The Host
The way forward for the Medicaid medical health insurance program for these with low incomes is unsure, as Congress works on a finances plan calling for main cuts whereas President Donald Trump each guarantees to assist that plan in addition to to guard this system.
In the meantime, hundreds of workers on the Division of Well being and Human Companies have been fired over the vacation weekend, whereas states with abortion bans face off towards states with legal guidelines defending medical doctors who use telemedicine to prescribe abortion capsules to residents of the previous.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins College Bloomberg College of Public Well being and Politico Journal, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Medicaid cuts of the magnitude the Home is contemplating would decimate this system. And, because the Republican Occasion has realigned, reducing it could impression their base. Smaller adjustments across the edges — ideas like work necessities — could also be extra potential, despite the fact that they haven’t proved efficient in previous experiments.
- Most of the firings at HHS have a very random really feel. In some circumstances, entire places of work, a few of which have been put in place to pursue Trump priorities similar to synthetic intelligence — have been left with none workers as a result of all their workers have been “new.” In different circumstances, extremely recruited scientists have been let go. What’s rising as a long-term problem from these federal firings is how companies just like the Nationwide Institutes of Well being will recruit future scientists. Job candidates are extremely educated individuals who can discover extra profitable employment within the personal sector. The lack of brainpower, mixed with diminished federal assist for analysis, can have penalties. Areas similar to primary analysis, which isn’t a moneymaker, may undergo.
- Texas and Louisiana are every in search of to prosecute a New York physician who prescribes abortion remedy by way of telemedicine. The governor of New York has vowed to guard such medical doctors underneath the state’s “defend legislation.” However the final choice of which state legislation prevails will possible be made by the Supreme Courtroom.
Plus, for “additional credit score,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it’s best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “Ache Clinics Made Thousands and thousands From ‘Pointless’ Injections Into ‘Human Pin Cushions’” by Brett Kelman.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Washington Submit’s “U.S. Reverses Plan To Shut Down Free Covid Take a look at Program,” by Lena H. Solar and Carolyn Y. Johnson.
Joanne Kenen: Wired’s “The Ketamine-Fueled ‘Psychedelic Slumber Events’ That Get Tech Execs Again on Observe,” by Elana Klein.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: Fortune’s “The Dietary Dietary supplements You Assume Are Bettering Your Well being Could Be Damaging Your Liver, Analysis Warns,” by Lindsey Leake.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
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