The Host
Julie Rovner
KFF Well being Information
Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Well being Information’ weekly well being coverage information podcast, “What the Well being?” A famous skilled on well being coverage points, Julie is the writer of the critically praised reference guide “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
In the case of well being care, this yr’s presidential marketing campaign is more and more a matter of which candidate voters select to consider. Democrats, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, say Republicans wish to additional limit reproductive rights and repeal the Reasonably priced Care Act, pointing to their earlier actions and claims. In the meantime, Republicans, led by former President Donald Trump, insist they haven’t any such plans.
In the meantime, with open enrollment approaching for Medicare, the Biden administration dodges a political bullet, avoiding a pointy spike subsequent yr in Medicare prescription drug plan premiums.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Name
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- This week, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio muddled his ticket’s stances on well being coverage throughout the vice presidential debate, together with by downplaying the potential for a nationwide abortion ban. And Melania Trump, the previous president’s spouse, spoke out in help of abortion rights. Their feedback appear designed to appease voter issues that former President Donald Trump may take actions to additional block abortion entry.
- Vance raised eyebrows together with his debate-night declare that Trump “salvaged” the Reasonably priced Care Act — when, the truth is, the previous president vowed to repeal the legislation and championed the GOP’s efforts to ship on that promise. In the meantime, Trump deflected questions from AARP about his plans for Medicare, replying, “What we’ve got to do is make our nation profitable once more.”
- On the Democratic facet, Vice President Kamala Harris is campaigning on well being, particularly by pushing out new adverts highlighting the advantages of the ACA and Trump’s efforts to limit abortion. Polls present well being is a profitable situation for Democrats and that the ACA is standard, particularly its protections for these with preexisting situations.
- Additionally within the information, the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Companies reported a slight dip in common Medicare drug plan premiums for subsequent yr. Coming in an annual report — out shortly earlier than Election Day — it seems as if authorities subsidies cushioned modifications to the system, sparing seniors from doubtlessly paying in premiums what they might save underneath the brand new $2,000 annual out-of-pocket drug price cap, as an illustration.
- And in abortion information, a decide struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban — however many suppliers have already left the state. And a brand new California legislation protects protection for in vitro fertilization, together with for LGBTQ+ {couples}.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews KFF Well being Information’ Lauren Sausser, who reported and wrote the newest KFF Well being Information-Washington Publish “Invoice of the Month,” a few teen athlete whose wanted surgical procedure lacked a billing code. Do you’ve gotten a complicated or outrageous medical invoice you wish to share? Inform us about it.
Plus, for “further credit score,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “Medical doctors Urging Convention Boycotts Over Abortion Bans Face Uphill Battle,” by Ronnie Cohen.
Anna Edney: Bloomberg Information’ “A Free Drug Experiment Bypasses the US Well being System’s Secret Charges,” by John Tozzi.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Wall Road Journal’s “Hospitals Hit With IV Fluid Scarcity After Hurricane Helene,” by Joseph Walker and Peter Loftus.
Sandhya Raman: The Asheville Citizen Instances’ “With out Water After Helene, Residents at Asheville Public Housing Complicated Worry for Their Well being,” by Jacob Biba.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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KFF Well being Information is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is likely one of the core working applications at KFF—an unbiased supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Study extra about KFF.
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