Guest
The Senate is scheduled to vote in the coming days on a Democratic-led plan to extend temporary supplemental subsidies that lowered out-of-pocket costs for health plans under the Affordable Care Act. But even as the vote approaches, Republicans in the House and Senate are divided over what alternative plan, if any, they should propose.
Meanwhile, the anti-vaccine forces of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have thrown both agencies into disarray.
This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Joan Koenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Alice Miranda Allstein of Politico.
Among the takeaways from this week's episode:
- Republican lawmakers are struggling to reach consensus on a health care plan as the Senate prepares to vote on the fate of expanded ACA premium subsidies. Many generally oppose Obamacare and argue that Democrats deserve the blame for rising health care costs, while some Republicans, who face an uphill battle for re-election next year, favor reinstating more generous subsidies. New polls show even a majority of President Donald Trump's supporters favor maintaining the subsidies.
- It's not just ACA plan holders who are learning that their out-of-pocket costs will rise next year. Premiums for those relying on the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program are rising again, and these plans are among many reporting higher out-of-pocket costs.
- The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meets this week. Earlier this year, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced the panel's members, adding prominent vaccine critics. At this meeting, the group discusses previous recommendations for the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine and the childhood immunization schedule.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Aneri Pattani about her project to track the distribution of $50 billion in opioid legal settlements.
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: “New York Times”These hospitals have figured out how to reduce the rate of caesarean sections» Sarah Cliff and Bianca Pallaro.
Joanna From: Wired”Fentanyl vaccine will soon pass its first major trial» Emily Mullin.
Paige Winfield Cunningham: “New York Times”Study finds that using a smartphone under 12 years of age may pose a health risk» Katherine Pearson.
Alice Miranda Olstein: “Independent”Miscarriages, Infections, Neglect: Pregnant Women Detained by ICE» Kelly Rissman.
Also mentioned in this week's podcast:
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