The Host
Julie Rovner
KFF Well being Information
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 writer of the critically praised reference guide “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
The presidential election is lower than 5 months away, and whereas abortion is the one well being coverage subject anticipated to play a number one function, others are prone to be raised within the presidential and down-ballot races. This election could possibly be crucial in figuring out the way forward for key well being care packages, akin to Medicaid and the Inexpensive Care Act.
On this particular episode of KFF Well being Information’ “What the Well being?” taped on the Aspen Concepts: Well being competition in Aspen, Colorado, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Occasions and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name be part of Julie Rovner, KFF Well being Information’ chief Washington correspondent, to debate what the election season portends for high well being points.
Panelists
Margot Sanger-Katz
The New York Occasions
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Name
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Insurance policies surrounding abortion — and reproductive well being points, generally — probably will dominate in lots of races, as Democrats attempt to exploit a problem that’s motivating their voters and dividing Republican voters. The matters of contraception and in vitro fertilization are enjoying a extra outstanding function in 2024 than they’ve in previous elections.
- Excessive prescription drug costs — which, for annoyed Individuals, are a longtime image, and symptom, of the nation’s dysfunctional well being care system — have been a precedence for the Biden administration and, beforehand, the Trump administration. However the subject is so complicated and progress so incremental that it’s arduous to say whether or not both occasion has a bonus.
- The destiny of many main well being packages might be decided by who wins the presidency and who controls Congress after this fall’s elections. For instance, the non permanent subsidies which have made Inexpensive Care Act well being plans extra inexpensive will expire on the finish of 2025. If the subsidies usually are not renewed, tens of millions of Individuals will probably be priced out of protection once more.
- Beforehand hot-button points like gun violence, opioid habit, and psychological well being usually are not enjoying a high-profile function within the 2024 races. However that would change case by case.
- Lastly, big well being points that would use public airing and debate — like what to do in regards to the nation’s crumbling long-term care system and the rising scarcity of important well being professionals — usually are not prone to turn out to be marketing campaign points.
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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