host
Julie Rovner KFF Health News
@julierovner.bsky.social
Read Julie’s story. Julie Rovner is a Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?” A renowned expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically acclaimed reference book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z” (now in its third edition).
Congress is running out of time to prevent massive increases in health care premium payments for the millions of Americans who purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. December 15 is the deadline to sign up for insurance starting January 1, and some consumers are looking to see if they can extend their credit to cover next year.
Meanwhile, a federal vaccine advisory panel handpicked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted last week to end universal recommendations for hepatitis B vaccination at birth. This is just the beginning of what is expected to be a big change in overall childhood vaccine recommendations.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times.
panelist
Anna Edney Bloomberg News
@annaedney.bsky.social
Read Anna’s story.
Maya Goldman Axios
@maya-goldman.bsky.social
Read Maya’s story.
Cheryl Gay Stolberg New York Times
Read Cheryl’s story.
Here’s what this week’s episode is about:
- As of Thursday morning, the Senate was preparing to vote on competing health proposals, but neither was expected to pass. One is a Democratic proposal that would extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credit, and the second is a Republican proposal that would instead add money to the health savings accounts of some ACA enrollees. As credits expire and time to sign up for a plan runs out, some Americans will likely lose coverage and become uninsured.
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ decision to end recommendations for hepatitis B vaccination in newborns is a significant development in the federal government’s move away from vaccine promotion. The panelists coalesced around the argument that babies are most likely to contract hepatitis B from their mothers, but the reality is that the virus can live in household items, posing a threat of chronic disease and death to unvaccinated children.
- In reproductive health news, House Speaker Mike Johnson removed insurance coverage for infertility treatment for military members from the National Defense Authorization Act before the bill was passed, and anti-abortion groups are calling for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director Marty McCurry to be fired over reports that policy change on medication abortions has been slow.
Also this week, Rovner interviews Georgetown University professor Linda Blumberg about what the GOP’s health plans have in common.
Additionally, for “extra credit,” panelists suggest health policy articles they’ve read (or written) this week and think you should read, too.
Julie Rovner: The Washington Post’s “Rural America relies on foreign doctors. Trump’s Visa Fee Blocked,” by David Ovalle.
Anna Edney: Bloomberg News’Abbott launched a lobbying blitz after firing a warning shot at infant formula.,” by Anna Edney.
Cheryl Gay Stolberg: The New York Times’ “Married scientists divided over Covid bioweapon theory,” by Katie JM Baker.
Maya Goldman: ProPublica’s “These health centers must provide affordable care. One person sued a patient for $59 in unpaid bills.,”Written by Aliyya Swaby.
Here’s what was also mentioned in this week’s podcast:
credits
Taylor Cook Audio Producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor
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