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 massive 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 prior to now yr at the moment are uninsured, based on a brand new KFF survey probing the results of what’s often known 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 Put up.
Panelists
Jessie Hellmann
CQ Roll Name
Sarah Karlin-Smith
Pink Sheet
Lauren Weber
The Washington Put up
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, nonetheless, may treatment points in well being care past cybersecurity.
- The KFF survey on the unwinding discovered that just about 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 severe, lingering penalties.
- Republicans in Arizona are grappling with the fallout from the state’s newly reinstated, Civil Battle-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 occasion in a important election yr.
- And the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention launched new details about the present measles outbreak, revealing that a lot 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 Expertise Institute.
Plus, for “further credit score,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it’s best to learn, too:
Mary Agnes Carey: KFF Well being Information’ “When Rogue Brokers Switch People’s ACA Policies, Tax Surprises Can Follow,” by Julie Appleby.
Jessie Hellmann: Tampa Bay Occasions’ “Vulnerable Florida Patients Scramble After Abrupt Medicaid Termination,” by Teghan Simonton.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: Stat’s “Grocers Are Pushing Legislation They Claim Would Enhance Food Safety. Advocates Say It Would Gut FDA Rules,” by Nicholas Florko.
Lauren Weber: The New York Occasions’ “Chinese Company Under Congressional Scrutiny Makes Key U.S. Drugs,” by Christina Jewett.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
- KFF Well being Information’ “Nearly 1 in 4 Adults Dumped From Medicaid Are Now Uninsured, Survey Finds,” by Phil Galewitz.
- The New York Occasions’ “Under Pressure 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 Health News is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is likely one of the core working packages at KFF—an unbiased supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Study extra about KFF.
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