The Host
The way forward for the Medicaid medical health insurance program for these with low incomes is unsure, as Congress works on a finances plan calling for main cuts whereas President Donald Trump each guarantees to help that plan in addition to to guard this system.
In the meantime, 1000’s of workers on the Division of Well being and Human Providers had been fired over the vacation weekend, whereas states with abortion bans face off in opposition to states with legal guidelines defending docs who use telemedicine to prescribe abortion tablets to residents of the previous.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins College Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being and Politico Journal, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Medicaid cuts of the magnitude the Home is contemplating would decimate this system. And, because the Republican Occasion has realigned, slicing it might impression their base. Smaller modifications across the edges — ideas like work necessities — could also be extra potential, though they haven’t proved efficient in previous experiments.
- Most of the firings at HHS have a very random really feel. In some instances, complete workplaces, a few of which had been put in place to pursue Trump priorities reminiscent of synthetic intelligence — have been left with none workers as a result of all their workers had been “new.” In different instances, extremely recruited scientists had been let go. What’s rising as a long-term situation from these federal firings is how companies just like the Nationwide Institutes of Well being will recruit future scientists. Job candidates are extremely educated individuals who can discover extra profitable employment within the non-public sector. The lack of brainpower, mixed with diminished federal help for analysis, can have penalties. Areas reminiscent of fundamental analysis, which isn’t a moneymaker, might endure.
- Texas and Louisiana are every looking for to prosecute a New York physician who prescribes abortion remedy through telemedicine. The governor of New York has vowed to guard such docs below the state’s “defend regulation.” However the final resolution of which state regulation prevails will probably be made by the Supreme Courtroom.
Plus, for “additional credit score,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “Pain Clinics Made Millions From ‘Unnecessary’ Injections Into ‘Human Pin Cushions’” by Brett Kelman.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Washington Put up’s “U.S. Reverses Plan To Shut Down Free Covid Test Program,” by Lena H. Solar and Carolyn Y. Johnson.
Joanne Kenen: Wired’s “The Ketamine-Fueled ‘Psychedelic Slumber Parties’ That Get Tech Execs Back on Track,” by Elana Klein.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: Fortune’s “The Dietary Supplements You Think Are Improving Your Health May Be Damaging Your Liver, Research Warns,” by Lindsey Leake.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
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