Podcast appearances and mentions of rachana pradhan

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

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

Dreaming of a Trump victory, Republicans have a wish list of health policy changes — including loosening Affordable Care Act regulations to make cheaper coverage available and ending Medicare drug price negotiations. Meanwhile, after the first publicly reported death stemming from a state abortion ban, Vice President Kamala Harris is emphasizing the consequences of Trump's work to overturn Roe v. Wade. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Joanne Kenen of Politico and Johns Hopkins University join KFF Health News senior editor Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Emmarie Huetteman: The Washington Post's “What Warning Labels Could Look Like on Your Favorite Foods,” by Lauren Weber and Rachel Roubein. Shefali Luthra: KFF Health News' “At Catholic Hospitals, a Mission of Charity Runs Up Against High Care Costs for Patients,” by Rachana Pradhan. Tami Luhby: Politico Magazine's “Doctors Are Leaving Conservative States To Learn To Perform Abortions. We Followed One,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein. Joanne Kenen: The New York Times' “This Chatbot Pulls People Away From Conspiracy Theories,” by Teddy Rosenbluth, and The Atlantic's “When Fact-Checks Backfire,” by Jerusalem Demsas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to the FDA's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, ruling unanimously that the anti-abortion doctor group that filed the suit lacked standing. But abortion opponents are expected to pursue other strategies to ban or restrict the medication. Meanwhile, the Biden administration moves to stop the inclusion of medical debt on individual credit reports, and former President Donald Trump tries to claim credit for $35 insulin. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News, and Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF president and CEO Drew Altman about KFF's new “Health Policy 101” primer. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: HuffPost's “How America's Mental Health Crisis Became This Family's Worst Nightmare,” by Jonathan Cohn. Anna Edney: Stat News' “Four Tops Singer's Lawsuit Says He Visited ER for Chest Pain, Ended Up in Straitjacket,” by Tara Bannow. Rachana Pradhan: The New York Times' “Abortion Groups Say Tech Companies Suppress Posts and Accounts,” by Emily Schmall and Sapna Maheshwari. Emmarie Huetteman: CBS News' “As FDA Urges Crackdown on Bird Flu in Raw Milk, Some States Say Their Hands Are Tied,” by Alexander Tin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A six-week abortion ban took effect in Florida this week, dramatically restricting access to the procedure not just in the nation's third-most-populous state but across the South. Patients from states with even more restrictive bans had been flooding in since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.Meanwhile, the CEO of the health behemoth UnitedHealth Group appeared before committees in both the House and Senate, where lawmakers grilled him about the February cyberattack on subsidiary Change Healthcare and how its ramifications are being felt months later.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.Julie Rovner: ProPublica's “A Doctor at Cigna Said Her Bosses Pressured Her To Review Patients' Cases Too Quickly. Cigna Threatened To Fire Her,” by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum, and David Armstrong, ProPublica.Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Associated Press' “Dozens of Deaths Reveal Risks of Injecting Sedatives Into People Restrained by Police,” by Ryan J. Foley, Carla K. Johnson, and Shelby Lum.Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Atlantic's “America's Infectious-Disease Barometer Is Off,” by Katherine J. Wu.Rachana Pradhan: The Wall Street Journal's “Millions of American Kids Are Caregivers Now: ‘The Hardest Part Is That I'm Only 17,” by Clare Ansberry.Click here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to KFF Health News, more than half a million babies are delivered each year in Catholic-run hospitals across the United States. In most cases, there are no complications, but during an emergency, patients can find themselves caught between accepted medical standards and these facilities' religious-based policies. KFF Health News correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

According to KFF Health News, more than half a million babies are delivered each year in Catholic-run hospitals across the United States. In most cases, there are no complications, but during an emergency, patients can find themselves caught between accepted medical standards and these facilities' religious-based policies. KFF Health News correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the Alabama Supreme Court has determined that embryos created for in vitro fertilization procedures are legally people. The decision has touched off massive confusion about potential ramifications, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham has paused its IVF program. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to endorse a national 16-week abortion ban, while his former administration officials are planning further reproductive health restrictions for a possible second term. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News' 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 “New CMS Rules Will Throttle Access Researchers Need to Medicare, Medicaid Data,” by Rachel M. Werner.Lauren Weber: The Washington Post's “They Take Kratom to Ease Pain or Anxiety. Sometimes, Death Follows,” by David Ovalle.Rachana Pradhan: Politico's “Red States Hopeful for a 2nd Trump Term Prepare to Curtail Medicaid,” by Megan Messerly.Victoria Knight: ProPublica's “The Year After a Denied Abortion,” by Stacy Kranitz and Kavitha Surana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time, a jury has convicted a parent of a school shooter of charges related to the child's crime, finding a mother in Michigan guilty of involuntary manslaughter and possibly opening a new legal avenue for gun control advocates. Meanwhile, as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case challenging the FDA's approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, a medical publisher has retracted some of the journal studies that lower-court judges relied on in their decisions. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News join KFF Health News' 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 Alabama Daily News' “Alabama Lawmakers Briefed on New ‘ALL Health' Insurance Coverage Expansion Plan,” by Alexander Willis. Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat's “FDA Urged to Move Faster to Fix Pulse Oximeters for Darker-Skinned Patients,” by Usha Lee McFarling. Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Atlantic's “GoFundMe Is a Health-Care Utility Now,” by Elisabeth Rosenthal. Rachana Pradhan: North Carolina Health News' “Atrium Health: A Unit of ‘Local Government' Like No Other,” by Michelle Crouch and Charlotte Ledger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sensing that Republicans are walking into a political minefield by threatening once again to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Biden administration is looking to capitalize by rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at high drug prices and other consequences of “corporate greed in health care.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hears a case that could determine when and how much victims of the opioid crisis can collect from Purdue Pharma, the drug company that lied about how addictive its drug, OxyContin, really was.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann of KFF Health News' sister podcast, “An Arm and a Leg,” about his investigation into hospitals suing their patients over unpaid bills. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Wisconsin State Journal's “Dane, Milwaukee Counties Stop Making Unwed Fathers Pay for Medicaid Birth Costs,” by David Wahlberg. Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “Tallying the Best Stats on US Gun Violence Is Trauma of Its Own,” by Madison Muller. Alice Miranda Ollstein: Stat's “New Abortion Restrictions Pose a Serious Threat to Fetal Surgery,” by Francois I. Luks, Tippi Mackenzie, and Thomas F. Tracy Jr. Rachana Pradhan: KFF Health News' “Patients Expected Profemur Artificial Hips to Last. Then They Snapped in Half,” by Brett Kelman and Anna Werner, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although Republicans have never united behind a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, 2024 GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump said this week he wants to put the issue back on the national agenda. That delights Democrats, who have won at least two elections partly by defending the now-popular health law. Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court takes up a case brought by women who say their pregnancy complications further endangered their health due to the vagueness of Texas' near-total ban on abortions. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Victoria Knight of Axios News join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Rachana Pradhan, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Medicaid ‘Unwinding' Makes Other Public Assistance Harder to Get,” by Katheryn Houghton, Rachana Pradhan, and Samantha Liss. Joanne Kenen: KFF Health News' “She Once Advised the President on Aging Issues. Now, She's Battling Serious Disability and Depression,” by Judith Graham. Victoria Knight: Business Insider's “Washington's Secret Weapon Is a Beloved Gen Z Energy Drink With More Caffeine Than God,” by Lauren Vespoli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Obamacare open enrollment season, which means that, for people who rely on these plans for coverage, it's time to shop around. With enhanced premium subsidies and cost-sharing assistance, consumers may find savings by switching plans. It is especially important for people who lost their coverage because of the Medicaid unwinding to investigate their options. Many qualify for assistance. Meanwhile, the countdown to Election Day is on, and Ohio's State Issue 1 is grabbing headlines. The closely watched ballot initiative has become a testing ground for abortion-related messaging, which has been rife with misinformation. This week's panelists are Mary Agnes Carey of KFF Health News, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Mary Agnes Carey: Stat News' “The Health Care Issue Democrats Can't Solve: Hospital Reform,” by Rachel Cohrs. Jessie Hellmann: The Washington Post's “Drugstore Closures Are Leaving Millions Without Easy Access to a Pharmacy,” by Aaron Gregg and Jaclyn Peiser. Joanne Kenen: The Washington Post's “Older Americans Are Dominating Like Never Before, but What Comes Next?” by Marc Fisher. Rachana Pradhan: The New York Times' “How a Lucrative Surgery Took Off Online and Disfigured Patients,” by Sarah Kliff and Katie Thomas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The nation's uninsured rate reached an all-time low during the pandemic, largely because Congress temporarily blocked states from kicking people off Medicaid even if they were no longer eligible. But starting at the end of March, as many as 15 million of the program's 84 million enrollees could eventually lose coverage. Kaiser Health News correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The nation's uninsured rate reached an all-time low during the pandemic, largely because Congress temporarily blocked states from kicking people off Medicaid even if they were no longer eligible. But starting at the end of March, as many as 15 million of the program's 84 million enrollees could eventually lose coverage. Kaiser Health News correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Two mass shootings in two weeks — one at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 fourth graders and two teachers — have reignited the “guns-as-public-health-problem” debate. But political consensus seems as far away as ever. Meanwhile, the FDA is in the congressional hot seat over its handling of the infant formula shortage. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dr. Richard Baron, head of the American Board of Internal Medicine, about how doctors should discipline colleagues who spread medical misinformation. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: “Strangerville” podcast's “Episode 203: Jacob,” by Jessica and Justin Van Wyen Joanne Kenen: NBC News' podcast “Needle In/Tiffany Dover Is Dead*” by Brandy ZadroznyAnna Edney: ProPublica's “The Plot to Keep Meatpacking Plants Open During COVID-19,” by Michael GrabellRachana Pradhan: The Washington Post's “We're Ignoring a Major Culprit Behind the Teen Mental Health Crisis,” by Heather Turgeon and Julie WrightClick here for a transcript of the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In his proposed budget, President Joe Biden called for a boost in health spending that includes billions of dollars to prepare for a future pandemic. But that doesn't include money he says is needed immediately for testing and treating covid.Also this week, federal regulators authorized a second booster shot for people over age 50 yet gave little guidance to consumers about who needs the shot and when.Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post, Jennifer Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times, and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN's Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these issues and more.Plus, Julie Rovner interviews KHN's Julie Appleby, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode about a very expensive air ambulance ride.For extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week that they think you should read, too:Mary Agnes Carey: The New Yorker's “A Freelancer's Forty-Three Years in the American Health-Care System,” by David OwenAmy Goldstein: Stat's "NIH's Identity Crisis: The Pandemic and The Search for a New Leader Leave the Agency at a Crossroads," by Lev FacherJen Haberkorn: The New York Times' "F.D.A. Rushed a Drug for Preterm Births. Did It Put Speed Over Science?" by Christina JewettRachana Pradhan: The Washington Post's "‘Is This What a Good Mother Looks Like?'” by William WanClick here for a transcript of the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In anticipation of the Supreme Court rolling back abortion rights this year, both Democrats and Republicans are arguing among themselves over how best to proceed to either protect or restrict the procedure. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are at risk of losing their health insurance when the federal government declares an end to the current “public health emergency.” Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Jay Hancock, who wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode about a couple whose insurance company deemed their twins' stay in intensive care not an emergency. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:Julie Rovner: The Scientist's “Robert Malone Targets Physician Who Alerted Medical Board to Misinformation,” by Catherine OffordAlice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' “A Key to Returning to Normal Is Paid Sick Leave, Democrats Say,” by Claire Cain MillerShefali Luthra: KHN's “Other States Keep Watchful Eye on Snags in Washington's Pioneering Public-Option Plan,” by Markian HawrylukRachana Pradhan: KHN's “'Injections, Injections, Injections': Troubling Questions Follow Closure of Sprawling Pain Clinic Chain,” by Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Jenny GoldClick here for a transcript of the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hour 1 * WHO: No Deaths Reported as a Result of Omicron Variant to Date – TheEpochTimes.com * Fauci in an MSNBC interview with Andrea Mitchell on vaccine mandates: ‘Communal good' trumps ‘individual choices' – ‘We really have to get people vaccinated' – Art Moore, WND.com * Why You Can't Find Cheap At-Home COVID-19 Tests – While cheap tests are easily available overseas, Americans are left with few options – Rachana Pradhan and Hannah Norman – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had received more than 3,000 emergency use authorization applications, and it didn't have the resources to get through them. * Free pizza has gone from being a Student Body President's campaign promise to a lure used by the Los Angeles Unified School District to get students vaccinated without their parents' permission – The school employee then told the student not to tell his mom, or they would both get in trouble. * BUSTED—Military Memo Leaked – Joe Biden's Department of Defense (DOD) is acting like it is above the law. But this lawlessness will have to answer to the court in our class action lawsuit, Navy SEAL 1 v. Biden – As you know, Liberty Counsel is representing service members against Biden's shot mandates. Hour 2 * Natural Immunity More Protective Over Time Than COVID-19 Vaccination: Study from Israel – Zachary Stieber. * “If you had COVID before and recovered, all the data that we're looking at will suggest that you have bulletproof natural immunity, which is much more robust and comprehensive than vaccine immunity,” Dr. Paul Alexander, an epidemiologist with the Early COVID Care Experts who has compiled 141 studies on natural immunity—including a major study from Israel published in August—told The Epoch Times. * “There is little benefit from getting vaccinated after recovery from COVID,” Dr. Harvey Risch, an epidemiology professor at the Yale School of Public Health, told The Epoch Times. * It's More Than Time To FIRE Fauci! * Facebook admits its ‘fact-checks' are nothing but someone's opinion – Concession appears in court document – Bob Unruh, WND.com * Meta Attorneys: Facebook Fact Check Labels Are Opinion – TheEpochTimes.com * Television host John Stossel sued Facebook and two of its fact-checking partners, Science Feedback and Climate Feedback, earlier this year, accusing the entities of defaming him. * The labels themselves are neither false nor defamatory; to the contrary, they constitute protected opinion – FB Attorney's. * We're Suing Twitter and We Need Your Help – Attorney Harmeet Dhillon. * Mark Meadows Sues Nancy Pelosi and Jan. 6 Panel – Unauthorized access. * Tornadoes Rip Through Multiple States, Death Toll is Rising. * US Inflation Hits Highest Level in Almost 40 Years as Biden Policies Decimate the Economy. * Biden Distances Himself from Push to Defund Police as Blue States See Spike in Crime. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

* WHO: No Deaths Reported as a Result of Omicron Variant to Date - TheEpochTimes.com * Fauci in an MSNBC interview with Andrea Mitchell on vaccine mandates: 'Communal good' trumps 'individual choices' - 'We really have to get people vaccinated' - Art Moore, WND.com * Why You Can't Find Cheap At-Home COVID-19 Tests - While cheap tests are easily available overseas, Americans are left with few options - Rachana Pradhan and Hannah Norman - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had received more than 3,000 emergency use authorization applications, and it didn't have the resources to get through them. * Free pizza has gone from being a Student Body President's campaign promise to a lure used by the Los Angeles Unified School District to get students vaccinated without their parents' permission - The school employee then told the student not to tell his mom, or they would both get in trouble. * BUSTED—Military Memo Leaked - Joe Biden's Department of Defense (DOD) is acting like it is above the law. But this lawlessness will have to answer to the court in our class action lawsuit, Navy SEAL 1 v. Biden - As you know, Liberty Counsel is representing service members against Biden's shot mandates.

President Joe Biden unveiled a compromise “Build Back Better” framework shortly before taking off for key meetings in Europe, but it's unclear whether the framework can win the votes of all Democrats in the House and Senate, and it leaves out some of the Democrats' health priorities, notably significant provisions to lower prescription drug prices. Meanwhile, younger children may soon be eligible for covid vaccines.Joanne Kenen of Politico and Johns Hopkins, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.Also this week, Rovner interviews Amy Howe of SCOTUSblog about the upcoming Supreme Court arguments over Texas' controversial abortion law.And here are the panelists' favorite health policy stories of the week:Julie Rovner: Rewire News Group's “When a Miscarriage Becomes a Jail Sentence,” by Caroline ReillyJoanne Kenen: Nature's “COVID Vaccine Makers Brace for a Variant Worse Than Delta,” by Emily WaltzRachana Pradhan: KHN's “3 States Limit Nursing Home Profits in Bid to Improve Care,” by Susan JaffeSarah Karlin-Smith: KHN's “‘Down to My Last Diaper': The Anxiety of Parenting in Poverty,” by Jenny GoldClick here for a transcript of the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The summer that promised to let Americans resume a relatively normal life is turning into another summer of anxiety and face masks, as the delta variant drives covid caseloads up in all 50 states. Meanwhile, the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 35, and the Missouri Supreme Court orders the state to expand Medicaid after all. Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHN's Samantha Young, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode about an Olympic-level athlete with an Olympic-size medical bill.

Lawmakers are working on fleshing out the concept of a “public option,” a government-run or heavily regulated insurance plan that would compete with private insurance. But the details are complicated, both substantively and politically. Meanwhile, bioethicists are debating whether the U.S. should be vaccinating low-risk adolescents against covid-19 while high-risk adults in other countries are still waiting. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Rachana Pradhan of KHN 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.

The $1.9 trillion covid relief bill signed by President Joe Biden includes a long list of new health benefits for consumers. But many eligible people may have difficulty figuring out how to take advantage of those benefits because of the interaction with the income tax system and a lack of experts to offer guidance. Meanwhile, Democrats are setting up an internal debate about what should come next on the health agenda: a public option for health insurance like the one Biden supported on the campaign trail, or a “Medicare for All” plan preferred by many liberals. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Rachana Pradhan of KHN 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.

With three Covid vaccines approved for Americans, why is it taking so long for people to be vaccinated? Kaiser Health News correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins host Krys Boyd to explain the very complicated process of producing these vaccines – a process money or even executive orders can only do so much to speed up. Her recent article on the topic is “After Billions of Dollars and Dozens of Wartime Declarations, Why Are Vaccines Still in Short Supply?”

The American west is facing a more severe wildfire season, which comes with stress, loss and a sense of mourning for our planet called climate grief. We spoke with Wired science journalist Matt Simon about this grief many of us are experiencing and the delicate balance of covering “the apocalypse beat” while keeping readers engaged with an often bleak topic. Later on the show: Antigen tests for covid-19 are being used more and more, especially in places like nursing homes and colleges. But a reporting team from Kaiser Health News found that 21 states don’t report the results from these tests, restricting our understanding of the pandemic and our ability to respond to it. We spoke with one of the journalists behind this report, Rachana Pradhan, about why we need more antigen testing and how the pandemic has underscored longstanding problems with our health care system.

Frustration from inside the Trump administration over the management of the COVID-19 pandemic is starting to become public, as whistleblowers — some anonymous, some named ― tell how the effort is being undermined by favoritism, incompetence and a disdain for science. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard a case that could threaten the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Rachana Pradhan of Kaiser Health News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend their favorite stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Americans are hit every day with surprise medical bills – those costs you don’t anticipate and your insurance doesn’t cover. And it’s a practice that’s pitted doctors against insurance companies in a fight taking place on Capitol Hill. Rachana Pradhan, health care reporter for Kaiser Health News, joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how doctors are now petitioning Congress to make sure they get paid – and about how insurance companies are defending their billing practices. Her recent story on the topic is headlined “When Your Doctor Is Also a Lobbyist: Inside The War Over Surprise Medical Bills.”

HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma are the two most important health officials in the Humphrey building — but they've spent months disagreeing on policy, personnel and priorities. The longstanding cold war between them has heated up amid questions over Verma's use of outside public relations contractors. On this episode of "Pulse Check," POLITICO's Dan Diamond joins colleagues Adam Cancryn and Rachana Pradhan to discuss the team's recent reporting on the Azar-Verma relationship, what it means for the Trump administration's policies and where it's all headed. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Verma's faced congressional inquiries and an inspector general probe following a POLITICO report that she directed millions of federal dollars toward PR communications contracts that benefited her personal brand. Azar and Verma's battles have affected big ideas — like the administration's plans to replace Obamacare — and smaller moments like who gets to announce new regulations, POLITICO reported last week. Azar also has clashed with the White House — and specifically Joe Grogan, the domestic policy council chief — over policy ideas.

Tim Hill carved out a nearly three-decade career in the federal government, ultimately rising to a role where he oversaw Medicaid for much of last year. Now at IMPAQ International, Hill sat down with Dan Diamond to discuss the day-to-day operations of programs like Medicaid, balancing civil service with political changes and some CMS initiatives that have been overshadowed. (Starts at the 1:00-minute mark.) After the break, Rachana Pradhan and Adam Cancryn join Dan to discuss POLITICO's report on rising tensions between HHS and the White House. (Starts at the 25:00-minute mark.) MENTIONED ON THE SHOW The Trump administration's controversial Medicaid work requirements were blocked earlier this year by a federal judge. CMS Adminstrator Seema Verma has touted efforts to improve maternal mortality. POLITICO's report on HHS Secretary Alex Azar's recent clashes with the White House.

With Congress on recess, POLITICO's reporters (and a bonus guest) take stock of three big stories in a grab-bag episode. First, Rachana Pradhan leads a conversation on Utah's controversial changes to voter-approved Medicaid expansion (starts at the 1:20 mark). Next, Paul Demko offers an update on lawsuits over President Donald Trump's cancellation of ACA payments to insurers (starts at the 12:40 mark). Finally, Rodney Whitlock — a former top aide to Sen. Chuck Grassley — joins POLITICO's reporters to help preview next week's drug pricing hearings in the Senate (starts at the 24:00 mark). MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Utah's GOP leaders shrunk the state's voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Rachana will sit down with Utah Gov. Gary Herbert on Friday morning at a POLITICO livestreamed event. Multiple judges have now ruled that the United States owes billions of dollars to insurers after Trump cancelled certain ACA payments in 2017. Seven leading pharma executives will face the Senate Finance Committee in a much-anticipated hearing next week.

Voters during the 2018 midterms favored the expansion of Medicaid, but it’s being met with some pushback by conservative legislators. What can Utah’s Medicaid episode teach us about how health care fights may roll out over the coming years? Guests: Utah 25th District Rep. Joel Briscoe. Rachana Pradhan, health care reporter for Politico. Eric Eddings, co-host of The Nod. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters during the 2018 midterms favored the expansion of Medicaid, but it’s being met with some pushback by conservative legislators. What can Utah’s Medicaid episode teach us about how health care fights may roll out over the coming year? Guests: Representative Joel Briscoe (UT - District 25). Rachana Pradhan, health care reporter for Politico. Eric Eddings, Co-host of The Nod. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a new year, and PULSE CHECK returns to look at what's ahead. POLITICO's Adam Cancryn and Rachana Pradhan join Dan Diamond to discuss if the partial government shutdown will end soon (starts at the 1:45 mark), what's on Congress' to-do list (4:00) and how the Trump administration is putting its stamp on the states (16:45) — with a bonus conversation about the most influential Trump appointees (26:10). REFERENCED ON THE SHOW There’s no sign that the partial government shutdown will come to an end soon. More. Adam and Alice Miranda Ollstein’s POLITICO Pro story on House Democrats’ new health strategy. (Behind the Pro firewall.) More. Rachana’s story about thousands of Arkansas residents losing Medicaid coverage every month. More. Arkansas health chief Cindy Gillespie and ex-CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt dueled on POLITICO's podcast about whether work requirements would harm Medicaid beneficiaries. More. Atul Gawande’s October 2017 New Yorker article on whether health care should be a right. More. Mississippi is quietly considering Medicaid expansion, POLITICO’s Paul Demko scooped. More.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar laid out an ambitious plan to promote value-based care this week, pledging that there's "no turning back" when it comes to reforming how hospitals and doctors get paid. What does it all mean? Karen Murphy's in position to know: She's the Chief Innovation Officer at Geisinger Health System, but she also previously worked in the Obama administration, helping to oversee value-based care efforts, and served as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health too. Karen discussed how value-based care is playing out at the provider level, what she makes of Azar's comments on value-based care and medical marijuana, what Geisinger is doing on the biggest public health challenges and why she thinks every health care worker needs to do a stint in government. (Starts at the 18:20 mark.) But first: POLITICO's Sarah Karlin-Smith and Rachana Pradhan joined Dan Diamond to discuss the latest Trump administration changes to Medicaid, the most recent developments related to the opioid crisis and HHS' evolving communication strategy (Starts at the 1:50 mark). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. Referenced on the podcast: Sarah's story on Donald Trump's suggestion of using the death penalty to stop the opioid epidemic: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/01/donald-trump-death-penalty-suggestion-opioid-crisis-376176 HHS Secretary Alex Azar's remarks on value-based care: https://www.hhs.gov/about/leadership/secretary/speeches/2018-speeches/remarks-on-value-based-transformation-to-the-federation-of-american-hospitals.html Penn professors Lawton Burns and Mark Pauly's article on value-based care: https://www.milbank.org/quarterly/articles/transformation-health-care-industry-curb-enthusiasm/

Bill Press welcomes Rachana Pradhan, Ryan Reilly and Dan Zak to discuss Donald Trump's big shake-up in the West Wing, whether or not the Senate will try to take up health care again in August, Trump's endorsement of police brutality and the new book Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age - the full Monday edition of the Bill Press Show!

The Obamacare repeal battle is THE story in health care, but it's not the only one. On a special edition of PULSE CHECK, five POLITICO health care reporters talk about what they're seeing ahead for the Affordable Care Act, and also drill down on other recent industry news. First, Pro's Jen Haberkorn and Rachana Pradhan (starts at the 2:15 mark) join Dan Diamond to discuss whether GOP plans to repeal Obamacare remain realistic, North Carolina's last-ditch push for Medicaid expansion, and who they're watching this frantic week. After the break, Pro's Paul Demko and Sarah Karlin-Smith (starts at 23:15) offer updates on the court battle over insurer mega-mergers, what the Cures Act could do for the pharma sector, and whether the health care industry will benefit or suffer under the Trump administration. *Note: Podcast was recorded before Monday night's moves in Congress to slow down Obamacare repeal efforts. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com.