The host
Julie Rovner KFF Health News
Read Julie’s stories. Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What Health?” A leading expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically acclaimed landmark book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third edition.
When it comes to health care, this year’s presidential campaign is increasingly a question of which candidate voters choose to believe. Democrats, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, say Republicans want to further restrict reproductive rights and repeal the Affordable Care Act, pointing to their past actions and claims. Meanwhile, Republicans, led by former President Donald Trump, insist they have no such plans.
Meanwhile, as open enrollment for Medicare approaches, the Biden administration dodges a political bullet, avoiding a sharp increase next year in premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News.
Panelists
Anna Edney Bloomberg
Read Anna’s stories. Alice Miranda Ollstein Politician
Read Alice’s stories. Sandhya Raman CQ List of candidates
Read Sandhya’s stories.
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
- This week, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio muddled his ticket’s positions on health policy during the vice presidential debate, even downplaying the possibility of a national abortion ban. And Melania Trump, the former president’s wife, spoke out in favor of abortion rights. His comments appear designed to calm voters’ concerns that former President Donald Trump could take steps to further block abortion access.
- Vance drew attention with his debate night claim that Trump “saved” the Affordable Care Act, when, in fact, the former president promised to repeal the law and defended the GOP’s efforts to fulfill that promise. Trump, meanwhile, deflected questions from AARP about his plans for Medicare and responded, “What we have to do is make our country successful again.”
- On the Democratic side, Vice President Kamala Harris is campaigning on health care, particularly running new ads highlighting the benefits of the ACA and Trump’s efforts to restrict abortion. Polls show that health care is a winning issue for Democrats and that the ACA is popular, especially its protections for those with preexisting conditions.
- Also in the news, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported a slight drop in average premiums for Medicare drug plans for next year. In an annual report released shortly before Election Day, it appears that government subsidies cushioned changes to the system, preventing seniors from having to pay in premiums what they could save with the new $2,000 annual out-of-pocket limit on medications, for example. instance.
- And in abortion news, a judge struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban, but many providers have already left the state. And a new California law protects coverage of in vitro fertilization, even for LGBTQ+ couples.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Lauren Sausser, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-Washington Post “Bill of the Month,” about a teenage athlete whose necessary surgery lacked a billing code. Do you have a confusing or scandalous medical bill you want to share? Tell us about it.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:
Julie Rovner: “Doctors urging boycott of conferences on abortion bans face uphill battle” from KFF Health News, by Ronnie Cohen.
Anna Edney: “Free Drug Experiment Avoids Secret U.S. Health Care Fees,” Bloomberg News, by John Tozzi.
Alicia Miranda Ollstein: “Hospitals Hit by IV Fluid Shortages After Hurricane Helene” from the Wall Street Journal, by Joseph Walker and Peter Loftus.
Sandhya Raman: “Without water after Helene, residents of Asheville public housing complex fear for their health,” Asheville Citizen Times, by Jacob Biba.
Also mentioned in this week’s podcast:
Credits
Francis Ying Audio Producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor
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