Nutrition program faces its own closure

host

Julie Rovner KFF Health News

@jrovner

@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).

Health programs are suffering due to the ongoing government shutdown. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC, the food program for women, infants and children, will likely run out in November, and cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will leave the agency unable to perform some of its key public health functions.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is taking a toll on health, and the Department of Homeland Security is trying to bolster its medical staff to cope with the large number of detainees.

This week’s panelists include Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post.

panelist

Shefali Luthra 19 years old

@shefali.bsky.social

Read Shefali’s story.

Alice Miranda All-Star Politico

@AliceOllstein

@alicemiranda.bsky.social

Read Alice’s story.

Rachel Rubane Washington Post

@rachel_roubein

Read Rachel’s story.

Here’s what this week’s episode is about:

• As the federal shutdown continues, some people face the alarming possibility that their SNAP and WIC benefits will soon be cut off. Lawmakers remain deadlocked on renewing strengthened Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire, and about 24 million people with such plans (about 90% receive subsidies) are starting to learn how much they will pay next year without subsidies.
• As lockdowns halt key weekly government reports on morbidity and mortality, the New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy issue public health warnings. announced that they would collaborate to publish Although others are stepping in to fill the void left by the Trump administration’s public health rollbacks, the federal government’s ability to access data and information is not easily replaced.
• It’s unclear whether the Trump administration’s plan to increase access to in vitro fertilization will significantly improve access to infertility treatment. Some employers already offer additional IVF benefits, and so far there are few details about how generous the Trump proposal would call for coverage.

Also this week, Rovner was interviewed by Katheryn Houghton of KFF Health News, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature about broken elbows and nearly six-figure bills.

And for “extra credit,” panelists suggest which health policy articles they’ve read this week that they think you should also read.

Julie Rovner: ProPublica’s “shadow president,” by Andy Kroll.

Shefali Luthra: 19th “More and more people are freezing their eggs, but most will never use them.,” by Shalini Kathuria Narang of Rewire News Group.

Alice Miranda Allstein: Brown University’s “New Study: AI Chatbots Systemically Violate Mental Health Ethics Standards.”

Rachel Rubane: The Washington Post’s “Errors in new Medicare plan portal leave seniors misunderstanding their coverage,” by Dan Diamond and Akilah Johnson.

Here’s what was also mentioned in this week’s podcast:

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Francis Ying Audio Producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor

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KFF Health News is one of the core operating programs of KFF, a national newsroom producing in-depth journalism on health issues and an independent source of health policy research, opinion polling and journalism. Learn more KFF.

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