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 knowledgeable on well being coverage points, Julie is the writer of the critically praised reference e book “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
How ought to journalists cowl political candidates who make false claims in regards to the security and effectiveness of vaccines? That query will must be answered now that famous anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has formally entered the 2024 presidential race.
In the meantime, South Carolina has change into one of many final states within the South to go an abortion ban, making the process all however not possible to acquire for girls throughout a broad swath of the nation.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet.
Panelists
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Republican lawmakers and President Joe Biden proceed to cut price over a deal to avert a debt ceiling collapse. Unspent pandemic funding is on the negotiating desk, because the White Home pushes to guard cash for vaccine improvement — although the administration has drawn criticism for an absence of transparency over what can be included in a clawback of unspent {dollars}.
- In abortion information, South Carolina is the newest state to vote to limit entry to abortion, passing laws this week that may ban abortion after six weeks of being pregnant — shortly after pregnant individuals miss their first interval. And Texas is seeing extra authorized challenges to the state legislation’s exceptions to guard a mom’s life, as instances more and more present that many docs are erring on the aspect of not offering care to keep away from prison {and professional} legal responsibility.
- Congress is scrutinizing the function of group buying organizations in drug pricing as extra is revealed about how pharmacy profit managers negotiate reductions. So-called GPOs supply well being care organizations, like hospitals, the flexibility to work collectively to leverage market energy and negotiate higher offers from suppliers.
- Lawmakers are additionally exploring modifications to the best way Medicare pays for a similar care carried out in a physician’s workplace versus a hospital setting. Presently, suppliers can cost extra in a hospital setting, however some members of Congress wish to finish that discrepancy — and doubtlessly save the federal government billions.
- And our panel of well being journalists discusses an vital query after a distinguished anti-vaccine activist entered the presidential race final month: How do you responsibly cowl a candidate who promotes conspiracy theories? The reply could also be present in a “reality sandwich.”
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews KFF Well being Information senior correspondent Aneri Pattani about her challenge to trace the cash from the nationwide opioid settlement.
Plus, for “further credit score,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it’s best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “Distant Work: An Underestimated Profit for Household Caregivers,” by Joanne Kenen
Alice Miranda Ollstein: Reuters’ “How Medical doctors Purchase Their Method out of Hassle,” by Michael Berens
Rachel Cohrs: ProPublica’s “Within the ‘Wild West’ of Outpatient Vascular Care, Medical doctors Can Reap Enormous Funds as Sufferers Danger Life and Limb,” by Annie Waldman
Sarah Karlin-Smith: The New York Instances’ “Warmth Wave and Blackout Would Ship Half of Phoenix to E.R., Examine Says,” by Michael Levenson
Additionally talked about on this week’s episode:
Credit
Francis Ying Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor
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