The Host
Democrats and Republicans are each dealing with potential political penalties of their persevering with standoff over federal authorities funding. Republicans are more likely to face a voter backlash in the event that they refuse to comply with Democrats’ calls for that they renew extra tax credit for Reasonably priced Care Act market plans, because the majority of these dealing with premium hikes reside in GOP-dominated states. For his or her half, Democrats are anxious that Republicans will violate the phrases of any potential spending deal.
On the identical time, the Trump administration is utilizing the shutdown to attempt to lay off hundreds of federal employees, together with these performing key public well being roles on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being and Politico Journal, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Publish.
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Because the federal authorities shutdown drags on, there was little progress towards a deal on authorities spending — or on the expiring ACA market subsidies Democrats are preventing to resume. Potential subsidy compromises may, as an illustration, implement a minimal premium instead of $0 premiums, to scale back enrollment fraud, as Republicans need.
- A federal choose halted the Trump administration’s newest layoffs of federal employees amid questions in regards to the layoffs’ legality. The administration particularly dealt a heavy blow this spherical to the CDC, an company that has been battered by employees reductions, coverage shifts, and even violence.
- New reporting exhibits the Trump administration explored the feasibility of tracing abortion capsule residue in wastewater, following up on an anti-abortion declare that the medicine could also be contaminating the water provide. But advocates may have an ulterior motive: growing the power to hint use of the capsule to additional crack down on abortions.
- And President Donald Trump unveiled a cope with a second drugmaker, AstraZeneca, that permits the corporate to keep away from tariffs in trade for constructing a brand new U.S. facility. However as with the primary deal, it’s unclear how a lot cash the settlement will save sufferers.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews medical health insurance analyst Louise Norris of Medicareresources.org in regards to the Medicare open enrollment interval, which started Oct. 15.
Plus, for “further credit score” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose it’s best to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: Politico’s “RFK Jr.’s Bought Recommendation for Pregnant Ladies. There’s Restricted Knowledge To Assist It,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein.
Anna Edney: The New York Occasions’ “The Drug That Took Away Extra Than Her Urge for food,” by Maia Szalavitz.
Joanne From: Mom Jones’ “From Drugs to Mysticism: The Radicalization of Florida’s High Doc,” by Kiera Butler and Julianne McShane.
Lauren Weber: KFF Well being Information’ “Senators Press Deloitte, Different Contractors on Errors in Medicaid Eligibility Methods,” by Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
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