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 knowledgeable on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference e-book “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
The presidential election is lower than 5 months away, and whereas abortion is the one well being coverage challenge anticipated to play a number one function, others are prone to be raised within the presidential and down-ballot races. This election may very well be essential in figuring out the way forward for key well being care packages, corresponding to Medicaid and the Reasonably priced Care Act.
On this particular episode of KFF Well being Information’ “What the Well being?” taped on the Aspen Concepts: Well being pageant in Aspen, Colorado, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Instances and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name be a part of Julie Rovner, KFF Well being Information’ chief Washington correspondent, to debate what the election season portends for prime well being points.
Panelists
Margot Sanger-Katz
The New York Instances
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Name
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Insurance policies surrounding abortion — and reproductive well being points, generally — possible will dominate in lots of races, as Democrats attempt to exploit a difficulty that’s motivating their voters and dividing Republican voters. The subjects of contraception and in vitro fertilization are taking part in a extra outstanding function in 2024 than they’ve in previous elections.
- Excessive prescription drug costs — which, for annoyed Individuals, are a longtime image, and symptom, of the nation’s dysfunctional well being care system — have been a precedence for the Biden administration and, beforehand, the Trump administration. However the challenge is so complicated and progress so incremental that it’s exhausting to say whether or not both social gathering has a bonus.
- The destiny of many main well being packages shall be decided by who wins the presidency and who controls Congress after this fall’s elections. For instance, the non permanent subsidies which have made Reasonably priced Care Act well being plans extra reasonably priced will expire on the finish of 2025. If the subsidies will not be renewed, hundreds of thousands of Individuals will possible be priced out of protection once more.
- Beforehand hot-button points like gun violence, opioid habit, and psychological well being will not be taking part in a high-profile function within the 2024 races. However that would change case by case.
- Lastly, large well being points that would use public airing and debate — like what to do concerning the nation’s crumbling long-term care system and the rising scarcity of important well being professionals — will not be prone to grow to be marketing campaign points.
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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