Podcasts about khn

Postgame coverage with Everett Fitzhugh, Al Kinisky, and Mike Benton (joined by KHN host Linda Cohn) after the Seattle Kraken defeated the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-3 in OT on Nov. 8 at Climate Pledge Arena. 

Let's talk Kraken hockey baby! Ian Furness has been reporting on Seattle sports for a couple decades! His new gig is hosting the Kraken pregame show on the KHN! We caught up with him today as Seattle prepares to skate in Nashville tonight!

With zero-dollar premiums, caps on out-of-pocket costs, and perks that range from meal delivery to gym memberships – even loaded debit cards – membership in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans is surging in enrollment and popularity among seniors.  In fact, earlier this year, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans surpassed enrollment in traditional Medicare, with more than 50 percent of eligible seniors now choosing this privatized version of coverage.  However, aggressive marketing campaigns and a lack of transparency in coverage often hide the downsides of Medicare Advantage, which include limited networks and strict prior authorization policies that make it harder for millions of seniors to quickly get the care they need. As we explore in this episode, these downsides also impact care providers, like hospitals, as well as the taxpayers who are footing the bill.Our guest, Tricia Neuman, is the executive director of KFF's Program on Medicare Policy and has been with the organization for almost 30 years. She looks back on the creation of MA, discusses the program's unexpected rapid growth, examines its impact on the health care system, and shares what she thinks comes next for seniors' coverage.Topics discussed include:Evolution of Medicare Advantage – popularity and benefitsFlooding the airwaves – impact of overzealous marketingWhat's in it for insurers? – how insurers game the system Impact on patients– from narrow networks to excessive prior authorizations Problems for providers – limitations on care from denials and delays Taxpayers pay the price – MA now spends more per beneficiary than Traditional MedicareWhat's next – the future of Medicare Advantage More:KFF is an independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. Its stated mission is to serve as a nonpartisan source of information for policymakers, the media, the health policy community, and the public.KFF has four major program areas: KFF Policy; KFF Polling; KFF Health News (formerly known as Kaiser Health News, or KHN); and KFF Social Impact Media, which conducts specialized public health information campaigns.

As of April 1, states were allowed to begin reevaluating Medicaid eligibility for millions of Americans who qualified for the program during the covid-19 pandemic but may no longer meet the income or other requirements. As many as 15 million people could lose health coverage as a result.Meanwhile, the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is projected to stay solvent until 2031, its trustees reported, taking some pressure off of lawmakers to finally fix that program's underlying financial weaknesses.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.Also this week, Rovner interviews Daniel Chang, who reported the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a child not yet old enough for kindergarten whose medical bill landed him in collections. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: New York Magazine's “The Shared Anti-Trans and Anti-Abortion Playbook,” by Irin Carmon.Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Los Angeles Times' “Horrifying Stories of Women Chased Down by the LAPD Abortion Squad Before Roe vs. Wade,” by Brittny Mejia.Rachel Roubein: KHN's “‘Hard to Get Sober Young': Inside One of the Country's Few Recovery High Schools,” by Stephanie Daniel of KUNC.Amy Goldstein: The Washington Post's “After Decades Under a Virus's Shadow, He Now Lives Free of HIV,” by Mark Johnson.Visit our website to read the transcript. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, filed to run for the presidency in 2024 on Wednesday. During a portion of an interview aired on Wednesday's broadcast of the Fox News Channel's “Ingraham Angle,” House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stated that China's most-favored nation trade status should be revoked and the House will move to do so. Kansas is banning transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports from kindergarten through college, the first of several possible new laws restricting the rights of transgender people pushed through by Republican legislators over the wishes of the Democratic governor. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared last month that California was “done” doing business with Walgreens after the pharmacy chain said it would not distribute an abortion pill in 21 states where Republicans threatened legal action. Since then, KHN has learned that the Democratic governor must compromise on his hard-line tweet. California Gov. Gavin Newsom made a surprise visit to Sarasota Wednesday near the New College of Florida campus, ripping Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a meeting with students grappling with his conservative higher education experiment. Russia's commissioner for children's rights, who is being sought for war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine, told a U.N. meeting Wednesday that the children were taken for their safety and Moscow is coordinating with international organizations to return them to their families.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A federal judge in Texas has dealt a big setback to the Affordable Care Act. The same judge who tried in 2018 to declare the entire ACA unconstitutional has now ruled that the law's main provisions for preventive care are unconstitutional and, therefore, unenforceable nationwide. Also this week, North Carolina became the 40th state to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Click here for a transcript of the episode.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: New York Magazine/The Cut's “Abortion Wins Elections: The Fight to Make Reproductive Rights the Centerpiece of the Democratic Party's 2024 Agenda,” by Rebecca Traister. Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat's “How the Drug Industry Uses Fear of Fentanyl to Extract More Profit From Naloxone,” by Lev Facher. Rachel Cohrs: The Washington Post's “These Women Survived Combat. Then They Had to Fight for Health Care,” by Hope Hodge Seck. Sandhya Raman: Capital B's “What the Covid-19 Pandemic and Mpox Outbreak Taught Us About Reducing Health Disparities,” by Margo Snipe and Kenya Hunter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare Advantage, the private plan alternative to original Medicare, is embroiled in a controversy over whether insurers are overpaid and what it would mean to reduce those payments. Meanwhile, even as maternal mortality rises in the U.S., obstetric providers say they're leaving states with abortion bans that prevent them from treating pregnancy complications. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: Vice News' “Inside the Private Group Where Parents Give Ivermectin to Kids With Autism,” by David GilbertJessie Hellmann: The Washington Post's “Senior Care Is Crushingly Expensive. Boomers Aren't Ready,” by Christopher Rowland Joanne Kenen: The New Yorker's “Will the Ozempic Era Change How We Think About Being Fat and Being Thin?” by Jia TolentinoMargot Sanger-Katz: Slate's “You Know What? I'm Not Doing This Anymore,” by Sophie Novack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Any day now a conservative federal judge in Texas could upend the national abortion debate by requiring the FDA to rescind its approval of mifepristone, a drug approved in the U.S. more than 20 years ago that is now used in more than half of abortions nationwide. Meanwhile, a controversial study on masks gets a clarification, although it may be too late to change the public impression of what it found. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too. Julie Rovner: “Tradeoffs” podcast's “The Conservative Clash Over Abortion Bans,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein and Dan GorensteinAlice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's “Sharpton Dodges the Spotlight on Latest Push to Ban Menthol Cigarettes,” by Julia MarshSarah Karlin-Smith: Allure's “With New Legislation, You Can Expect More Recalls to Hit the Beauty Industry,” by Elizabeth Siegel and Deanna PaiJessie Hellmann: The New York Times' “Opioid Settlement Hinders Patients' Access to a Wide Array of Drugs,” by Christina Jewett and Ellen Gabler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Very little in the proposed budget released by the Biden administration is likely to become law, particularly with Republicans in charge of the U.S. House. Still, the document is an important statement of the president's policy priorities, and it's clear health programs are among those he feels are important. Meanwhile, five women who were denied abortions when their pregnancies threatened their lives are suing Texas. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Harris Meyer, who reported and wrote the two latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” features. Both were about families facing unexpected bills following childbirth.Click here to read the 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: KHN's “Girls in Texas Could Get Birth Control at Federal Clinics, Until a Christian Father Objected,” by Sarah VarneyShefali Luthra: The 19th's “Language for Treating Childhood Obesity Carries Its Own Health Risks to Kids, Experts Say,” by Jennifer GersonVictoria Knight: KHN's “After People on Medicaid Die, Some States Aggressively Seek Repayment From Their Estates,” by Tony LeysMargot Sanger-Katz: ProPublica's “How Obamacare Enabled a Multibillion-Dollar Christian Health Care Grab,” by J. David McSwane and Ryan Gabrielson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arizona AG Kris Mayes refocuses Election Integrity Unit on protecting election officials and voting rights | CO Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats introduce bills to lower healthcare costs | Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples commission sets field hearings for AZ, CA, MT, NM | Department of Defense provides process for service members to obtain abortions when stationed in states where abortion is banned | Ani DiFranco does a western swing with shows in CO, MT, and ID.Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: ARIZONA MIRROR: ARIZONA AG INVESTIGATES FAKE ELECTORSKris Mayes is investigating Trump's ‘fake electors,' focusing on threats to election workersBY: JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY - MARCH 3, 2023 7:12 AMWhile her predecessor used a dedicated election crimes division to investigate hundreds of bogus election fraud claims, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says she will redirect the unit's focus to prosecute election-related threats and protect voting rights. “We are almost at a crisis situation in our state, in the sense that we now have a third of our counties experiencing the resignation of high-level election officialS due to death threats and harassment. That is unacceptable,” Former AG Mark Brnovich, the Republican who Mayes replaced this year, persuaded the state legislature to create the Election Integrity Unit so his office could have a dedicated team to investigate election fraud claims. But Brnovich buried what was arguably its most important work, a 10,000-hour investigation debunking hundreds of fraud claims related to the 2020 election. AG Mayes released the results of that investigation earlier this month. And the Election Integrity Unit is also investigating a much larger effort to undermine the will of the voters — The Trump / Eastman / Perry plot to send fraudulent slates of electors for former President Donald Trump to Congress on Jan. 6 - using the state's seal. While she was secretary of state, Gov. Katie Hobbs requested Brnovich investigate the criminal use of the state seal on false documents, but Brnovich did nothing. There were actually multiple “fake elector” schemes in Arizona. One was tied to the Arizona Republican Party and allegedly done at the request of the Trump campaign. It involved officials including former AZ GOP chairwoman Kelli Ward, state Sen. Jake Hoffman, state Sen. Anthony Kern and Turning Points USA CEO Tyler Bowyer. That fake electors scheme is also the subject of a federal investigation. Another group, the Sovereign Citizens of the Great State of Arizona, also created an alternate slate of electors for Trump, independent of the former President's desperate and nihilistic attempts to steal the 2020 election for himself.Since the 2020 election, threats to election officials nationwide have been increasing. Arizona has been at the forefront of those threats, with the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice getting involved in multiple cases. Most recently, veteran Cochise County Election Director Lisa Marra resigned. In her departure letter, she described a workplace that was hostile due to a monthslong saga in which Marra stood up to election conspiracists' insane demands and threats.Last year, the director of elections in Yavapai County resigned due to more than 18 months of threats she received. GOP-dominated Yavapai County has been a hotbed of hostile activity, with the white supremacist Oath Keepers intimidating voters before federal law enforcement got involved. AG Mayes said the images of armed men watching drop boxes “disturbed” her and set her on a path to begin speaking to police and sheriff's departments across the state. Making sure voters feel safe and secure when using a drop box will be a major priority, Mayes said, and if that means making sure that agents with the Attorney General's Office are present alongside law enforcement, then that might be the case. Currently, Mayes has 60 agents working directly with her in the office. Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies had to be dispatched in riot gear to deal with angry and armed crowds of butt-hurt snowflake losers (my term) during the 2020 election, when they descended upon the Maricopa County tabulation center. Deputies have had to dedicate security to election officials who faced threats as well.During the midterms, Maricopa County spent approximately $675,000 on security for the elections, a number the Sheriff expects to be “substantially” higher for the next election as he and his deputies are already preparing for the next wave of threats to election officials, as well as illegal activities around drop boxes. But for AG Mayes, the Arizona Election Integrity Unit can be a force that actually protects voting rights in the state. “We really want to repurpose the Election Integrity Unit to be an arm of the Attorney General's Office that is focused on protecting democracy in Arizona, protecting election officials against the rise of death threats and intimidation against them, and to protect the voting rights of every legally registered Arizonan.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and a group of Democratic lawmakers have introduced a slate of new bills that are meant to reduce health care costs in the state.BY: SARA WILSON - MARCH 3, 2023 2:04 PMThe bills would reduce premiums for Colorado Option health insurance plans, lower prescription drug costs and work to increase transparency around the huge profits being made by hospitals.“Saving people money on healthcare has been a top priority for me since Day One, and it's a big challenge,” said Gov. Polis. “We want to pound away on it every year, to find every cost driver and address it, to make sure Coloradans stop having to overpay for prescription drugs, insurance, and the health care that they need.”House Bill 23-1224 would work to improve the Colorado Option, the state-regulated plan offered by private insurers that passed just last year. The bill would make it easier for consumers to compare prices on standardized plans, and empower the state's insurance commissioner to hold carriers accountable for the cost reduction requirements in Colorado Option standardized plans.Another bill, House Bill 23-1225, addresses the state's prescription drug affordability board. It would allow the board to review any number of expensive prescription drugs instead of only a dozen as outlined in the legislation that created the board.The board, which has not yet reviewed the costs of any drugs so far, has the authority to set an upper payment limit if it determines a drug is unaffordable for Coloradans.House Bill 23-1227, would give more oversight power to the state's Division of Insurance over pharmacy benefit managers. “In some cases, PBMs are coming between consumers, health insurance plans, pharmacies and manufacturers while making very, very large profits. PBMs can be a part of the plan to save Coloradans money on prescription drugs, but they have to follow the rules,” Jodeh, one of the bill sponsors, said.Lawmakers highlighted other pieces of health care cost saving legislation:HB23-1226 would enhance current hospital financial transparency reporting in an effort to highlight what is driving up hospital costs in the state.COLORADO SUN: And, Almost four years after becoming the first state to cap insulin copayments, Colorado may limit what consumers pay for epinephrine autoinjectors, also known as EpiPens, which treat serious allergic reactions.In 2007, the wholesale price of a single EpiPen was about $47. Today, two brand-name autoinjectors cost just under $636 at a Walgreens in Denver, according to GoodRx. A proposed state law would cap out-of-pocket copays at $60 for a two-pack of Epi Pens.The bill is part of a nationwide push by states to address the soaring prices of lifesaving drugs. New Hampshire passed a law in 2020 requiring insurance to cover the autoinjectors, and Rhode Island lawmakers are considering a similar measure this year. No state has capped what consumers pay for EpiPens, though the New Jersey Senate passed a bill in June to do so; that measure is pending in the legislature's lower house.state Rep. Iman Jodeh, a bill sponsor, said “The need for EpiPens doesn't discriminate based on who you are. This unfortunate trend we're seeing of lifesaving medication being out of reach for so many people is something we need to end.”In 2019, Colorado became the first state to enact a law that set a $100 limit on monthly copays for insulin, a hormone that regulates the blood sugar of people with diabetes.Since then, 21 other states, plus Washington, D.C., have implemented laws limiting insulin costs. Congress imposed a $35 insulin copay cap for seniors on Medicare, and, in his recent State of the Union address, President Joe Biden called for expanding this cap to every American.KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.Tagged: Colorado legislature, Colorado politics, EpiPen, Iman Jodeh, insulin, Kaiser Health News, KHN, prescription drug costsAZMIRROR: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples field hearing comes to AZ in MayBY: SHONDIIN SILVERSMITH - MARCH 3, 2023 12:27 PM     As part of the U.S. departments of the Interior and Justice's work to combat the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis, the Not Invisible Act Commission will be hosting its first round of field hearing sessions this spring. “In partnership with the Justice Department and with extensive engagement with Tribes and other stakeholders, the Interior Department is marshaling our resources to finally address the crisis of violence against Indigenous peoples,” she added. FROM WORC: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People is an epidemic stemming from over 500 years of colonization that has harmed Indigenous communities across the globe.  For Indigenous women in the United States, this means being amongst the population that is murdered at 10 times the national average. According to the Indian Law Resource Center, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence, and more than half have experienced sexual violence. There is no official statistic regarding how many Indigenous women go missing within the United States, and many families report the same experiences where law enforcement will dismiss a missing loved one's case. In a Montana Public Radio article from 2019, people who had missing loved ones reported that law enforcement officers had told them “that their daughters were drunk or had run away.” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said “This work requires each of us to face our own trauma, to relive unimaginable pain, and visualize a future in which our loved ones are safe, and our communities have closure. We're here for our children, grandchildren, and relatives we have yet to meet.”The Not Invisible Act was signed into law in October 2020. It is the first bill in history to be introduced and passed by four U.S. congressional members who are enrolled in federally recognized tribes. Then- Representative Haaland, one of those four, spearheaded the bill during her time in Congress.At that time she said “A lack of urgency, transparency, and coordination has hampered our country's efforts to combat violence against American Indian and Alaska Native people” The commission established by the Not Invisible Act is a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee including law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors. In April, the commission will hold field hearings in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Anchorage, Alaska. In June, more hearings are scheduled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, northern California and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In July, a hearing will be held in Billings, Montana. A national, virtual field hearing is also planned for later in the summer. These field hearings will feature panel discussions and a public comment period. For more information, go to https://www.bia.gov/service/mmuCOLORADO NEWSLINE: Land of the free.BY: LINDSEY TOOMER - MARCH 4, 2023 11:05 AMU.S. Rep. Jason Crow D-Colorado praised the Department of Defense's decision to ensure service members have access to reproductive health care including abortion after he proposed a bill that would have done the same last fall. “After the Supreme Court's extreme and dangerous decision to take away a woman's fundamental right to an abortion, servicemembers struggled to access basic reproductive health care,” Crow said. “I applaud the Department of Defense for moving to protect our servicemembers and mitigate challenges of recruitment, readiness, and retention in the ranks. The servicemembers who fight for us should not have to fight for their own basic health care.”One of Crow's goals was to ensure that service members stationed in states that enacted abortion bans were allowed to travel to states, such as Colorado, where abortion is still legal.A Department of Defense news release said “Our Service members and their families do not control where they are stationed, and due to the nature of military service, are frequently required to travel or move to meet operational requirements. The efforts taken by the Department today will not only ensure that Service members and their families retain the fundamental right to make their own health care decisions, as well as ensuring they're afforded the time and flexibility needed to do so. In response, Rep. Lauren Boebert and fellow Republicans said they plan to maintain their laser focus on the REAL truth behind Hunter Biden's laptop.CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: Ani DiFranco! It's the 25th anniversary of the excellent album, Little Plastic Castle, originally released in 1998. Ani is doing a run of shows starting March 15 hitting Boulder, Fort Collins, Breckenridge, Salt Lake City, Boise, Bozeman, Missoula and finishing in New Orleans at the FREE French Quarter Music Festival, April 13.Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Arizona Mirror, Colorado Newsline, Kaiser Health News, Colorado Sun, and the Western Organization of Resource Councils at worc.org. Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Arizona AG Kris Mayes refocuses Election Integrity Unit on protecting election officials and voting rights | CO Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats introduce bills to lower healthcare costs | Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples commission sets field hearings for AZ, CA, MT, NM | Department of Defense provides process for service members to obtain abortions when stationed in states where abortion is banned | Ani DiFranco does a western swing with shows in CO, MT, and ID.Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: ARIZONA MIRROR: ARIZONA AG INVESTIGATES FAKE ELECTORSKris Mayes is investigating Trump's ‘fake electors,' focusing on threats to election workersBY: JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY - MARCH 3, 2023 7:12 AMWhile her predecessor used a dedicated election crimes division to investigate hundreds of bogus election fraud claims, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says she will redirect the unit's focus to prosecute election-related threats and protect voting rights. “We are almost at a crisis situation in our state, in the sense that we now have a third of our counties experiencing the resignation of high-level election officialS due to death threats and harassment. That is unacceptable,” Former AG Mark Brnovich, the Republican who Mayes replaced this year, persuaded the state legislature to create the Election Integrity Unit so his office could have a dedicated team to investigate election fraud claims. But Brnovich buried what was arguably its most important work, a 10,000-hour investigation debunking hundreds of fraud claims related to the 2020 election. AG Mayes released the results of that investigation earlier this month. And the Election Integrity Unit is also investigating a much larger effort to undermine the will of the voters — The Trump / Eastman / Perry plot to send fraudulent slates of electors for former President Donald Trump to Congress on Jan. 6 - using the state's seal. While she was secretary of state, Gov. Katie Hobbs requested Brnovich investigate the criminal use of the state seal on false documents, but Brnovich did nothing. There were actually multiple “fake elector” schemes in Arizona. One was tied to the Arizona Republican Party and allegedly done at the request of the Trump campaign. It involved officials including former AZ GOP chairwoman Kelli Ward, state Sen. Jake Hoffman, state Sen. Anthony Kern and Turning Points USA CEO Tyler Bowyer. That fake electors scheme is also the subject of a federal investigation. Another group, the Sovereign Citizens of the Great State of Arizona, also created an alternate slate of electors for Trump, independent of the former President's desperate and nihilistic attempts to steal the 2020 election for himself.Since the 2020 election, threats to election officials nationwide have been increasing. Arizona has been at the forefront of those threats, with the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice getting involved in multiple cases. Most recently, veteran Cochise County Election Director Lisa Marra resigned. In her departure letter, she described a workplace that was hostile due to a monthslong saga in which Marra stood up to election conspiracists' insane demands and threats.Last year, the director of elections in Yavapai County resigned due to more than 18 months of threats she received. GOP-dominated Yavapai County has been a hotbed of hostile activity, with the white supremacist Oath Keepers intimidating voters before federal law enforcement got involved. AG Mayes said the images of armed men watching drop boxes “disturbed” her and set her on a path to begin speaking to police and sheriff's departments across the state. Making sure voters feel safe and secure when using a drop box will be a major priority, Mayes said, and if that means making sure that agents with the Attorney General's Office are present alongside law enforcement, then that might be the case. Currently, Mayes has 60 agents working directly with her in the office. Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies had to be dispatched in riot gear to deal with angry and armed crowds of butt-hurt snowflake losers (my term) during the 2020 election, when they descended upon the Maricopa County tabulation center. Deputies have had to dedicate security to election officials who faced threats as well.During the midterms, Maricopa County spent approximately $675,000 on security for the elections, a number the Sheriff expects to be “substantially” higher for the next election as he and his deputies are already preparing for the next wave of threats to election officials, as well as illegal activities around drop boxes. But for AG Mayes, the Arizona Election Integrity Unit can be a force that actually protects voting rights in the state. “We really want to repurpose the Election Integrity Unit to be an arm of the Attorney General's Office that is focused on protecting democracy in Arizona, protecting election officials against the rise of death threats and intimidation against them, and to protect the voting rights of every legally registered Arizonan.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and a group of Democratic lawmakers have introduced a slate of new bills that are meant to reduce health care costs in the state.BY: SARA WILSON - MARCH 3, 2023 2:04 PMThe bills would reduce premiums for Colorado Option health insurance plans, lower prescription drug costs and work to increase transparency around the huge profits being made by hospitals.“Saving people money on healthcare has been a top priority for me since Day One, and it's a big challenge,” said Gov. Polis. “We want to pound away on it every year, to find every cost driver and address it, to make sure Coloradans stop having to overpay for prescription drugs, insurance, and the health care that they need.”House Bill 23-1224 would work to improve the Colorado Option, the state-regulated plan offered by private insurers that passed just last year. The bill would make it easier for consumers to compare prices on standardized plans, and empower the state's insurance commissioner to hold carriers accountable for the cost reduction requirements in Colorado Option standardized plans.Another bill, House Bill 23-1225, addresses the state's prescription drug affordability board. It would allow the board to review any number of expensive prescription drugs instead of only a dozen as outlined in the legislation that created the board.The board, which has not yet reviewed the costs of any drugs so far, has the authority to set an upper payment limit if it determines a drug is unaffordable for Coloradans.House Bill 23-1227, would give more oversight power to the state's Division of Insurance over pharmacy benefit managers. “In some cases, PBMs are coming between consumers, health insurance plans, pharmacies and manufacturers while making very, very large profits. PBMs can be a part of the plan to save Coloradans money on prescription drugs, but they have to follow the rules,” Jodeh, one of the bill sponsors, said.Lawmakers highlighted other pieces of health care cost saving legislation:HB23-1226 would enhance current hospital financial transparency reporting in an effort to highlight what is driving up hospital costs in the state.COLORADO SUN: And, Almost four years after becoming the first state to cap insulin copayments, Colorado may limit what consumers pay for epinephrine autoinjectors, also known as EpiPens, which treat serious allergic reactions.In 2007, the wholesale price of a single EpiPen was about $47. Today, two brand-name autoinjectors cost just under $636 at a Walgreens in Denver, according to GoodRx. A proposed state law would cap out-of-pocket copays at $60 for a two-pack of Epi Pens.The bill is part of a nationwide push by states to address the soaring prices of lifesaving drugs. New Hampshire passed a law in 2020 requiring insurance to cover the autoinjectors, and Rhode Island lawmakers are considering a similar measure this year. No state has capped what consumers pay for EpiPens, though the New Jersey Senate passed a bill in June to do so; that measure is pending in the legislature's lower house.state Rep. Iman Jodeh, a bill sponsor, said “The need for EpiPens doesn't discriminate based on who you are. This unfortunate trend we're seeing of lifesaving medication being out of reach for so many people is something we need to end.”In 2019, Colorado became the first state to enact a law that set a $100 limit on monthly copays for insulin, a hormone that regulates the blood sugar of people with diabetes.Since then, 21 other states, plus Washington, D.C., have implemented laws limiting insulin costs. Congress imposed a $35 insulin copay cap for seniors on Medicare, and, in his recent State of the Union address, President Joe Biden called for expanding this cap to every American.KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.Tagged: Colorado legislature, Colorado politics, EpiPen, Iman Jodeh, insulin, Kaiser Health News, KHN, prescription drug costsAZMIRROR: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples field hearing comes to AZ in MayBY: SHONDIIN SILVERSMITH - MARCH 3, 2023 12:27 PM     As part of the U.S. departments of the Interior and Justice's work to combat the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis, the Not Invisible Act Commission will be hosting its first round of field hearing sessions this spring. “In partnership with the Justice Department and with extensive engagement with Tribes and other stakeholders, the Interior Department is marshaling our resources to finally address the crisis of violence against Indigenous peoples,” she added. FROM WORC: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People is an epidemic stemming from over 500 years of colonization that has harmed Indigenous communities across the globe.  For Indigenous women in the United States, this means being amongst the population that is murdered at 10 times the national average. According to the Indian Law Resource Center, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence, and more than half have experienced sexual violence. There is no official statistic regarding how many Indigenous women go missing within the United States, and many families report the same experiences where law enforcement will dismiss a missing loved one's case. In a Montana Public Radio article from 2019, people who had missing loved ones reported that law enforcement officers had told them “that their daughters were drunk or had run away.” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said “This work requires each of us to face our own trauma, to relive unimaginable pain, and visualize a future in which our loved ones are safe, and our communities have closure. We're here for our children, grandchildren, and relatives we have yet to meet.”The Not Invisible Act was signed into law in October 2020. It is the first bill in history to be introduced and passed by four U.S. congressional members who are enrolled in federally recognized tribes. Then- Representative Haaland, one of those four, spearheaded the bill during her time in Congress.At that time she said “A lack of urgency, transparency, and coordination has hampered our country's efforts to combat violence against American Indian and Alaska Native people” The commission established by the Not Invisible Act is a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee including law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors. In April, the commission will hold field hearings in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Anchorage, Alaska. In June, more hearings are scheduled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, northern California and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In July, a hearing will be held in Billings, Montana. A national, virtual field hearing is also planned for later in the summer. These field hearings will feature panel discussions and a public comment period. For more information, go to https://www.bia.gov/service/mmuCOLORADO NEWSLINE: Land of the free.BY: LINDSEY TOOMER - MARCH 4, 2023 11:05 AMU.S. Rep. Jason Crow D-Colorado praised the Department of Defense's decision to ensure service members have access to reproductive health care including abortion after he proposed a bill that would have done the same last fall. “After the Supreme Court's extreme and dangerous decision to take away a woman's fundamental right to an abortion, servicemembers struggled to access basic reproductive health care,” Crow said. “I applaud the Department of Defense for moving to protect our servicemembers and mitigate challenges of recruitment, readiness, and retention in the ranks. The servicemembers who fight for us should not have to fight for their own basic health care.”One of Crow's goals was to ensure that service members stationed in states that enacted abortion bans were allowed to travel to states, such as Colorado, where abortion is still legal.A Department of Defense news release said “Our Service members and their families do not control where they are stationed, and due to the nature of military service, are frequently required to travel or move to meet operational requirements. The efforts taken by the Department today will not only ensure that Service members and their families retain the fundamental right to make their own health care decisions, as well as ensuring they're afforded the time and flexibility needed to do so. In response, Rep. Lauren Boebert and fellow Republicans said they plan to maintain their laser focus on the REAL truth behind Hunter Biden's laptop.CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: Ani DiFranco! It's the 25th anniversary of the excellent album, Little Plastic Castle, originally released in 1998. Ani is doing a run of shows starting March 15 hitting Boulder, Fort Collins, Breckenridge, Salt Lake City, Boise, Bozeman, Missoula and finishing in New Orleans at the FREE French Quarter Music Festival, April 13.Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Arizona Mirror, Colorado Newsline, Kaiser Health News, Colorado Sun, and the Western Organization of Resource Councils at worc.org. Thank you for listening! See you next time.

President Joe Biden and Republicans in Congress spent last month sparring over whether to shield Medicare and Social Security from budget cuts — leading some to wonder if Medicaid was on the table instead. Biden and Democrats say no, but some Republicans seem eager to trim federal spending on the health program for Americans with low incomes. And ready or not, artificial intelligence is coming to medical care. Benefits, as well as unintended consequences, are likely. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of STAT News, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KHN's chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues 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' “A Drug Company Exploited a Safety Requirement to Make Money,” by Rebecca Robbins. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.,” by Hannah Dreier. Rachel Cohrs: STAT News' “Nonprofit Hospitals Are Failing Americans. Their Boards May Be a Reason Why,” by Sanjay Kishore and Suhas Gondi. Lauren Weber: KHN and CBS News' “This Dental Device Was Sold to Fix Patients' Jaws. Lawsuits Claim It Wrecked Their Teeth,” by Brett Kelman and Anna Werner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania checked himself into the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment of depression this month, he got an unusual reaction from his colleagues in Congress: compassion. It's a far cry from how politicians once kept their mental health issues under wraps at all costs. Meanwhile, GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley is stirring up controversy by proposing that all politicians over age 75 be required to pass a mental competency test to hold office. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues 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: Stat's “Current Treatments for Cramps Aren't Cutting It. Why Aren't There Better Options,” by Calli McMurrayJoanne Kenen: The Atlantic's “Eagles Are Falling, Bears Are Going Blind,” by Katherine J. WuRachel Roubein: The Washington Post's “Her Baby Has a Deadly Diagnosis. Her Florida Doctors Refused an Abortion,” by Frances Stead SellersSarah Karlin-Smith: DCist's “Locals Who Don't Speak English Need Medical Translators, But Some Say They Don't Always Get The Service,” by Amanda Michelle Gomez and Hector Alejandro Arzate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eyes In The Sky: The Science Behind Modern Balloons This month, the news cycle has been dominated by updates about suspicious objects being detected in the stratosphere. This bonanza started with a balloon from China, and escalated as four more objects—not all confirmed as balloons—have been shot down from the sky. Although this might sound like a new problem, there are probably thousands of balloons floating above us—some for spying, others for exploring near space, or studying weather patterns. Dr. David Stupples, professor of electronic and radio engineering and director of electronic warfare research at City University of London, joins Ira to talk about the science behind modern balloons: how they work, what they do, and just how common they are.   Low Income Patients Hit Hardest By Cancer Treatment Costs Being told you have cancer is not only terrifying, it's expensive. In the year following a diagnosis, the average cost of cancer treatment is about $42,000, according to the National Cancer Institute. Some of the newer cutting-edge treatments may cost $1 million or more. While insurance may cover some or all of that cost, many people are uninsured or under-insured. And the bills add up. A quarter of patients with medical debt have declared bankruptcy or lost their home, according to an analysis conducted by KHN and NPR. While there's been remarkable progress in treating cancers in the past several decades, less attention has been paid to just how astronomical the price tags can be. Researchers at Augusta University wanted to track the results of the financial burden after patients' treatment was complete. They found that poorer patients were hit harder financially—which not only resulted in more bills, but also worse health outcomes. Ira talks with Dr. Jorge Cortes, co-author of this study and director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, about the importance of making cost part of the discussion in developing new cancer therapies.   The Unseen World Of Seaweeds Chances are you don't give much thought to seaweed unless you're at the beach, or perhaps when you're considering a dinner menu. But the thousands of seaweed species around the world are a key part of our coastal ecosystems. Seaweeds photosynthesize, provide food and shelter for marine animals, stabilize the coastlines, and even contribute to making your ice cream creamier (through an ingredient called carrageenans, extracted from red seaweeds in the Rhodophyceae family). Increasingly, they're also being investigated as a source of biofuels and as biological factories, due to their fast-growing nature. Dr. John Bothwell, a phycologist at Durham University in the UK, has written a book in praise of seaweeds. In Seaweeds of the World: A Guide To Every Order, he highlights beautiful, unusual, and important species from each of the three seaweed lineages—green, red, and brown. In this segment, he talks with SciFri's Charles Bergquist about some of his favorite species, where the seaweeds fit into the web of life, and the importance of seaweeds to the global ecosystem.   Why It Feels So Good To Eat Chocolate When you eat a piece of good chocolate, chances are you don't just bite down and chew away. There's a good chance you hold the chocolate in your mouth for a moment, feeling the silkiness as it softens, melting into a molten mass and mixing with your saliva. That gradual phase change process—as fats in the chocolate melt from solid to liquid—is a big part of the chocolate mouthfeel experience. Researchers at Leeds University in the UK have constructed an artificial tongue that doesn't focus on the taste of a food, but rather its texture, and how that texture changes over time. Using the artificial tongue, they explored the textures of materials that can change phase in the mouth, such as chocolate, butter, and ice cream. They reported their findings recently in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The researchers found that in dark chocolate, the sensation in the mouth is governed largely by the fat content, as the surface of the chocolate begins to soften. A few moments later, as the chocolate melts completely and mixes with saliva, the fat content of the treat is less important to the mouthfeel experience. Dr. Anwesha Sarkar, an author of the report, joins Ira to talk about the research, the challenge of designing a lower-fat chocolate that might exploit these findings, and the importance of learning about textures to determine why people like—and don't like—certain foods.   Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.  

A new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that teenagers, particularly girls, are reporting all-time high rates of violence and profound mental distress. Meanwhile, both sides in the abortion debate are anxiously waiting for a district court decision in Texas that could effectively revoke the FDA's 22-year-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KHN's chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more. Click here 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: NPR's “Is the Deadly Fungi Pandemic in ‘The Last of Us' Actually Possible?” by Michaeleen Doucleff. Alice Ollstein: The New York Times' “Childbirth Is Deadlier for Black Families Even When They're Rich, Expansive Study Finds,” by Claire Cain Miller, Sarah Kliff, and Larry Buchanan. Interactive produced by Larry Buchanan and Shannon Lin. Joanne Kenen: NPR's “In Tennessee, a Medicaid Mix-Up Could Land You on a ‘Most Wanted' List,” by Blake Farmer. Sandhya Raman: Bloomberg Businessweek's “Zantac's Maker Kept Quiet About Cancer Risks for 40 Years,” by Anna Edney, Susan Berfield, and Jef Feeley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Joe Biden's 2023 State of the Union address leaned heavily on health care issues. Biden took a victory lap for recent accomplishments like capping prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare. He also urged Congress to make permanent the boosted premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, and he sparred with Republicans on threats to cut Social Security and Medicare. Also this week, both sides in the abortion debate are bracing for a court decision out of Texas that could, at least temporarily, make the abortion pill mifepristone illegal nationwide. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Kate Baicker of the University of Chicago about a possible middle ground in the effort to get universal health insurance coverage. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: The New York Times' “Don't Let Republican ‘Judge Shoppers' Thwart the Will of Voters,” by Stephen I. Vladeck Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's “Mpox Is Simmering South of the Border, Threatening a Resurgence,” by Carmen PaunSarah Karlin-Smith: KHN's “Decisions by CVS and Optum Panicked Thousands of Their Sickest Patients,” by Arthur Allen Rachel Cohrs: ProPublica's “UnitedHealthcare Tried to Deny Coverage to a Chronically Ill Patient. He Fought Back, Exposing the Insurer's Inner Workings,” by David Armstrong, Patrick Rucker, and Maya Miller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden administration this week announced it would let the covid-19 public health emergency lapse on May 11, even as the Republican-led House was voting to immediately eliminate the special authorities of the so-called PHE. Meanwhile, anti-abortion forces are pressuring legislators to both tighten abortion restrictions and pay for every birth in the nation. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KHN's chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Hannah Wesolowski of the National Alliance on Mental Illness about the rollout of the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. Plus for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: Axios' “Republicans Break With Another Historical Ally: Doctors,” by Caitlin Owens and Victoria KnightMargot Sanger-Katz: The New York Times' “Most Abortion Bans Include Exceptions. In Practice, Few Are Granted,” by Amy Schoenfeld WalkerRachel Roubein: The Washington Post's “I Wrote About High-Priced Drugs for Years. Then My Toddler Needed One,” by Carolyn Y. JohnsonVictoria Knight: The New York Times' “Emailing Your Doctor May Carry a Fee,” by Benjamin Ryan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part II of this special two-part episode, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Sarah Varney of KHN join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss how the abortion debate has evolved since the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion in 2022, and what might be the flashpoints for 2023.Also, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their most memorable reproductive health stories from the last year:Julie Rovner: NPR's “Because of Texas' Abortion Law, Her Wanted Pregnancy Became a Medical Nightmare,” by Carrie FeibelAlice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times Magazine's “She Wasn't Ready for Children. A Judge Wouldn't Let Her Have an Abortion,” by Lizzie PresserSandhya Raman: ProPublica's “'We Need to Defend This Law': Inside an Anti-Abortion Meeting with Tennessee's GOP Lawmakers,” by Kavitha SuranaSarah Varney: Science Friday's and KHN's “Why Contraceptive Failure Rates Matter in a Post-Roe America,” by Sarah Varney Click here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part I of this special, two-part episode, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Sarah Varney of KHN join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss how the abortion debate has evolved since the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion in 2022, and what might be the flashpoints for 2023. Also in this episode, Rovner interviews Elizabeth Nash of the Guttmacher Institute, about changing reproductive policies in the states. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The debt ceiling crisis facing Washington puts Medicare and other popular entitlement programs squarely on the negotiating table this year as newly empowered Republicans demand spending cuts. Meanwhile, as more Americans than ever have health insurance, the nation's health care workforce is straining under the load. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KHN's chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more.Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too. Julie Rovner: Roll Call's “NIH Missing Top Leadership at Start of a Divided Congress,” by Ariel CohenTami Luhby: CNN's “ER on the Field: An Inside Look at How NFL Medical Teams Prepare for a Game Day Emergency,” by Nadia Kounang and Amanda SealyJoanne Kenen: The Atlantic's “Don't Fear the Handshake,” by Katherine J. Wu Victoria Knight: The Washington Post's “‘The Last of Us' Zombie Fungus Is Real, and It's Found in Health Supplements,” by Mike HumeClick here for transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaders of the new Republican-led U.S. House kicked off their legislative agenda with two bills supported by anti-abortion groups. While neither is likely to become law, the move demonstrates how abortion will continue to be an issue in Washington. Meanwhile, as open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act nears its end in most states, the number of Americans covered by the plans hits a new high. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more.Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “Social Security Denies Disability Benefits Based on List With Jobs From 1977,” by Lisa Rein Margot Sanger-Katz: Roll Call's “Providers Say Medicare Advantage Hinders New Methadone Benefit,” by Jessie Hellmann Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “Grant Wahl Was a Loving Husband. I Will Always Protect His Legacy.” By Céline Gounder Sarah Karlin-Smith: KHN's “Hospitals' Use of Volunteer Staff Runs Risk of Skirting Labor Laws, Experts Say,” by Lauren Sausser Also mentioned in this week's podcast:KHN's “States Challenge Biden to Lower Drug Prices by Allowing Imports From Canada,” by Phil Galewitz Politico's “Next Frontier in the Abortion Wars: Your Local CVS,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein and Lauren Gardner KFF's “Millions of Uninsured People Can Get Free ACA Plans,” by Jared Ortaliza, Justin Lo, Gary Claxton, Krutika Amin, and Cynthia Cox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The year-end spending bill passed by Congress in late December contains a wide array of health-related provisions, including a structure for states to begin to disenroll people on Medicaid whose coverage has been maintained through the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is taking steps to make the abortion pill more widely available. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KHN's chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Mark Kreidler, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a billing mix-up that took about a year to sort out.Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: The New York Times' “The F.D.A. Now Says It Plainly: Morning-After Pills Are Not Abortion Pills,” by Pam BelluckJoanne Kenen: Politico Magazine's “Racist Doctors and Organ Thieves: Why So Many Black People Distrust the Health Care System,” by Joanne Kenen and Elaine BatchlorRachel Cohrs: The New York Times' “‘Major Trustee, Please Prioritize': How NYU's E.R. Favors the Rich,” by Sarah Kliff and Jessica Silver-GreenbergRachel Roubien: KHN's “Hundreds of Hospitals Sue Patients or Threaten Their Credit, a KHN Investigation Finds. Does Yours?” by Noam N. LeveyClick here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of KHN's “What the Health?” Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, talks with host Julie Rovner, KHN's chief Washington correspondent, about where we are in the pandemic and how we should transition out of the public health emergency. This episode was taped on Dec. 20.Click here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Top negotiators in Congress have agreed to a framework for government spending into next year, but there are details to iron out before a vote — such as the scheduled Medicare payment cuts that have providers worried. Also, the Biden administration reopens its program allowing Americans to request free covid-19 home tests, as hopes for pandemic preparedness measures from Congress dim. Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rebecca Adams of KHN join KHN's Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Mary Agnes Carey: Scientific American's “Kindness Can Have Unexpectedly Positive Consequences,” by Amit Kumar Rachel Cohrs: The Washington Post's “From Heart Disease to IUDs: How Doctors Dismiss Women's Pain,” by Lindsey Bever Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat's “Watch: With Little More Than a Typewriter, an Idaho Man Overturns the Entire State's Policy on Hepatitis C Treatment in Prison,” by Nicholas Florko Rebecca Adams: KHN's “Mass Shootings Reopen the Debate Over Whether Crime Scene Photos Prompt Change or Trauma,” by Lauren Sausser Also mentioned in this week's podcast:The New York Times' “Two Decades After 9/11 Inquiry, a Similar Plan for Covid Stalls in Congress,” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg KHN's “Schools, Sheriffs, and Syringes: State Plans Vary for Spending $26B in Opioid Settlement Funds,” by Aneri Pattani The Washington Post's “Cause of death: Washington faltered as fentanyl gripped America,” by Nick Miroff, Scott Higham, Steven Rich, Salwan Georges, and Erin Patrick O'Connor STAT News' “Congress has its sights set too low on addiction, advocates charge,” by Lev Facher The Washington Post's “Conservatives complain abortion bans not enforced, want jail time for pill ‘trafficking',” by Caroline Kitchener Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sen. Raphael Warnock's re-election in Georgia will give Democrats a clear-cut Senate majority for the first time in nearly a decade. Meanwhile, the current Congress has only days left to tackle major unfinished business on the health agenda, including fending off scheduled pay cuts for doctors and other health providers in the Medicare program. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The AP Stylebook's “Abortion Topical Guide,” by The Associated Press Anna Edney: The Washington Post's “Drugs Killed 8 Friends, One by One, in a Tragedy Seen Across the U.S.,” by Lenny Bernstein and Jordan-Marie Smith Joanne Kenen: Columbia Journalism Review's “Anonymous Woman,” by Becca Andrews Sandhya Raman: CQ Roll Call's “At International Conference, Dobbs Dominates Debate,” by Sandhya Raman Also mentioned in this week's podcast: KHN's “Paxlovid Has Been Free So Far. Next Year, Sticker Shock Awaits,” by Hannah Recht KHN's “The Business of Clinical Trials Is Booming. Private Equity Has Taken Notice,” by Rachana Pradhan KFF's “Operating Margins Among the Largest For-Profit Health Systems Have Exceeded 2019 Levels for the Majority of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” by Scott Hulver, Zachary Levinson, and Jamie Godwin Reuters' “Alabama Care Over Mistaken Pregnancy Highlights Risks in a Post-Roe World,” by Hassan Kanu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The lame-duck Congress has returned to Washington with a long health care to-do list and only a little time. Meanwhile, some of the states that have not yet expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act are rethinking those decisions. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Fred Clasen-Kelly, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature, about a mysterious mishap during minor surgery. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Stat's “Resistance to FDA's Opioid-Disposal Plan Raises Concerns About CADCA, a Powerful Advocacy Group,” by Lev Facher Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica and The New York Times' “She Wanted an Abortion. A Judge Said She Wasn't Mature Enough to Decide,” by Lizzie Presser Rachel Cohrs: The New Yorker's “How Hospice Became a For-Profit Hustle,” by Ava Kofman Sarah Karlin-Smith: The New York Times' “Jail Is a Death Sentence for a Growing Number of Americans,” by Shaila Dewan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats retained control of the U.S. Senate in the midterm elections, while Republicans won a majority in the House, giving them the ability to block items on President Joe Biden's agenda. Meanwhile, the lame-duck, Democratic-led Congress won't have the votes to pass abortion rights legislation, although they may try to undo some long-standing anti-abortion policies in federal spending bills. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Philadelphia Inquirer's “Spice Containers Are the Most Contaminated Surface in Your Kitchen,” by Sarah Gantz Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica's “We Need to Defend This Law”: Inside an Anti-Abortion Meeting With Tennessee's GOP Lawmakers,” by Kavitha Surana Victoria Knight: The Daily Beast's “COVID-Denying Medical Group Implodes Over Founder's Extravagant Spending,” by Will SommerJoanne Kenen: The Pink Sheet's “Califf's Covid Twitter Communications Reveal Knowledge Gaps Partially of FDA's Own Making,” by Sarah Karlin-Smith Also mentioned in this week's episode: Axios' “Nonprofit Scores With Progressive Health Ballot Measures in Red States,” by Sabrina MorenoCleveland.com's “Some Electronic Messages to Cleveland Clinic Healthcare Providers Could Cost $50,” by Julie Washington KHN's “Sick Profit: Investigating Private Equity's Stealthy Takeover of Health Care Across Cities and Specialties” by Fred Schulte The Milbank Quarterly's “Termites in the House of Health Care,” by John McDonough Click here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Election night went better than expected for Democrats. Although they could still lose control of one or both houses of Congress, the predicted “red wave” for Republicans failed to materialize. Meanwhile, voters in both red and blue states approved ballot measures to protect abortion rights. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Carolee Lee, the former jewelry magnate, about her efforts to boost gender equity in medical research. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: Columbia Journalism Review's “How Much Coverage Are You Worth?” by Kyle Pope Alice Miranda Ollstein: PBS NewsHour's “Study Reveals Stark Number of Alcohol-Related Deaths Among Young Americans,” by John Yang and Dorothy Hastings Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Washington Post's “Clock Runs Out on Efforts to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent,” by Dan Diamond Rachel Cohrs: ESPN's “Review Shows Favre-Backed Drug Companies Overstated Benefits, Connections,” by Mark Fainaru-Wada Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News and host of KHN's "What the Health" podcast, discusses how Democrats and Republicans envision paying for health care costs, and how health care is playing into this year's midterms.

On Today's Show:Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News and host of KHN's What the Health podcast, discusses the politics of health care costs and the competing approaches by Democrats and Republicans this midterms season.

The Affordable Care Act's 10th annual open-enrollment period began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15, 2023, in most states. But for the first time, the health law seems to be enrolling Americans with far less controversy than in previous years. Meanwhile, as Election Day approaches, Democrats are focusing on GOP efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Julie Appleby of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Arthur Allen, who wrote the latest KNH-NPR Bill of the Month, about an old but still very expensive cancer drug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abortion isn't the only health issue voters will be asked to decide in state ballot questions next month. Proposals about medical debt, Medicaid expansion, and whether health care should be a right are on ballots in various states. Meanwhile, the latest lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act has expanded to cover all preventive care. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “An Autistic Teen Needed Mental Health Help. He Spent Weeks in an ER Instead,” by William WanAlice Miranda Ollstein: CBS News' “U.S. Offers Flu Shots to Migrants in Border Custody, Reversing Long-Standing Policy,” by Camilo Montoya-Galvez Victoria Knight: Stat's “Inside Michelle McMurry-Heath's Departure From BIO: Firings, Internal Clashes, and a Pivotal Job Review,” by Rachel Cohrs Jessie Hellmann: KHN's “Hospitals Said They Lost Money on Medicare Patients. Some Made Millions, a State Report Finds,” by Fred Clasen-Kelly Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, President Joe Biden has taken to the road to convince voters that he and congressional Democrats have delivered for them during two years in power. Among the health issues highlighted by the administration this week are pandemic preparedness and the availability of over-the-counter hearing aids. The president also promised to sign a bill codifying the abortion protections of Roe v. Wade if Democrats maintain control of the House and Senate — even though it's a long shot that there will be enough votes for that. Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more.Click here for a transcript of the episode. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read too: Julie Rovner: KHN and NPR's “Kids' Mental Health Care Leaves Parents in Debt and in the Shadows,” by Yuki NoguchiSarah Karlin-Smith: Scientific American's “Some People Really Are Mosquito Magnets, and They're Stuck That Way,' By Daniel LeonardSandhya Raman: Journal of the National Cancer Institute's “Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer,” by Che-Jung Chang, et al. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden administration has decided to try to fix the so-called “family glitch” in the Affordable Care Act without an act of Congress. The provision has prevented workers' families from getting subsidized coverage if an employer offer is unaffordable. Meanwhile, Medicare's open enrollment period begins Oct. 15, and private Medicare Advantage plans are poised to cover more than half of Medicare's 65 million enrollees. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat News join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read: Julie Rovner: KHN's “If You're Worried About the Environment, Consider Being Composted When You Die,” by Bernard J. Wolfson Margot Sanger-Katz: KHN's “Baby, That Bill Is High: Private Equity ‘Gambit' Squeezes Excessive ER Charges From Routine Births,” by Rae Ellen Bichell Joanne Kenen: The Food & Environmental Reporting Network's “For One Historically Black California Town, a Century of Water Access Denied,” by Teresa Cotsirilos Rachel Cohrs: Stat's “A Miniscule New HHS Office Has a Mammoth Goal: Tackling Environmental Justice,” by Sarah Owermohle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress won't be back in Washington until after Election Day, but lawmakers have left themselves a long list of items to finish up in November and December, including unfinished health care policies. Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill aimed at curbing covid-19 “misinformation and disinformation” by doctors. Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call; Jessie Hellmann, also of CQ Roll Call; and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Sam Whitehead, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode about a family who tried to use urgent care to save money, but ended up with a big emergency room bill anyway.Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: NPR's “The Ice Bucket Challenge Wasn't Just for Social Media. It Helped Fund a New ALS Drug,” by Wynne Davis Sandhya Raman: Mountain State Spotlight's “As WV Officials Tout Small Reductions in Drug Overdose Deaths, Epidemic Remains at Crisis Levels,” by Allen Siegler Jessie Hellmann: KHN's “Severe Sleep Apnea Diagnosis Panics Reporter Until He Finds a Simple, No-Cost Solution,” by Jay Hancock Mary Agnes Carey: The Washington Post's “Seniors Are Stuck Home Alone as Health Aides Flee for Higher-Paying Jobs,” by Christopher Rowland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress has once again decided not to decide how to fund the federal government in time for the start of the fiscal year, racing toward a midnight Sept. 30 deadline to pass a stopgap bill that would keep the lights on for two more months. However, it does appear the FDA's program that gets drugmakers to help fund some of the agency's review staff will be renewed in time to stop pink slips from being sent. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews filmmaker Cynthia Lowen, whose new documentary, “Battleground,” explores how anti-abortion forces played the long game to overturn Roe v. Wade. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: KHN's “Britain's Hard Lessons From Handing Elder Care Over to Private Equity,” by Christine SpolarAlice Miranda Ollstein: KHN's “Embedded Bias: How Medical Records Sow Discrimination,” by Darius TahirRachel Cohrs: The New York Times' “Arbitration Has Come to Senior Living. You Don't Have to Sign Up,” by Paula SpanVictoria Knight: Forbes' “Mark Cuban Considering Leaving Shark Tank as He Bets His Legacy on Low-Cost Drugs,” by Jemima McEvoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over 70% of Indigenous people in the United States live in urban areas. But urban Indian health makes up less than 2% of the Indian Health Service's annual budget.While enrolled members of federally recognized tribes can access the Indian Health Service or tribally run health care on their reservations, Indigenous people who live in cities can find themselves without access to the care they're entitled to.“Even though we're living in urban areas now, that doesn't mean that our benefits should leave us,” said Esther Lucero, president and CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board.The Seattle Indian Health Board is one of many urban clinics across the United States that opened to address the discrimination and lack of services Indigenous people face in cities. These clinics work to meet the cultural and ceremonial needs of the populations they serve.“We are much more than a community health center or place that provides direct service. We are a home away from home,” Lucero said.Episode 12 explores the barriers Indigenous people face to accessing quality health care in cities and the efforts of urban Indian clinics to meet the needs of this population.Voices from the Episode:Esther Lucero, president and CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board Dr. Patrick Rock, CEO of the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis Douglass Miller, an associate professor of Native American History at Oklahoma State UniversityRichard Wright, a spiritual health adviser with the Indian Health Board of MinneapolisSeason 4 of “American Diagnosis” is a co-production of KHN and Just Human Productions.Our Editorial Advisory Board includes Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Alastair Bitsóí, and Bryan Pollard.To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

President Joe Biden, in an interview with CBS' “60 Minutes,” declared the covid-19 pandemic “over,” stoking confusion for members of his administration trying to persuade Congress to provide more funding to fight the virus and the public to get the latest boosters. Meanwhile, concerns about a return of medical inflation is helping boost insurance premiums even as private companies race to get their piece of the health pie. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Lauren Weber of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Anchorage Daily News' “Many Alaska Pharmacies Are Understaffed, Leading to Sporadic Hours and Patients Turned Away,” by Annie Berman Joanne Kenen: Capital B's “Clinicians Dismiss Black Women's Pain. The Consequences Are Dire,” by Margo Snipe Anna Edney: The Guardian's “Fury Over ‘Forever Chemicals' as US States Spread Toxic Sewage Sludge,” by Tom Perkins Lauren Weber: KHN's “Doctors Rush to Use Supreme Court Ruling to Escape Opioid Charges,” by Brett Kelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Republicans would like to shift the political focus away from abortion to economic issues for the midterm elections, but a bill from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy has put the issue squarely back on their agenda. The proposal was not welcomed by many of his colleagues, especially Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Also this week, the muddle about where the fight against covid stands and near record-low numbers of uninsured in the U.S. Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times join KHN's partnerships editor, Mary Agnes Carey, to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Mary Agnes Carey: KHN's “As State Institutions Close, Families of Longtime Residents Face Agonizing Choices” by Tony LeysRachel Cohrs: Politico's “A New Approach to Domestic Violence” by Joanne KenenSandhya Raman: The Philadelphia Inquirer's “Philly's Kids Are Grieving Alone From the Far-Reaching Trauma of Gun Violence, Advocates Say” by Abraham GutmanMargot Sanger-Katz: The New York Times' “Despite Their Influence and Extensive Access to Information, Members of Congress Can Buy and Sell Stocks With Few Restrictions” and “These 97 Members of Congress Reported Trades in Companies Influenced by Their Committees” by Kate Kelly, Adam Playford, and Alicia Parlapiano Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A federal judge in Texas — the same one who tried to strike down the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional in 2018 — has ruled against some of the ACA's preventive benefits, including the requirement that employers cover medication to prevent HIV. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs tries to make abortions slightly more available to veterans and their dependents. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Lauren Sausser, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” installment. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read: Julie Rovner: KHN's “When Does Life Begin? As State Laws Define It, Science, Politics, and Religion Clash,” by Sarah Varney Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New Yorker's “When Private Equity Takes Over a Nursing Home,” by Yasmin Rafiei Joanne Kenen: ProPublica's “‘The Human Psyche Was Not Built for This,'” by Marilyn W. Thompson and Jenny Deam Sarah Karlin-Smith: Stat's “Study Raises Concerns About the Effectiveness of the Monkeypox Vaccine,” by Helen Branswell Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new report from the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a National Public Health System calls for a major overhaul of the way the U.S. organizes, funds, and communicates about public health, particularly in the harsh spotlight of the covid-19 pandemic. In this special episode of KHN's “What the Health?” host Julie Rovner and KHN's correspondent Lauren Weber interview the commission's chair, Dr. Margaret Hamburg, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about how to fix what ails public health. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Joe Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act and Congress is gone until after Labor Day. But the administration and lawmakers left lots of health policy behind, including new rules to facilitate the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids and a potential reorganization of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Los Angeles Times' “The CDC Loosened Its COVID Rules. Who Fills in This Public Health Vacuum?” by Wendy Netter Epstein and Daniel GoldbergAlice Miranda Ollstein: MedPage Today's “Falls From Higher Border Walls Overwhelm Trauma Services,” by Cheryl Clark Joanne Kenen: Harper's Magazine's “A Hole in the Head,” by Zachary Siegel Anna Edney: Stat's “Parents and Clinicians Say Private Equity's Profit Fixation Is Short-Changing Kids With Autism,” by Tara Bannow Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress is leaving for its annual summer break having accomplished far more than many expected, including, barring unforeseen snags, a bill to address the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and extend the enhanced subsidies for insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act.Meanwhile, the abortion issue continues to roil the nation as Indiana becomes the first state to ban the procedure in almost all cases since the Supreme Court overruled the constitutional right to abortion in June.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “For Sleep Apnea Patients With Recalled CPAP Machines, Restless Nights,” by Laurie McGinleyRachel Cohrs: The Washington Post's “Conservatives Skeptical of Coronavirus Vaccines Battle to Lead a Hospital,” by Tim CraigAlice Miranda Ollstein: The AP's “Study Connects Climate Hazards to 58% of Infectious Diseases,” by Seth BorensteinSarah Karlin-Smith: The Pink Sheet's “US FDA Commissioner Califf Takes on Misinformation, Starting With ‘Rumor Control,'” by Sue Sutter Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress is leaving for its annual summer break having accomplished far more than many expected, including, barring unforeseen snags, a bill to address the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and extend the enhanced subsidies for insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the abortion issue continues to roil the nation as Indiana becomes the first state to ban the procedure in almost all cases since the Supreme Court overruled the constitutional right to abortion in June. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.Also, for extra credit, the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “For Sleep Apnea Patients With Recalled CPAP Machines, Restless Nights,” by Laurie McGinley Rachel Cohrs: The Washington Post's “Conservatives Skeptical of Coronavirus Vaccines Battle to Lead a Hospital,” by Tim Craig Alice Miranda Ollstein: The AP's “Study Connects Climate Hazards to 58% of Infectious Diseases,” by Seth Borenstein Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Pink Sheet's “US FDA Commissioner Califf Takes on Misinformation, Starting With ‘Rumor Control,'” by Sue Sutter Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first official test vote since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, voters in Kansas' primary said in no uncertain terms they want to keep a right to abortion in their state constitution. Meanwhile, the Senate is still working to reach a vote before summer recess on its health care-climate-tax measure, but progress is slow. Tami Luhby of CNN, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Bram Sable-Smith, who wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” installment about a very expensive ambulance trip. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: KHN's “They Lost Medicaid When Paperwork Was Sent to an Empty Field, Signaling the Mess to Come,” by Brett KelmanRachel Cohrs: The Washington Post's “Thousands of Lives Depend on a Transplant Network in Need of ‘Vast Restructuring,'” by Joseph Menn and Lenny Bernstein Tami Luhby: KHN's “Hospices Have Become Big Business for Private Equity Firms, Raising Concerns About End-of-Life Care,” by Markian HawrylukSandhya Raman: KHN's “Nursing Homes Are Suing the Friends and Family of Residents to Collect Debts,” by Noam N. Levey See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a rare surprise for official Washington, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced a deal to expand the planned health bill in the Senate to include provisions raising taxes and addressing climate change. The measure would include a third year of expanded subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, but not health care coverage for people left out of Medicaid in states that failed to expand the program. Meanwhile, the ACA goes back to court, and the Biden administration restores anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people that were rolled back by the Trump administration. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dr. Céline Gounder of KHN about the latest on the monkeypox outbreak. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: NPR's “Because of Texas Abortion Law, Her Wanted Pregnancy Became a Medical Nightmare,” by Carrie Feibel Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Hill's “Top FDA Tobacco Official Leaving for Philip Morris Job,” by Nathaniel Weixel Joanne Kenen: Science's “Blots on a Field? A Neuroscience Image Sleuth Finds Signs of Fabrication in Scores of Alzheimer's Articles, Threatening a Reigning Theory of the Disease,” by Charles Piller Sarah Karlin-Smith: NPR's “Drugmakers Are Slow to Prove Medicines That Got a Fast Track to Market Really Work,” by Sydney Lupkin See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two things happened in Washington this week that were inevitable: President Joe Biden tested positive for covid-19, and the Senate agreed to move forward on a budget bill that includes only a sliver of what Biden hoped it would. Still, the bill to allow Medicare to negotiate some drug prices, cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, and extend temporary subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance premiums would represent a major step if Democrats can get it across the finish line. Meanwhile, abortion battles continue to escalate around the country, with Texas leading the way on restrictions. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., the new president of the American Medical Association. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KHN's “Conservative Blocs Unleash Litigation to Curb Public Health Powers,” by Lauren Weber and Anna Maria Barry-Jester Shefali Luthra: Stat's “Health Care's High Rollers: As the Pandemic Raged, CEOs' Earnings Surged,” by Bob Herman, Kate Sheridan, J. Emory Parker, Adam Feuerstein, and Mohana Ravindranath Rachel Cohrs: Politico's “Anthony Fauci Wants to Put Covid's Politicization Behind Him,” by Sarah Owermohle Joanne Kenen: Inside Climate News' “When the Power Goes Out, Who Suffers? Climate Epidemiologists Are Now Trying to Figure That Out,” by Laura Baisas See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A rapidly changing landscape for abortion has left patients, providers, employers, and lawmakers alike wondering what is and is not legal and what to do next. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress have resumed negotiations on legislation to lower drug prices and, potentially, continue expanded insurance subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too: Alice Miranda Ollstein: NiemanLab's “Unimaginable Abortion Stories Will Become More Common. Is American Journalism Ready?” by Laura Hazard OwenSandhya Raman: The Atlantic's “The Great Veterinary Shortage,” by Sarah ZhangTami Luhby: The Wall Street Journal's “Medical Debt Is Being Wiped Off Credit Reports. What That Means for You,” by Ayse Kelce Also mentioned on this week's podcast:KHN's “Three Things to Know About Insurance Coverage for Abortion,” by Julie ApplebyKHN's “How Much Health Insurers Pay for Almost Everything Is About to Go Public,” by Julie Appleby See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Health workers are not OK, and that poses a threat to anyone who may need health services. That's the central finding of the latest report from the office of U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, “Addressing Health Worker Burnout.” This special episode of KHN's “What the Health?” podcast is a conversation about the report between Murthy and KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner, which was recorded at the annual research meeting of AcademyHealth in June. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade has created far more questions than it has answered about the continued legality and availability of abortion, as both abortion rights supporters and anti-abortion activists scramble to put their marks on policy. Meanwhile, Congress completes work on its gun bill and the FDA takes up the problem of the next covid-19 booster. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Victoria Knight of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Angela Hart, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode about two identical eye surgeries with very different price tags.Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's “Women Are Still Underrepresented in Clinical Trials,” by Erin BlakemoreMargot Sanger-Katz: The Washington Post's “This Texas Teen Wanted an Abortion. She Now Has Twins,” by Caroline Kitchener Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Miami Herald's “Why Should You Stop Frolicking in Miami-Dade Floodwater? It's Probably Full of Poop,” by Alex HarrisVictoria Knight: Insider's “2,000 Leaked Documents and Employees Say Silicon Valley Healthcare Startup Cerebral Harmed Hundreds of Patients and Prescribed Serious Medication with Abandon,” by Shelby Livingston and Blake DodgeClick here for a transcript of the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.