KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Starting To Feel the Shutdown’s Bite

Guest

Julie Rovner KFF Health News

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Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy podcast, “What the Health?” A renowned health policy expert, Julie is the author of the highly acclaimed A to Z of Health Policy and Politics, now in its third edition.

It's unclear how the federal government shutdown will end, but Democrats are continuing to highlight an issue they're pushing: the looming expiration of additional subsidies for insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. Some Republicans are now publicly voicing their concerns about the huge cost increases facing many of their constituents.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has quietly approved a second generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, much to the dismay of anti-abortion groups, even as FDA officials are investigating new claims of potential safety risks associated with the drug.

This week's panelists include KFF Health News' Julie Rovner, Pink Sheet's Sarah Carlin-Smith, CNN's Tami Luby and Politico's Alice Miranda Allstein.

Panelists

Pink Leaf by Sarah Carlin-Smith

@SarahCarlin

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Tami Luhby CNN

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Alice Miranda Olstein Politico

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Among the takeaways from this week's episode:

• As the shutdown dragged on, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene—a Georgia Republican known for her vocal opposition to Democratic policies including the ACA—spoke this week in favor of reinstating federal subsidies. She noted that her adult children expect their health insurance premiums to double if the subsidies expire, a problem looming for many Americans enrolled in marketplace plans.
• Federal officials recently warned that WIC, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that helps many American families afford basic food items, has nearly exhausted its funding. The Trump administration has said it will use revenue from the tariffs to keep the program running, but it is unclear whether it has the authority to do so or whether the tariffs themselves are legal.
• Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has heard a case challenging Colorado's conversion therapy ban, and based on the tone of the arguments, it seems likely that the ban will be overturned. And the vaccination schedule is changing—though the change also gives a boost to needed supplies for the Vaccines for Children program.

Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Grusin of the National Health Law Program about the GOP's misleading claims that Democrats shut down the government in pursuit of free health care for immigrants in the country illegally.

Also, for “extra credit,” the panelists offer stories about health care policy that they read this week that they think you should read, too:

Julie Rovner: Washington Post newspaperHow Some Veterans Are Using the $193 Billion VA Program Because of Lax Oversight» Craig Whitlock, Lisa Raine and Caitlin Gilbert.

Tami Luhby: Washington Post newspaperTrump plan would limit disability benefits for older Americans» Meryl Kornfield and Lisa Raine.

Sarah Carlin-Smith: “New York Times”“It’s just a virus,” the ambulance told him. A few days later he was dead“, Lisa Miller.

Alice Miranda Olstein: 19th”Icy fears put pregnant immigrants and their children at risk“Oh, me, Leonor Barclay and Shefali Lute.

Also mentioned in this week's podcast:

• Hill”Greene escalates remarks on Affordable Care Act subsidies» Tara Suter. “Washington Post”Six Surgeon Generals: It's Our Duty to Warn the Nation About RFK Jr.” by Jerome Adams, Richard Carmona, Joycelyn Elders, Vivek Murthy, Antonia Novello and David Satcher.
• Politico”Animal Welfare is Now Part of RFK Jr.'s MAHA Program“, Erin Shoemaker.
• Washington Post newspaperHow big agriculture got its way in the latest MAHA report» Amudalat Ajasa and Rachel Ruben.
• Politico”Health agencies lose 'backbone people who can keep things going' as Indian health services roll out“, Alice Miranda Olstein and Maya Kaufman.

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