies of the candidates.