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 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 Inexpensive Care Act insurance policy begins in most states Nov. 1, with no decision in Congress about whether or not to proceed extra beneficiant premium tax credit expanded beneath President Joe Biden or allow them to expire on the finish of this 12 months. It’s unclear whether or not the backlash from thousands and thousands of enrollees seeing skyrocketing premiums will transfer Democrats or Republicans to again away from entrenched positions which might be conserving a lot of the federal authorities shut down.
In the meantime, the Trump administration — having finished away earlier this 12 months with a Biden-era regulation that prevented medical debt from being included on customers’ credit score experiences — is now telling states they can’t move their very own legal guidelines to bar the apply.
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
Maya Goldman
Axios
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Tens of thousands and thousands of Individuals are bracing to lose authorities meals assist on Nov. 1, after the Trump administration opted to not proceed funding the Supplemental Diet 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 12 months’s plans on the ACA marketplaces are experiencing sticker shock as a result of expiration of extra beneficiant premium tax credit that have been expanded throughout the covid pandemic. The federal authorities can 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 experiences, the Trump administration is working to stop states from passing their very own protections. In Florida, medical doctors who help vaccine efforts are being muffled, and the state’s surgeon common says he didn’t mannequin the outcomes of ending childhood vaccination mandates earlier than pursuing the coverage — a dangerous proposition as public well being consultants warning that latest measles outbreaks are a canary within the coal mine for vaccine-preventable diseases.
- And in Texas, the state’s legal professional common, who can be working for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, is suing the maker of Tylenol, claiming the corporate tried to dodge legal responsibility for the medicine’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 ladies to cut back doubtlessly harmful fevers and relieve ache.
Plus, for “further credit score” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “Many Worry 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 Tougher for Male Veterans With Breast Most cancers To Get Protection,” by Eric Umansky.
Paige Winfield Cunningham: The Washington Publish’s “Examine 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
Click on right here to seek out all our podcasts.
And subscribe to “What the Well being? From KFF Well being Information” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, or wherever you take heed to podcasts.
We encourage organizations to republish our content material, freed from cost. Right here’s what we ask:
You will need to credit score us as the unique writer, with a hyperlink to our kffhealthnews.org website. If potential, please embrace the unique creator(s) and KFF Well being Information” within the byline. Please protect the hyperlinks within the story.
It’s vital to notice, not the whole lot on kffhealthnews.org is obtainable for republishing. If a narrative is labeled “All Rights Reserved,” we can not grant permission to republish that merchandise.
Have questions? Tell us at [email protected]