The Host
Julie Rovner KFF Well being Information
@julierovner.bsky.social
Learn Julie’s tales.
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 professional on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference ebook “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
Open enrollment for 2026 Reasonably priced Care Act insurance coverage begins in most states Nov. 1, with no decision in Congress about whether or not to proceed extra beneficiant premium tax credit expanded underneath President Joe Biden or allow them to expire on the finish of this yr. It’s unclear whether or not the backlash from tens of millions of enrollees seeing skyrocketing premiums will transfer Democrats or Republicans to again away from entrenched positions which can be retaining many of the federal authorities shut down.
In the meantime, the Trump administration — having finished away earlier this yr with a Biden-era regulation that prevented medical debt from being included on customers’ credit score studies — is now telling states they can’t go their very own legal guidelines to bar the follow.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Publish, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Panelists
Paige Winfield Cunningham
The Washington Publish
Learn Paige’s tales.
Maya Goldman
Axios
@maya-goldman.bsky.social
Learn Maya’s tales
Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico
@alicemiranda.bsky.social
Learn Alice’s tales.
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Tens of tens of millions of Individuals are bracing to lose authorities meals assist on Nov. 1, after the Trump administration opted to not proceed funding the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program throughout the shutdown. President Donald Trump and senior officers have made no secret of efforts to penalize authorities packages they see as Democratic priorities, to exert political stress because the stalemate continues on Capitol Hill.
- Individuals starting to buy subsequent yr’s plans on the ACA marketplaces are experiencing sticker shock as a result of expiration of extra beneficiant premium tax credit that had been expanded throughout the covid pandemic. The federal authorities will even take a selected hit because it covers rising prices for lower-income clients who will proceed to obtain help no matter a deal in Congress.
- In state information, after killing a Biden-era rule to dam medical debt from credit score studies, the Trump administration is working to stop states from passing their very own protections. In Florida, docs who help vaccine efforts are being muffled, and the state’s surgeon basic says he didn’t mannequin the outcomes of ending childhood vaccination mandates earlier than pursuing the coverage — a dangerous proposition as public well being specialists warning that latest measles outbreaks are a canary within the coal mine for vaccine-preventable sicknesses.
- And in Texas, the state’s lawyer basic, who can be operating for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, is suing the maker of Tylenol, claiming the corporate tried to dodge legal responsibility for the remedy’s unproven ties to autism. The lawsuit is the newest drawback for Tylenol, with latest allegations undermining confidence within the widespread painkiller, the one one really useful for pregnant girls to scale back probably harmful fevers and relieve ache.
Plus, for “further credit score” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you need to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “Many Concern Federal Mortgage Caps Will Deter Aspiring Docs and Worsen MD Scarcity,” by Bernard J. Wolfson.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica’s “Citing Trump Order on ‘Organic Reality,’ VA Makes It More durable for Male Veterans With Breast Most cancers To Get Protection,” by Eric Umansky.
Paige Winfield Cunningham: The Washington Publish’s “Research Finds mRNA Coronavirus Vaccines Extended Lifetime of Most cancers Sufferers,” by Mark Johnson.
Maya Goldman: KFF Well being Information’ “As Sports activities Betting Explodes, States Strive To Set Limits To Cease Playing Dependancy,” by Karen Brown, New England Public Media.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credit
Francis Ying Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor
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