The Host
Congress seems able to approve a spending invoice for the Division of Well being and Human Companies for the primary time in years — minus the dramatic cuts proposed by the Trump administration. Lawmakers are additionally nearing passage of a well being measure, together with new guidelines for prescription drug middlemen often called pharmacy profit managers, that has been delayed for greater than a yr after complaints from Elon Musk, who on the time was getting ready to affix the incoming Trump administration.
Nonetheless, Congress appears much less enthusiastic concerning the well being coverage define launched by President Donald Trump final week, which features a handful of proposals that lawmakers have rejected prior to now.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name, Sheryl Homosexual Stolberg of The New York Occasions, and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Put up.
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Congress is on monitor to cross a brand new appropriations invoice for HHS, with the present, short-term funding set to run out subsequent week. The invoice features a slight bump for some companies and, notably, doesn’t embrace deep cuts requested by Trump. However with the administration’s demonstrated willingness to disregard congressionally mandated spending, the query stands: Will Trump observe Congress’ directions about methods to spend the cash?
- A well being bundle with bipartisan help is about to hitch a journey with the spending invoice, after chucking up the sponge in late 2024 below strain from then-Trump adviser Musk. Nonetheless, the president’s newly launched record of well being priorities largely isn’t mirrored within the bundle. The GOP faces headwinds within the midterms after permitting expanded Reasonably priced Care Act premium tax credit to run out, a change that’s anticipated to value many Individuals their medical insurance.
- One yr into the second Trump administration, its insurance policies are significantly evident within the political takeover of the nation’s public well being infrastructure, the rising variety of uninsured Individuals, and creeping mind drain in U.S.-based scientific analysis.
- And Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired members of a panel overseeing the federal authorities’s vaccine damage compensation program. Kennedy is anticipated to remake the panel in an effort to develop the record of accidents for which the federal government will compensate Individuals. The present record doesn’t embrace autism.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews oncologist and bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel to debate his new ebook, Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Easy Guidelines for a Lengthy and Wholesome Life.
And KFF Well being Information’ annual Well being Coverage Valentines contest is now open. You possibly can enter the competition right here.
Plus, for “additional credit score” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume you need to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: CIDRAP’s “Minnesota Residents Delay Medical Look after Concern of Encountering ICE,” by Liz Szabo.
Sheryl Homosexual Stolberg: Rolling Stone’s “HHS Gave a $1.6 Million Grant to a Controversial Vaccine Research. These Emails Present How That Occurred,” by Katherine Eban.
Paige Winfield Cunningham: Politico’s “RFK Jr. Is Bringing the GOP and the Trial Bar Collectively,” by Amanda Chu.
Sandhya Raman: In style Info’s “ICE Has Stopped Paying for Detainee Medical Therapy,” by Judd Legum.
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