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What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

All About the (Government) Funding

Episode 329

Jan. 11, 2024

With days to go until a large chunk of the federal government runs out of money needed to keep it operating, Congress is still struggling to find a compromise spending plan. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to hear — this year — a case that pits federal requirements for emergency treatment against state abortion bans. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Tami Luhby of CNN join ��ýҕ�l Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld about the choppy waters facing the nation’s physicians in 2024.

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Two photos are shown side by side: The left is of Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley debating on CNN. The photo on the right is of Donald Trump at a Fox News town hall event.

��ýҕ�l HEALTH NEWS & POLITIFACT HEALTHCHECK

In a Fractious Rerun, GOP Rivals Haley and DeSantis Debate Health Care. Trump Sits It Out.

The fifth debate of the 2024 GOP presidential primary season took place days before Iowa Republicans will caucus to determine their pick for the top of the party’s ticket. The front-runner, former President Donald Trump, once again did not participate.

By ��ýҕ�l Health News and PolitiFact staffs

Jan. 11, 2024

The Health 202

The AMA Wants a Medicare Cut Reversed – And Lawmakers To Stay Out of Care

By Julie Rovner

Jan. 11, 2024

A photo of an older man sorting medicine into a weekly pill organizer.

Deadly Denials

Older Americans Say They Feel Trapped in Medicare Advantage Plans

As enrollment in private Medicare Advantage plans grows, so do concerns about how well the insurance works, including from those who say they have become trapped in the private plans as their health declines.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

Jan. 5, 2024

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

2023 Is a Wrap

Episode 327

Dec. 21, 2023

2023 was another busy year in health care. As the covid-19 pandemic waned, policymakers looked anew at long-standing obstacles to obtaining and paying for care in the nation’s health care system. Meanwhile, abortion has continued to be an issue in much of the nation, as states respond to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the constitutional right to the procedure. This week, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join ��ýҕ�l Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and wrap up the year in health. Also this week, Rovner interviews ��ýҕ�l Health News’ Jordan Rau about his joint ��ýҕ�l Health News-New York Times series “Dying Broke.”

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What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

Democrats See Opportunity in GOP Threats to Repeal Health Law

Episode 325

Dec. 7, 2023

Sensing that Republicans are walking into a political minefield by threatening once again to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Biden administration is looking to capitalize by rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at high drug prices and other consequences of “corporate greed in health care.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hears a case that could determine when and how much victims of the opioid crisis can collect from Purdue Pharma, the drug company that lied about how addictive its drug, OxyContin, really was. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Rachana Pradhan of ��ýҕ�l Health News join ��ýҕ�l Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann of ��ýҕ�l Health News’ sister podcast, “An Arm and a Leg,” about his investigation into hospitals suing their patients over unpaid bills.

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A medicare card is layered over a U.S. $100-dollar-bill.

Dodging the Medicare Enrollment Deadline Can Be Costly

As open enrollment ends, many people are tuning out. They could wind up with a surprise next year: higher costs and less access to health care providers.

By Susan Jaffe

Dec. 7, 2023

A photo of a caretaker aiding an elderly woman.

Dying Broke: A ��ýҕ�l Health News-New York Times Project

Desperate Families Search for Affordable Home Care

Facing a severe shortage of aides and high costs, people trying to keep aging loved ones at home often cobble together a patchwork of family and friends to help.

By Reed Abelson, The New York Times

Dec. 4, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

Trump Puts Obamacare Repeal Back on Agenda

Episode 324

Nov. 30, 2023

Although Republicans have never united behind a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, 2024 GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump said this week he wants to put the issue back on the national agenda. That delights Democrats, who have won at least two elections partly by defending the now-popular health law. Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court takes up a case brought by women who say their pregnancy complications further endangered their health due to the vagueness of Texas’ near-total ban on abortions. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Victoria Knight of Axios News join ��ýҕ�l Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews ��ýҕ�l Health News’ Rachana Pradhan, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

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Uncle Sam Wants You … to Help Stop Insurers’ Bogus Medicare Advantage Sales Tactics

The Biden administration wants to crack down on deceptive or misleading Medicare Advantage and drug plan sales tactics. It’s counting on beneficiaries to help catch offenders.

By Susan Jaffe

Nov. 30, 2023

A photo of a doctor examining an elderly patient's knee.

Medicare Advantage Increasingly Popular With Seniors — But Not Hospitals and Doctors

Some hospitals and physician groups are rejecting Medicare Advantage plans over payment rates and coverage restrictions, causing turmoil for patients.

By Julie Appleby

Nov. 29, 2023

The Health 202

Hospitals and Doctors Are Fed up With Medicare Advantage

By Julie Appleby

Nov. 29, 2023

The Health 202

Why Do We Pay For so Much Worthless Health Care?

By Markian Hawryluk

Nov. 17, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

Congress Kicks the (Budget) Can Down the Road. Again.

Episode 323

Nov. 16, 2023

Congress narrowly avoided a federal government shutdown for the second time in six weeks, as Democrats came to the rescue of divided House Republicans over annual spending bills that were supposed to be finished by Oct. 1. But the brinksmanship is likely to repeat itself early in 2024, when the next temporary spending patches expire. Meanwhile, a pair of investigations unveiled this week demonstrate how difficult it still is for seniors to get needed long-term and rehabilitation care. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join ��ýҕ�l Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

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Two patients wait in a waiting room at a doctor's office. On the far left, a physician is walking by.

Primary Care Disrupted

Compensation Is Key to Fixing Primary Care Shortage

Many proposals have been floated about how to address the nation’s primary care problem. They range from training slots to medical school debt forgiveness but often sidestep comprehensive payment reform.

By Michelle Andrews

Nov. 16, 2023

A photo of a pharmacist pouring blue Truvada pills into a bottle.

US to Cover HIV Prevention Drugs for Older Americans to Stem Spread of the Virus

The government has proposed that Medicare fully cover preexposure prophylaxis drugs that prevent HIV, a change that could help America catch up with nations in Europe and Africa that are on track to end new infections decades before the U.S. under its current approach.

By Michael Scaturro

Nov. 8, 2023

An unrecognizable mental health professional takes notes while sitting across from a patient.

Navigating Aging

Medicare Expands the Roster of Available Mental Health Professionals

Medicare is expanding access to mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists come Jan. 1. But the belief that seniors who suffer from mental health problems should just grin and bear it remains a troubling barrier to care.

By Judith Graham

Nov. 3, 2023

Medical documents on a clipboard are resting on a table or desk with a stethoscope and pen in sunlight.

Tiny, Rural Hospitals Feel the Pinch as Medicare Advantage Plans Grow

More than half of seniors are enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans instead of traditional Medicare. Rural enrollment has increased fourfold and many small-town hospitals say that threatens their viability.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

Oct. 23, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

The Open Enrollment Mixing Bowl

Episode 319

Oct. 19, 2023

Open enrollment for Medicare beneficiaries with private health plans began Oct. 15, to be followed Nov. 1 by open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans. The selection for both is large — often too large to be navigated easily alone. And people who choose incorrectly can end up with unaffordable medical bills. Meanwhile, those on both sides of the abortion issue are looking to Ohio’s November ballot measure on abortion to see whether anti-abortion forces can break their losing streak in statewide ballot questions since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

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A photo of a nurse preparing a syringe in the foreground, while another nurse talks to her patient in the background.

Health Care ‘Game-Changer’? Feds Boost Care for Homeless Americans

This month, the federal government started paying for treatments delivered outside hospitals and clinics, expanding funding for “street medicine” teams that treat homeless patients. California led the way on the change, which could help sick and vulnerable patients get healthy, sober, and, in some cases, into housing.

By Angela Hart

Oct. 19, 2023

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