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.
Come January, Republicans will management the Home of Representatives, Senate, and White Home, regaining full energy for the primary time since 2018. That can give them vital clout to dramatically change well being coverage. However slim margins in Congress will depart little room for dissent.
In the meantime, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to not contact Medicare, although there are Medicare-related points — together with drug worth negotiations and doctor pay — that may quickly demand consideration.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Put up, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Put up.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg
Rachel Roubein
The Washington Put up
Lauren Weber
The Washington Put up
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Republicans will management the Home and the Senate starting subsequent 12 months, doubtlessly providing Trump essential votes in help of his nominees and agenda. Nevertheless, the social gathering will govern with solely a slim majority in each chambers, which might hamper its potential to make sweeping or controversial modifications. Regardless, the GOP will steer legislative efforts, resembling setting authorities spending ranges and limits, and management committees that determine what to prioritize and oversee.
- Trump this week named a number of individuals he intends to appoint to his Cupboard. But lots of his picks lack related expertise or have staked out controversial coverage positions — or each — elevating the query: Can they clear the Senate affirmation course of? Trump has urged utilizing recess appointments to get round that, a technique that might largely bypass the Senate and restrict his Cupboard secretaries’ authority.
- In the meantime, among the many points on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s well being agenda are some that resonate with Democrats, resembling cracking down on ultra-processed meals and meals dyes. Notably, these kinds of initiatives — which might tighten guidelines for companies, for example — haven’t been a part of the standard conservative playbook.
- And, wanting forward, there’s lots the Trump administration might do to additional erode abortion rights, and the GOP is more likely to see this as a second for attempting issues.
Plus, for “further credit score,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it is best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “In Vermont, The place Virtually Everybody Has Insurance coverage, Many Can’t Discover or Afford Care,” by Phil Galewitz.
Anna Edney: The Atlantic’s “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula,” by Zoë Schlanger.
Rachel Roubein: Politico’s “‘Been a Lengthy Time Since I Felt That Manner’: Sexually Transmitted An infection Numbers Present New Hope,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein.
Lauren Weber: JAMA Community Open’s “Medical Board Self-discipline of Physicians for Spreading Medical Misinformation,” by Richard S. Saver.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Click on to open the transcript
Transcript: Readying for Republican Rule
[Editor’s note: This transcript was generated using both transcription software and a human’s light touch. It has been edited for style and clarity.]
Julie Rovner: Whats up, and welcome again to “What The Well being?” I’m Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Well being Information, and I’m joined by a number of the greatest and smartest well being reporters in Washington. We’re taping this week on Thursday, November 14th, at 10 a.m. As all the time, and significantly this week, information occurs quick and issues may’ve modified by the point you hear this. So, right here we go.
At this time we’re joined through videoconference by Rachel Roubein of The Washington Put up.
Rachel Roubein: Hello. Thanks for having me.
Rovner: Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information.
Anna Edney: Whats up.
Rovner: And Lauren Weber, additionally The Washington Put up.
Lauren Weber: Double bother at the moment. Thanks for having me.
Rovner: No interview this week however greater than sufficient information to make up for it, so let’s dig proper in. In order of yesterday, it’s official. Come January twentieth, Republicans will management the presidency, the Senate, and the Home, though the ultimate break up continues to be but to be decided and is perhaps even smaller than the handful it’s now. Plus President-elect [Donald] Trump retains naming Home Republicans to his administration, which can complicate issues and which we’ll discuss in a second. However assuming there’s a trifecta when Trump places his hand on the Bible at midday on January twentieth, what distinction is that going to make to the well being agenda than if the Home had flipped Democratic, even by a vote or two?
Edney: Properly, I feel that, as you simply talked about, this majority is more likely to be so small. And simply pondering to the previous, we’ve seen such divisions, even among the many Republican Occasion, on what ought to be finished.
Rovner: It solely takes one or two — when you may solely afford to lose one or two votes, it solely takes one or two individuals to gum up the works.
Edney: Yeah, and there are numerous members — and significantly, it looks like, within the GOP — which are very keen to try this. I imply, I feel that additionally the potential is that well being care will not be high of thoughts for President Trump, not less than. So I do know we’ve heard Speaker [Mike] Johnson say that he want to overturn the ACA [Affordable Care Act] immediately, however I don’t know that, like we mentioned, with the small majority, that that may be capable to even occur.
Rovner: I really feel like that’s an enormous distinction from, I might say from 2017, once we got here in and well being care, repealing ACA, was proper on the high. Not a lot now. Lauren.
Weber: I used to be simply going to say: What model of the Trump administration on well being care are we going to get? I imply, you’ve got Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the market speaking about “Make America Wholesome Once more,” which additionally flies within the face of numerous Republican ideology. I imply, numerous what he’s speaking about appears to be excessive regulation of ultra-processed meals. He appears to wish to restrict promoting for pharmaceutical advertisements. He desires to deal with power illness, which is one thing that lots of people on the left would like to see extra curiosity in, together with the ultra-processed meals. However is that the brand new Republican Occasion focus for well being? I don’t know. I feel we’re going to see, I imply, contemplating RFK appears poised for a big place within the administration.
Rovner: And we’ll discuss extra about him in a couple of minutes. Rachel, you wished so as to add one thing.
Roubein: Yeah. I consider — once I take into consideration Congress and the ability construction, I’m pondering lots about simply the federal government spending payments and the way that’s used to barter. Like, if you happen to look from a number of years in the past, Democrats negotiated some Medicaid insurance policies that they wished on maternal well being for alternate for what Republicans wished on unwinding Medicaid. And so Democrats lose their negotiating leverage there. And actually one of many huge insurance policies in Congress for subsequent 12 months, I feel, is the expiration in 2025 of the improved Obamacare subsidies. So Democrats don’t actually have a chamber there.
Rovner: Which we’ll additionally get to. However, I imply, the massive distinction is that if the Democrats had gained a majority even by one or two votes, that might’ve given them management of committees, which now they received’t have. And that’s, sure, an enormous deal. I used to be going to say, Anna, in a 12 months when well being will not be essentially on the high of the type of huge agenda, what occurs in committee is usually what occurs.
Edney: Proper, yeah, what they determine to look into or to not look into. One of many locations possibly the place they may type of cross paths or agree in a manner with RFK Jr., if that’s the best way the Trump administration goes, is there’s nonetheless numerous anger on the best concerning the covid vaccine. So we might see investigations ongoing — I feel they’re nonetheless taking place — however ongoing in that vein, and [Anthony] Fauci might maintain getting referred to as earlier than Congress. And that results in a type of aversion to pandemic preparedness, which could possibly be regarding as a result of we’re wanting down at this chicken flu potential downside that retains getting barely extra regarding on a regular basis.
Rovner: There’s a teen in Canada in intensive care with chicken flu, who was not uncovered to something on a farm. That has public well being individuals involved.
Edney: Proper, proper, precisely. And when you concentrate on uncooked milk and RFK Jr. in help of that — I do know we’ll get to him — nevertheless it all looks like an ideal storm, doubtlessly. However I feel that the best way that the Republicans would like to go will not be coping with — they’d somewhat intestine pandemic preparedness. They don’t see a spot for it, in order that these issues might turn into necessary down the road.
Rovner: In order I discussed, President-elect Trump is already saying tons and many individuals to workers the higher ranges of his incoming administration. And even with the Senate, with the Republican majority, that appears fairly possible to provide him no matter he desires, he’s been curiously suggesting that he desires to make use of one thing referred to as recess appointments for his main workplaces, which might imply his appointees could be non permanent, however they might additionally keep away from the conventional Senate affirmation course of, which includes vetting and hearings and votes and even on an expedited foundation can take weeks. Are we beginning to get an concept of why he desires that, given a number of the of us that he’s already named, like firebrand and ethics-challenged Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to be lawyer common?
Edney: Yeah, definitely. We haven’t seen an HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] choose but, and I can’t even guess who it is perhaps simply given what’s already come out was very surprising. And so I feel that you just’ve seen companies just like the Meals and Drug Administration undergo that earlier than, the place they’ve simply had these non permanent individuals or they’ve stored in place whoever was the deputy on the time, and so they turn into the commissioner for some time and never confirmed. And it actually hampers their potential to do lots, although. There are selections {that a} division or an company can’t make if somebody’s not Senate-confirmed.
Rovner: However doesn’t that throw extra energy again to the White Home? Isn’t that sort of the thought right here?
Edney: Yeah, true. That’s a great level. If RFK Jr. will get this type of well being czar spot — I’ve been telling individuals I couldn’t actually see him as HHS secretary, as a result of numerous what he desires to do is beneath the USDA [Agriculture Department], so that might make no sense. And so if he simply sort of has the ability he desires within the White Home to do what he wants, you make a great level there as nicely.
Rovner: Yeah, what else are — I might’ve mentioned earlier than yesterday that they might by no means title RFK Jr. to be HHS secretary. Though after a number of the names we bought yesterday, possibly that may occur. This might occur whereas we’re taping this. However what different names are we listening to, if any? I do know I’ve three individuals right here who’ve been overlaying the FDA. I imply, clearly through the first Trump administration, the FDA was headed by Scott Gottlieb, who we might think about a conventional Republican, a physician. He’d labored within the company earlier than. He’d been in authorities. That doesn’t appear possible what we’re going to see this time round.
Edney: I feel that’s true. I feel the one factor is what Trump’s focus will likely be. If he does let another person sort of take the reins on this, possibly we might see somebody a bit of extra measured. I might say proper now, many of the names that I’m listening to for HHS or FDA are very a lot recycling from final time round. And so I’m actually uncertain whether or not individuals are simply batting that round as a result of these are names which have come ahead earlier than or whether or not that’s who we’ll really see named. I feel we’ll know in brief order, as a result of I do assume that these are popping out shortly. And I appreciated, Julie, that you just corrected everybody that they’re not nominated. There’s an intent to appoint by a president-elect, so, however nonetheless will—
Rovner: Though, I’ll say, his statements say that he’s nominating, which is complicated individuals.
Edney: Yeah. I feel they’re much less involved with the specifics.
Rovner: Sure. Properly, shock, shock. All proper, now let’s discuss RFK Jr. Clearly, we don’t know what place he’s going to fill, however we’ve talked lots about his extra Republican-friendly positions, anti-vax stuff and uncooked milk and type of anti-public-health. However Rachel and Lauren, you’ve bought a narrative up at the moment about another positions that Democrats is perhaps a bit of extra sympathetic to. What are a few of these?
Roubein: There’s not less than two concepts that we had type of checked out on this story which have discovered some public help on each the best and the left, resembling stripping ultra-processed meals from college cafeterias and sort of cracking down on meals dyes. And, I imply, one of many issues we famous up high is that that is, a few of this is able to be a contradiction from Trump’s first time period, the place Sonny Perdue, who was Trump’s agriculture secretary, throughout the first week or two of him being in his place, he vowed to quote-unquote “make college meals nice once more” after which sort of waged this assault on Michelle Obama’s efforts to make college meals more healthy. That’s to not say that Kennedy being a place of energy doesn’t alarm federal well being officers or public well being consultants or individuals within the meals trade, as a result of it does. However there are some insurance policies that he might have a [Sen.] Bernie Sanders agree with him on.
Rovner: And whereas we’re with reference to ultra-processed meals, Lauren, you’re our Lunchables correspondent, and there’s Lunchables information this week. Inform us about it.
Weber: There’s Lunchables information this week, and constant listeners of the pod will keep in mind that I did a narrative at The Washington Put up final 12 months with a few of my colleagues that checked out how Lunchables had ended up on college lunch trays for the primary time ever. Kraft Heinz had sort of tinkered with the method, reformulated it, and truly ended up including extra sodium whereas including extra protein and different issues to qualify for the Nationwide College Lunch Program. And, clearly, numerous diet consultants had been appalled as a result of they felt like that is an instance of ultra-processed meals that’s being served as free and lowered lunch to children who don’t essentially have as a lot of a selection there on what’s being served to them. And we bought information this week that Kraft Heinz didn’t make sufficient cash, that faculty districts didn’t buy their reformulated product, and so they had, attributable to quote “lack of demand,” they’re taking them off the choices.
So it’s sort of attention-grabbing. RFK’s push in opposition to ultra-processed meals is coming at a second not simply in class lunches however in america, the place there was rising consciousness about ultra-processed meals making up 60% of the American’s food regimen. And for a really, very very long time, meals trade has been actually profitable in Congress at watering down a number of the laws in opposition to stuff like ultra-processed meals, particularly in class lunches, to sort of weaken these laws, as Rachel talked about, that Michelle Obama had pushed for and different methods, in order that they may proceed promoting their merchandise. And so a number of the meals trade of us that Rachel and I talked to are fairly involved a couple of potential RFK position as a result of he’s actually pushing in opposition to the powers that be there. And it’s actually attention-grabbing to see that dynamic, as a result of, as Rachel identified, the one different person who’s actually been doing that just lately is Bernie Sanders. So that you sort of have this horseshoe of proper and left that’s coming to the forefront right here.
Edney: I used to be simply going so as to add, I really wrote my publication on this at the moment. The FDA is performing some issues on this vein which are type of attention-grabbing. I mentioned it was sort of an RFK-FDA, very tiny, very small Venn diagram in that the company can also be ultra-processed meals. They mentioned — Jim Jones is their deputy commissioner for human meals, and he mentioned just lately that they had been performing some work attempting to determine the way to research whether or not there’s actually causality, however he did say they’ve been working and so they have finished lots on sure trans fat, getting them out of meals. They’ve finished lots to attempt to, they’re attempting to scale back sodium ranges. That’s going to be a stepwise course of in meals. They usually have made shoppers much more conscious, together with on the label, of added sugars. And he was like, That is all what we see in processed meals that may be a downside.
And so there’s type of this quiet— they’re quietly going after it, simply not calling it that. After which on the dyes, they’re definitely not going so far as RFK Jr. and saying, We wish to ban all dyes. However they’ve had a petition in entrance of them for a pair years, and Jim Jones mentioned he anticipated a response from the FDA. I neglect precisely the quote, nevertheless it was very quickly on what they’re going to do on Purple Dye Quantity 3, which is type of the one which has been studied probably the most and has hyperlinks to most cancers and doubtlessly hyperactivity in children.
Roubein: I feel it’s additionally price noting, in speaking concerning the FDA’s diet division, is the day after the election, RFK Jr. was on MSNBC saying that there are whole departments at FDA that must go, and he particularly mentioned the diet division. Once more, whether or not you could possibly simply have sort of a mass firing of civil servants is sort of fairly TBD, however that’s how he’s viewing the nutritionists there, and that’s alarming to workers. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf the opposite day mentioned that, referred to as them hardworking individuals. He was requested about it and had a little bit of a protection there.
Weber: Simply so as to add in on that, too, there are some diet advocates that wouldn’t be that unhappy about that. I imply, I do know that they really feel just like the FDA has been too gradual, is just too influenced by trade. I imply, have a look at the meals label story that we talked about additionally on this podcast, that Rachel and I did. The Biden administration was alleged to suggest potential front-of-pack labels for entrance of meals, and numerous diet advocates thought, although this proposal has not come out but, that what they had been eager about was too weak and too deferential to trade. So RFK has definitely tapped into this rising anger, it appears, on the lack of protections for youths or typically concerning the meals provide. I feel a part of it’s is that he and Trump are excellent entrepreneurs. They’ve these catchy slogans, “Make America Wholesome Once more.” I feel that’s considerably at play as nicely.
Rovner: I feel earlier than we depart this type of subsequent administration section, although, I do wish to broaden it out a bit of bit, as a result of we’ve been speaking about this contradiction that’s Donald Trump, which is, on the one hand, he’s bought a gaggle of individuals that wishes to strip the federal authorities of all of its potential to manage and do away with laws and let trade run wild as a result of, as Vivek Ramaswamy says, regulation is a yoke across the neck of innovation. Then again, he’s bought individuals like RFK Jr. who wish to are available in and say: No, let’s get trade out of presidency. Let authorities do its job regulating. I imply, the well being trade should be — their heads should be spinning, as a result of this clearly goes to have an effect on completely different parts of the trade alternative ways, proper?
Edney: Yeah, it’s a complicated factor, too, when you concentrate on the pharma trade, for example. I can say, they’re extremely regulated within the sense that they pay plenty of cash to the FDA, tens of millions and tens of millions of {dollars} to have their new drug purposes reviewed. There’s a really strict technique of what they get for that, what the FDA will do for that. They don’t need that thrown away, as a result of that offers them numerous safety on, Right here’s how issues are going to work and we have to know that, versus if you happen to simply had anyone up there being like, Sure to that one, no to that one. And there could possibly be different areas. Definitely Massive Pharma wouldn’t adore it if every part was tried to be cured with ivermectin and the hydroxychloroquine. So that might be an issue for all of us. So I feel that there’s simply numerous confusion and uncertainty in pharma, not less than.
Rovner: And I imply, the one factor we all know is that trade hates uncertainty. They want to have the ability to plan.
Edney: Sure. Proper, sure. They very a lot want that for themselves, for his or her researchers, for his or her shareholders. That’s tremendous necessary.
Rovner: Yeah, so clearly, all people in well being care is type of watching eagerly. All proper, nicely, whereas we’ve all been busy speaking concerning the election, open enrollment started for the Inexpensive Care Act for 2025, presumably the final 12 months that tens of millions of Individuals will stay eligible for expanded subsidies, since a completely Republican Congress and president appear unlikely to increase them past December thirty first, 2025. What will turn into of the ACA expanded subsidies? Is there any probability they get prolonged? It could displace tens of millions of people that have gotten medical health insurance by means of the ACA.
Edney: Properly, I feel if we’re speaking in ways in which Trump could also be enthusiastic about, the insurance coverage firms wouldn’t prefer it, as a result of they don’t wish to lose all of these sufferers. So I assume possibly that’s the potential glimmer of hope for individuals who need these expanded subsidies to remain intact.
Rovner: And we nonetheless don’t know what the Republicans take into account for the Inexpensive Care Act. As I prefer to level out, they’ve been speaking a couple of substitute since 2010 and we’ve by no means really seen one.
Roubein: Trump has ideas of a plan, he says.
Rovner: So we now have heard.
Roubein: Keep in mind that within the debate? I imply, we heard that for what number of years, proper? Years and years.
Rovner: Two weeks. He’s going to have one thing in two weeks.
Edney: I used to be going to say, if anybody writes an In two weeks it’s coming story, they’ve to purchase drinks for everybody.
Rovner: Completely. Lauren, you wished to say one thing.
Weber: I imply, I used to be simply going to say that the primary Trump administration was not identified for increasing any type of subsidies for the ACA. So I’m curious. However as Anna identified, frankly it’s all the time laborious to remove one thing that’s fashionable. You don’t essentially need these individuals mad at you. So to be fairly sincere, let’s wait and see.
Rovner: Yeah, TBD.
Weber: TBD.
Rovner: Properly, that is additionally the primary 12 months that DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] recipients, the so-called “Dreamers” who had been delivered to the U.S. with out documentation as youngsters, are eligible themselves for sponsored ACA protection. That’s estimated to be about 100,000 individuals. I wouldn’t anticipate that to final both, although. And I’m questioning, it won’t even make it by means of the 12 months, because it’s the topic of a lawsuit introduced by Republican attorneys common that I anticipate a brand new Justice Division would simply drop?
Roubein: Yeah, I really feel like with every part, there’s sort of a highway map to take a look at what Trump did within the first time period, simply sort of talking broadly, not simply on DACA. However then there are issues that they may not do once more. So I really feel prefer it’s laborious to foretell, however yeah, feasibly I really feel like that would type of be the pondering.
Rovner: Trump has been nothing greater than unpredictable all over. So I’m going to do my extra-credit story early this week as a result of I would like us all to speak about it a bit of bit. It’s from my KFF Well being Information colleague Phil Galewitz, and it’s referred to as “In Vermont, The place Virtually Everybody Has Insurance coverage, Many Can’t Discover or Afford Care.” And it’s about an issue that’s sort of been sneaking up on us and is now right here for all to see: Having insurance coverage is critical however not adequate to get well being care.
As Phil factors out, Vermont has principally the bottom uninsured charge in america, however care there may be costly. Each suppliers and insurers are having monetary difficulties, and rising numbers of sufferers both can’t discover care or can’t pay for it or each. A few of this seems to be demographics. Vermont is, on common, older and extra rural than most different states, and a few of it’s presumably attributable to well being supplier consolidation. However I really feel like that is sort of the early warning of the identical kinds of issues taking place across the nation. At what level do we now have to really take inventory of the truth that our well being system will not be functioning very nicely? I imply, we’re so busy speaking about what trade desires and what authorities desires and what’s going to assist this group and what’s going to assist that group. And it’s like, even with an all-time-low uninsured charge, the tales about individuals being unable to get care have gotten greater than anecdotal, proper?
Weber: I imply, I feel, Julie, return to the title of this podcast. The podcast known as “What the Well being?” I imply, I feel you’ve, clearly, and all of us right here have been overlaying this for a few years. However Phil’s story was simply fantastically finished, as a result of it confirmed how multifaceted the issue is. However that additionally means there’s not a fast repair. However the bottom-line kicker was these individuals are paying a ton of cash for his or her well being care and are having to attend months and months and months for stuff they really feel like will not be that nice, or they’re compelled to go throughout state traces and pay extra someplace else to get it faster. And clearly that’s, as you mentioned, not fairly an answer. So a captivating have a look at, what it looks like, a lot of components which are inflicting critical points with individuals’s well being care supply.
Rovner: I simply really feel prefer it’s a warning to not — I imply, clearly we’re well being reporters. We have a look at issues within the micro. However generally I really feel like we’re sort of dropping the forest for the timber, and this was a extremely good reminder. It’s like there’s a forest on the market and issues aren’t going nice within the forest.
All proper, nicely, let’s flip to abortion. Regardless that seven out of 10 states with poll measures voted for the abortion rights place — eight states, if you happen to depend Florida, the place the measure to overturn the state six-week ban bought 57%, however that was in need of the 60% it wanted to cross — the anti-abortion motion is nonetheless gearing as much as undo as a lot of this as it could actually.
In line with our podcast panelist Alice Ollstein, a number of the methods anti-abortion teams plan to pursue are ones that we now have talked about right here earlier than, together with requiring that abortion capsules be labeled as a managed substance, like they’re doing in Louisiana, or that the stays of treatment abortion be dealt with as medical waste. Different concepts are new or not less than new-ish, like attempting to chop off funding to high schools and universities that present abortion capsules at campus services. The anti-abortion motion can also be attempting to push state laws geared toward circumventing the protecting amendments that these states’ voters simply handed. This struggle is a good distance from being over, proper?
Edney: Oh, yeah. And also you simply talked about states. That’s the place I’m certain that numerous the main focus is, as a result of if Trump holds to his phrase, and I don’t know if that’s the case, he mentioned it ought to be as much as the states on how they deal with all of these things. So I think about now’s their second in the event that they’re going to strive a few of these extra out-of-the-box methods of coping with it.
Roubein: And I feel one factor that emerged, significantly after Republicans took again the Home in 2022 and Roe v. Wade was overturned, was that the battleground being states, but in addition the manager department. The battleground by way of Congress, the Home didn’t carry up a invoice to ban abortion at 15 weeks or something politically—
Rovner: They couldn’t have gotten the votes with their tiny majority.
Roubein: Yeah, it’s very politically difficult. We’ve seen Republicans again away from these stances. And then you definitely have a look at the Biden administration, which has mentioned, There are issues we will do to type of do some tips, et cetera, like letting the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] do abortions in sure cases, or they rolled again Trump’s modifications on the Title X federal household program that principally compelled Deliberate Parenthood out. So you could possibly type of see a few of these issues being rolled again once more.
Rovner: Properly, one of many issues that I haven’t seen famous by anyone, and I completely agree with you about: The very first thing that the Trump and whoever within the Trump administration to do is reverse the issues that [President Joe] Biden did, which in some methods had been reversals of issues that Trump did the primary time round. However we do have a bunch of abortion-related lawsuits nonetheless in play that contain the Justice Division. Keep in mind that Supreme Courtroom case the place the justices dominated that the anti-abortion docs who introduced the case didn’t have standing to sue? Properly, that case continues to be alive. It’s nonetheless in courtroom, as a result of states have stepped in as plaintiffs. Then there are instances difficult the Biden administration’s interpretation of EMTALA, which is the federal legislation that requires emergency abortions be offered to guard a pregnant girl’s well being and says that these override state legal guidelines that solely permit abortions if the lady’s life is imminently endangered. I might assume these instances would go away beneath Lawyer Common Matt Gaetz or whoever goes to be in control of the Justice Division, proper?
Edney: I imply, that makes excellent sense to me that they might not proceed arguing these by any means until Trump is extra targeted on attempting to overturn his personal convictions. I don’t know what that would appear like.
Rovner: Sure, it doesn’t matter what, the Justice Division will likely be very busy, however I believe not very busy arguing the abortion rights aspect of abortion instances.
Edney: Proper.
Rovner: Properly, I wish to flip to Medicare. Trump insisted through the marketing campaign that he wouldn’t contact Medicare, however that’s not really potential for a Congress and an administration. The one actual query is how Medicare will likely be touched. Medical doctors are, as soon as once more, going through a Medicare pay lower for subsequent 12 months. This one is slightly below 3%. And that’s one thing that the lame-duck Congress, which is simply getting again into session this week, might or might not cancel, given how loopy issues are proper now on Capitol Hill. And The Wall Road Journal has a bit this week about how sicker individuals are leaving their Medicare Benefit plans to return to conventional Medicare, which is smart as a result of non-public Medicare Benefit plans make care more durable to entry once you’re sick. In order that finally ends up making — after they depart, it finally ends up making the plans richer as a result of they don’t must pay for the care, and the taxpayers poorer as a result of now Medicare, conventional Medicare, is paying for the care. So Medicare’s going to must be on the desk in some type. We are able to’t simply ignore Medicare for 4 years, proper?
Edney: Yeah, I feel significantly that is the type of larger image. However when you concentrate on if Trump does wish to do a bunch of tax cuts and the place does the cash come from, I’m certain there are methods to do it. There are every kind of funds tips that may be finished to appear like you’re not touching Medicare however you’re touching Medicare, so you may maintain that marketing campaign promise. And I don’t know if that’s actually on the desk for them, however I don’t assume we will anticipate nobody to be this, significantly additionally due to the type of Republican want to prop up the Medicare Benefit a bit of bit extra to get … So I don’t know if there’s a approach to encourage some individuals again on these plans or how they’re going to take a look at that.
Rovner: Yeah, it’s necessary to keep in mind that the standard Republican concept on Medicare is to get extra individuals to enter Medicare Benefit, which is going on naturally anyway as a result of people who find themselves getting old into Medicare are principally popping out of managed care plans, so that they’re used to being in managed care plans. So it’s simple for them to enter these Medicare Benefit plans that say, Hey, we’re going to give you further advantages that Medicare doesn’t. And it’s not till they really want care and might’t get it that they understand that possibly that wasn’t the most effective concept. However I definitely anticipate this whole debate to hold over to the following administration.
Edney: Properly, and also you additionally … I don’t know why, however you jogged my memory that there are nonetheless medication to barter beneath Medicare.
Rovner: That’s proper.
Edney: And also you by some means must take care of that, and taking it away could be fairly tough, seemingly.
Rovner: And value some huge cash.
Edney: And value some huge cash. However you could possibly negotiate issues in another way or — I’m unsure.
Rovner: Sure, we’ll have loads of Medicare to speak about. All proper, nicely, that’s the information, not less than up till this second. Now it’s time for our extra-credit section. That’s the place we every acknowledge a narrative we learn this week we predict it is best to learn, too. Don’t fear if you happen to miss it. We are going to put the hyperlinks in our present notes in your telephone or different cellular gadget. I’ve already finished mine. Anna, why don’t you go subsequent? Yours is so very on model for you.
Edney: Thanks. So mine is from The Atlantic. It’s referred to as “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula.” Definitely, I grew up in my household and my mother and father nonetheless have all their black cooking utensils. And what that is speaking about is how most of our black cooking utensils are comprised of recycled electronics. And there’s an entire cause for that. It’s actually attention-grabbing to examine. However the end result is that there are additionally numerous fireplace retardants in these, so we’re getting fireplace retardants leaching out into our meals.
Rovner: After all, fireplace retardants are why that they had them within the first place, proper? Since you’re placing them in very popular issues.
Edney: Properly, that is extra due to the electronics. Like, yeah, once you’re utilizing an digital, I assume there’s fireplace retardants in there since you don’t need the battery blowing up or no matter. However if you happen to’re recycling these and making utensils out of them, then you definitely’re going to get a few of that in your meals.
Rovner: The darkish aspect of recycling.
Edney: Sure.
Rovner: Lauren, why don’t you go subsequent?
Weber: Mine’s really a research in JAMA that’s titled “Medical Board Self-discipline of Physicians for Spreading Medical Misinformation.” And the research discovered that truly the least widespread cause for medical board self-discipline was spreading misinformation, which was not really information to me or a few of my colleagues at The Washington Put up, as they cite our work on this research. However Lena Solar, Hayden Godfrey, and I final 12 months did a big investigation by which we really surveyed all 50 medical boards and went by means of and requested them about whether or not or not that they had disciplined anybody for misinformation.
After which on the boards that didn’t reply, which was many, we then went by means of and browse each single disciplinary motion to see what we might discover. And the underside line is is docs didn’t get punished. There’s numerous free-speech protections, and, frankly, it needed to be very, very, very egregious for medical boards to step in. Basically, medical boards are weak. They’re identified to be poor at self-regulating their very own. It takes lots to essentially get punished by a medical board, so it’s not that stunning. However after numerous clamor throughout covid and numerous physicians that basically grew to become megaphones for unscientific proof, it’s nonetheless fairly hanging that not very lots of them confronted any type of repercussions for that.
Rovner: Yeah, one other difficulty going ahead. Rachel.
Roubein: My further credit score, it’s titled “‘Been a Lengthy Time Since I Felt That Manner’: Sexually Transmitted An infection Numbers Present New Hope,” in Politico by Alice Miranda Ollstein. The story talks about principally how there’s been this drop in sexually transmitted infections, and that has adopted years of simply skyrocketing instances. So that is from new knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention that got here out this week. So, for example, complete instances of syphilis elevated 1% and congenital syphilis ticked up 3%, however that’s a far slower charge of progress than the spikes of the previous couple of years. In order that’s an encouraging observe for STD well being administrators in states. However within the piece, she talks about how there’s some concern from public well being consultants and different advocates about doubtlessly backsliding beneath Trump, relying what occurs, and in addition noting that Congress final 12 months clawed again tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} in public well being funding.
Rovner: That’s proper. And clearly the federal Household Planning Program performs an enormous position within the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and we don’t know what’s going to turn into of the federal Household Planning Program beneath a Republican trifecta. So once more, a narrative that I’m certain we’ll spend extra time speaking about.
All proper, that’s this week’s present. As all the time, if you happen to benefit from the podcast, you may subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We’d respect it if you happen to left us a evaluation. That helps different individuals discover us, too. Particular thanks this week to our non permanent manufacturing staff, Taylor Prepare dinner and Lonnie Ro, in addition to our editor, Emmarie Huetteman. As all the time, you may e-mail us your feedback or questions. We’re at whatthehealth, all one phrase, @kff.org. Or you may nonetheless discover me at X @jrovner and more and more at Bluesky @julierovner.bsky.social. The place are you guys as of late? Lauren?
Weber: Nonetheless simply on X, LaurenWeberHP. The “HP” is for “well being coverage.”
Rovner: Anna.
Edney: On X. It’s @annaedney. And I’m attempting out Bluesky as nicely, however I’m so new that I don’t even keep in mind my title.
Rovner: It’s OK.
Edney: I’ll get that subsequent time.
Rovner: Rachel.
Roubein: Equally to Lauren, on X, @rachel_roubein.
Rovner: We will likely be again in your feed subsequent week. Till then, be wholesome.
Credit
Taylor Prepare dinner
Audio producer
Lonnie Ro
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
To listen to all our podcasts, click on right here.
And subscribe to KFF Well being Information’ “What the Well being?” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you take heed to podcasts.