The Host
Mary Agnes Carey
KFF Well being Information
Lawmakers in Washington this week held the primary congressional listening to on the Change Healthcare cyberattack, a breach that despatched shock waves via the well being care system as funds for care floor to a halt and left some suppliers in monetary bother. Republicans and Democrats alike zeroed in on how huge well being care conglomerations — like Change’s mother or father firm, UnitedHealth Group — are leaving sufferers weak.
And practically 1 in 4 adults who misplaced Medicaid protection previously yr at the moment are uninsured, in response to a brand new KFF survey probing the results of what’s referred to as the “unwinding” of enrollments within the authorities insurance coverage program for low-income folks since pandemic-era protections expired.
This week’s panelists are Mary Agnes Carey of KFF Well being Information, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Name, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Publish.
Panelists
Jessie Hellmann
CQ Roll Name
Sarah Karlin-Smith
Pink Sheet
Lauren Weber
The Washington Publish
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Although the Change Healthcare listening to on Capitol Hill illuminated bipartisan settlement on the perils of vertical integration in well being care, lawmakers didn’t agree on doable options. Addressing consolidation, nevertheless, might treatment points in well being care past cybersecurity.
- The KFF survey on the unwinding discovered that almost half of those that misplaced protection signed again up for Medicaid weeks or months later, a sign that these enrollees ought to by no means have been dropped within the first place. Even a short lived loss in well being protection can have critical, lingering penalties.
- Republicans in Arizona are grappling with the fallout from the state’s newly reinstated, Civil Conflict-era abortion regulation — echoing latest issues for Alabama Republicans after a state Supreme Court docket ruling upended entry to in vitro fertilization there. Softened stances from conservative hard-liners like Senate candidate Kari Lake level to the potential adverse penalties for the celebration in a vital election yr.
- And the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention launched new details about the present measles outbreak, revealing that lots of these sickened are youngsters, in addition to adults who’re unvaccinated or whose vaccination standing is unknown.
Additionally this week, Julie Rovner, KFF Well being Information’ chief Washington correspondent, interviews Caroline Pearson of the Peterson Well being Know-how Institute.
Plus, for “additional credit score,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose you need to learn, too:
Mary Agnes Carey: KFF Well being Information’ “When Rogue Brokers Swap Folks’s ACA Insurance policies, Tax Surprises Can Comply with,” by Julie Appleby.
Jessie Hellmann: Tampa Bay Instances’ “Weak Florida Sufferers Scramble After Abrupt Medicaid Termination,” by Teghan Simonton.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: Stat’s “Grocers Are Pushing Laws They Declare Would Improve Meals Security. Advocates Say It Would Intestine FDA Guidelines,” by Nicholas Florko.
Lauren Weber: The New York Instances’ “Chinese language Firm Below Congressional Scrutiny Makes Key U.S. Medicine,” by Christina Jewett.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
- KFF Well being Information’ “Almost 1 in 4 Adults Dumped From Medicaid Are Now Uninsured, Survey Finds,” by Phil Galewitz.
- The New York Instances’ “Below Stress From Trump, Arizona Republicans Weigh Response to 1864 Abortion Ban,” by Chris Cameron.
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
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KFF Well being Information is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is without doubt one of the core working applications at KFF—an unbiased supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Be taught extra about KFF.
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