The host

Julie Rovner KFF Well being Information @jrovner

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 skilled on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference ebook “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.

Former president and present 2024 Republican front-runner Donald Trump is aiming to place a repeal of the Inexpensive Care Act again on the political agenda, a lot to the delight of Democrats, who level to the well being legislation’s rising reputation.

In the meantime, in Texas, the all-Republican state Supreme Courtroom this week took up a lawsuit filed by greater than two dozen girls who mentioned their lives had been endangered after they skilled being pregnant issues because of the imprecise wording of the state’s near-total abortion ban.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins College and Politico Journal, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet.

Panelists

Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:

• The FDA not too long ago permitted one other promising weight reduction drug, providing an alternative choice to fulfill the large demand for such medicine that promise notable well being advantages. However Medicare and personal insurers stay cautious of paying the tab for these very costly medicine.
• Talking of costly medicine, the courts are weighing in on using so-called copay accumulators supplied by drug firms and others to scale back the price of expensive prescribed drugs for sufferers. The newest ruling referred to as the federal authorities’s guidelines on the topic inconsistent and tied using copay accumulators to the supply of cheaper, generic alternate options.
• Congress will revisit authorities spending in January, however that is not quickly sufficient to deal with the end-of-the-year coverage modifications for some well being packages, akin to pending cuts to Medicare funds for docs.
• “This Week in Medical Misinformation” highlights a information by the employees of Stat to assist lay individuals decipher whether or not scientific examine outcomes actually signify a “breakthrough” or not.

Additionally this week, Rovner interviews KFF Well being Information’ Rachana Pradhan, who reported and wrote the most recent “Invoice of the Month” function, a few lady who visited a hospital lab for primary prenatal assessments and ended up owing virtually $2,400. In case you have an outrageous or baffling medical invoice you’d wish to share with us, you are able to do that 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: KFF Well being Information’ “Medicaid ‘Unwinding’ Makes Different Public Help More durable to Get,” by Katheryn Houghton, Rachana Pradhan, and Samantha Liss.

Joanne Kenen: KFF Well being Information’ “She As soon as Suggested the President on Growing older Points. Now, She’s Battling Critical Incapacity and Melancholy,” by Judith Graham.

Victoria Knight: Enterprise Insider’s “Washington’s Secret Weapon Is a Beloved Gen Z Vitality Drink With Extra Caffeine Than God,” by Lauren Vespoli.

Sarah Karlin-Smith: ProPublica’s “Insurance coverage Executives Refused to Pay for the Most cancers Therapy That May Have Saved Him. This Is How They Did It,” by Maya Miller and Robin Fields.

Additionally talked about on this week’s episode:

Credit

• Zach Dyer Audio producer
• Emmarie Huetteman Editor