The Host
Julie Rovner
KFF Well being Information
Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Well being Information’ weekly well being coverage information podcast, “What the Well being?” A famous knowledgeable on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference ebook “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
Come January, Republicans will management the Home of Representatives, Senate, and White Home, regaining full energy for the primary time since 2018. That can give them vital clout to dramatically change well being coverage. However slim margins in Congress will depart little room for dissent.
In the meantime, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to not contact Medicare, although there are Medicare-related points — together with drug worth negotiations and doctor pay — that can quickly demand consideration.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Submit, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Submit.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg
Rachel Roubein
The Washington Submit
Lauren Weber
The Washington Submit
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Republicans will management the Home and the Senate starting subsequent yr, doubtlessly providing Trump essential votes in help of his nominees and agenda. Nevertheless, the social gathering will govern with solely a slender majority in each chambers, which may hamper its capacity to make sweeping or controversial adjustments. Regardless, the GOP will steer legislative efforts, equivalent to setting authorities spending ranges and limits, and management committees that determine what to prioritize and oversee.
- Trump this week named a number of folks he intends to appoint to his Cupboard. But a lot of his picks lack related expertise or have staked out controversial coverage positions — or each — elevating the query: Can they clear the Senate affirmation course of? Trump has steered utilizing recess appointments to get round that, a technique that might largely bypass the Senate and restrict his Cupboard secretaries’ authority.
- In the meantime, among the many points on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s well being agenda are some that resonate with Democrats, equivalent to cracking down on ultra-processed meals and meals dyes. Notably, these kinds of initiatives — which may tighten guidelines for companies, for example — haven’t been a part of the standard conservative playbook.
- And, wanting forward, there’s loads the Trump administration may do to additional erode abortion rights, and the GOP is more likely to see this as a second for attempting issues.
Plus, for “additional credit score,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume you need to learn, too:
Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “In Vermont, The place Nearly Everybody Has Insurance coverage, Many Can’t Discover or Afford Care,” by Phil Galewitz.
Anna Edney: The Atlantic’s “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula,” by Zoë Schlanger.
Rachel Roubein: Politico’s “‘Been a Lengthy Time Since I Felt That Means’: Sexually Transmitted An infection Numbers Present New Hope,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein.
Lauren Weber: JAMA Community Open’s “Medical Board Self-discipline of Physicians for Spreading Medical Misinformation,” by Richard S. Saver.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Click on to open the transcript
Transcript: Readying for Republican Rule
[Editor’s note: This transcript was generated using both transcription software and a human’s light touch. It has been edited for style and clarity.]
Julie Rovner: Howdy, and welcome again to “What The Well being?” I’m Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Well being Information, and I’m joined by among the greatest and smartest well being reporters in Washington. We’re taping this week on Thursday, November 14th, at 10 a.m. As all the time, and notably this week, information occurs quick and issues would possibly’ve modified by the point you hear this. So, right here we go.
As we speak we’re joined by way of videoconference by Rachel Roubein of The Washington Submit.
Rachel Roubein: Hello. Thanks for having me.
Rovner: Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information.
Anna Edney: Howdy.
Rovner: And Lauren Weber, additionally The Washington Submit.
Lauren Weber: Double bother right now. Thanks for having me.
Rovner: No interview this week however greater than sufficient information to make up for it, so let’s dig proper in. In order of yesterday, it’s official. Come January twentieth, Republicans will management the presidency, the Senate, and the Home, though the ultimate break up remains to be but to be decided and is perhaps even smaller than the handful it’s now. Plus President-elect [Donald] Trump retains naming Home Republicans to his administration, which is able to complicate issues and which we’ll speak about in a second. However assuming there’s a trifecta when Trump places his hand on the Bible at midday on January twentieth, what distinction is that going to make to the well being agenda than if the Home had flipped Democratic, even by a vote or two?
Edney: Properly, I believe that, as you simply talked about, this majority is more likely to be so small. And simply pondering to the previous, we’ve seen such divisions, even among the many Republican Occasion, on what ought to be completed.
Rovner: It solely takes one or two — when you’ll be able to solely afford to lose one or two votes, it solely takes one or two folks to gum up the works.
Edney: Yeah, and there are numerous members — and notably, it looks as if, within the GOP — which are very prepared to do this. I imply, I believe that additionally the potential is that well being care isn’t prime of thoughts for President Trump, not less than. So I do know we’ve heard Speaker [Mike] Johnson say that he want to overturn the ACA [Affordable Care Act] straight away, however I don’t know that, like we stated, with the small majority, that that can have the ability to even occur.
Rovner: I really feel like that’s an enormous distinction from, I might say from 2017, after we got here in and well being care, repealing ACA, was proper on the prime. Not a lot now. Lauren.
Weber: I used to be simply going to say: What model of the Trump administration on well being care are we going to get? I imply, you will have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the market speaking about “Make America Wholesome Once more,” which additionally flies within the face of numerous Republican ideology. I imply, numerous what he’s speaking about appears to be excessive regulation of ultra-processed meals. He appears to need to restrict promoting for pharmaceutical advertisements. He desires to concentrate on power illness, which is one thing that lots of people on the left would like to see extra curiosity in, together with the ultra-processed meals. However is that the brand new Republican Occasion focus for well being? I don’t know. I believe we’re going to see, I imply, contemplating RFK appears poised for a big place within the administration.
Rovner: And we’ll discuss extra about him in a couple of minutes. Rachel, you wished so as to add one thing.
Roubein: Yeah. I consider — once I take into consideration Congress and the ability construction, I’m pondering loads about simply the federal government spending payments and the way that’s used to barter. Like, for those who look from a number of years in the past, Democrats negotiated some Medicaid insurance policies that they wished on maternal well being for alternate for what Republicans wished on unwinding Medicaid. And so Democrats lose their negotiating leverage there. And actually one of many massive insurance policies in Congress for subsequent yr, I believe, is the expiration in 2025 of the improved Obamacare subsidies. So Democrats don’t actually have a chamber there.
Rovner: Which we’ll additionally get to. However, I imply, the massive distinction is that if the Democrats had gained a majority even by one or two votes, that might’ve given them management of committees, which now they gained’t have. And that’s, sure, an enormous deal. I used to be going to say, Anna, in a yr when well being isn’t essentially on the prime of the form of massive agenda, what occurs in committee is usually what occurs.
Edney: Proper, yeah, what they determine to look into or to not look into. One of many locations perhaps the place they may form of cross paths or agree in a method with RFK Jr., if that’s the way in which the Trump administration goes, is there’s nonetheless numerous anger on the appropriate in regards to the covid vaccine. So we may see investigations ongoing — I believe they’re nonetheless taking place — however ongoing in that vein, and [Anthony] Fauci may preserve getting known as earlier than Congress. And that results in a form of aversion to pandemic preparedness, which could possibly be regarding as a result of we’re wanting down at this hen flu potential drawback that retains getting barely extra regarding on a regular basis.
Rovner: There’s an adolescent in Canada in intensive care with hen flu, who was not uncovered to something on a farm. That has public well being folks involved.
Edney: Proper, proper, precisely. And when you consider uncooked milk and RFK Jr. in help of that — I do know we’ll get to him — however it all looks like an ideal storm, doubtlessly. However I believe that the way in which that the Republicans would favor to go isn’t coping with — they’d relatively intestine pandemic preparedness. They don’t see a spot for it, in order that these issues may turn into essential down the road.
Rovner: In order I discussed, President-elect Trump is already asserting tons and many folks to workers the higher ranges of his incoming administration. And even with the Senate, with the Republican majority, that appears fairly possible to offer him no matter he desires, he’s been curiously suggesting that he desires to make use of one thing known as recess appointments for his main places of work, which might imply his appointees can be momentary, however they’d additionally keep away from the conventional Senate affirmation course of, which entails vetting and hearings and votes and even on an expedited foundation can take weeks. Are we beginning to get an thought of why he desires that, given among the people that he’s already named, like firebrand and ethics-challenged Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to be legal professional normal?
Edney: Yeah, definitely. We haven’t seen an HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] decide but, and I can’t even guess who it is perhaps simply given what’s already come out was very sudden. And so I believe that you simply’ve seen businesses just like the Meals and Drug Administration undergo that earlier than, the place they’ve simply had these momentary folks or they’ve stored in place whoever was the deputy on the time, they usually turn into the commissioner for some time and never confirmed. And it actually hampers their capacity to do loads, although. There are choices {that a} division or an company can’t make if somebody’s not Senate-confirmed.
Rovner: However doesn’t that throw extra energy again to the White Home? Isn’t that type of the concept right here?
Edney: Yeah, true. That’s level. If RFK Jr. will get this form of well being czar spot — I’ve been telling folks I couldn’t actually see him as HHS secretary, as a result of numerous what he desires to do is beneath the USDA [Agriculture Department], so that might make no sense. And so if he simply type of has the ability he desires within the White Home to do what he wants, you make level there as properly.
Rovner: Yeah, what else are — I might’ve stated earlier than yesterday that they’d by no means title RFK Jr. to be HHS secretary. Though after among the names we obtained yesterday, perhaps that can occur. This might occur whereas we’re taping this. However what different names are we listening to, if any? I do know I’ve three folks right here who’ve been overlaying the FDA. I imply, clearly throughout the first Trump administration, the FDA was headed by Scott Gottlieb, who we might think about a conventional Republican, a health care provider. He’d labored within the company earlier than. He’d been in authorities. That doesn’t appear possible what we’re going to see this time round.
Edney: I believe that’s true. I believe the one factor is what Trump’s focus can be. If he does let another person type of take the reins on this, perhaps we might see somebody a bit of extra measured. I might say proper now, a lot of the names that I’m listening to for HHS or FDA are very a lot recycling from final time round. And so I’m actually not sure whether or not individuals are simply batting that round as a result of these are names which have come ahead earlier than or whether or not that’s who we’ll truly see named. I believe we’ll know briefly order, as a result of I do assume that these are popping out shortly. And I appreciated, Julie, that you simply corrected everybody that they’re not nominated. There’s an intent to appoint by a president-elect, so, however nonetheless will—
Rovner: Though, I’ll say, his statements say that he’s nominating, which is complicated folks.
Edney: Yeah. I believe they’re much less involved with the specifics.
Rovner: Sure. Properly, shock, shock. All proper, now let’s speak about RFK Jr. Clearly, we don’t know what place he’s going to fill, however we’ve talked loads about his extra Republican-friendly positions, anti-vax stuff and uncooked milk and form of anti-public-health. However Rachel and Lauren, you’ve obtained a narrative up right now about another positions that Democrats is perhaps a bit of extra sympathetic to. What are a few of these?
Roubein: There’s not less than two concepts that we had form of checked out on this story which have discovered some public help on each the appropriate and the left, equivalent to stripping ultra-processed meals from faculty cafeterias and type of cracking down on meals dyes. And, I imply, one of many issues we famous up prime is that that is, a few of this may be a contradiction from Trump’s first time period, the place Sonny Perdue, who was Trump’s agriculture secretary, inside the first week or two of him being in his place, he vowed to quote-unquote “make faculty meals nice once more” after which type of waged this assault on Michelle Obama’s efforts to make faculty meals more healthy. That’s to not say that Kennedy being a place of energy doesn’t alarm federal well being officers or public well being specialists or folks within the meals trade, as a result of it does. However there are some insurance policies that he may have a [Sen.] Bernie Sanders agree with him on.
Rovner: And whereas we’re with regards to ultra-processed meals, Lauren, you’re our Lunchables correspondent, and there’s Lunchables information this week. Inform us about it.
Weber: There’s Lunchables information this week, and constant listeners of the pod will keep in mind that I did a narrative at The Washington Submit final yr with a few of my colleagues that checked out how Lunchables had ended up on faculty lunch trays for the primary time ever. Kraft Heinz had type of tinkered with the components, reformulated it, and truly ended up including extra sodium whereas including extra protein and different issues to qualify for the Nationwide College Lunch Program. And, clearly, numerous vitamin specialists have been appalled as a result of they felt like that is an instance of ultra-processed meals that’s being served as free and decreased lunch to youngsters who don’t essentially have as a lot of a alternative there on what’s being served to them. And we obtained information this week that Kraft Heinz didn’t make sufficient cash, that faculty districts didn’t buy their reformulated product, they usually had, attributable to quote “lack of demand,” they’re taking them off the choices.
So it’s type of attention-grabbing. RFK’s push in opposition to ultra-processed meals is coming at a second not simply in class lunches however in the US, the place there was rising consciousness about ultra-processed meals making up 60% of the American’s eating regimen. And for a really, very very long time, meals trade has been actually profitable in Congress at watering down among the laws in opposition to stuff like ultra-processed meals, particularly in class lunches, to type of weaken these laws, as Rachel talked about, that Michelle Obama had pushed for and different methods, in order that they may proceed promoting their merchandise. And so among the meals trade people that Rachel and I talked to are fairly involved a few potential RFK position as a result of he’s actually pushing in opposition to the powers that be there. And it’s actually attention-grabbing to see that dynamic, as a result of, as Rachel identified, the one different person who’s actually been doing that just lately is Bernie Sanders. So that you type of have this horseshoe of proper and left that’s coming to the forefront right here.
Edney: I used to be simply going so as to add, I truly wrote my publication on this right now. The FDA is performing some issues on this vein which are form of attention-grabbing. I stated it was type of an RFK-FDA, very tiny, very small Venn diagram in that the company can be taking a look at ultra-processed meals. They stated — Jim Jones is their deputy commissioner for human meals, and he stated just lately that they have been performing some work attempting to determine find out how to research whether or not there’s actually causality, however he did say they’ve been working they usually have completed loads on sure trans fat, getting them out of meals. They’ve completed loads to attempt to, they’re attempting to scale back sodium ranges. That’s going to be a stepwise course of in meals. And so they have made shoppers much more conscious, together with on the label, of added sugars. And he was like, That is all what we see in processed meals that could be a drawback.
And so there’s form of this quiet— they’re quietly going after it, simply not calling it that. After which on the dyes, they’re definitely not going so far as RFK Jr. and saying, We need to ban all dyes. However they’ve had a petition in entrance of them for a pair years, and Jim Jones stated he anticipated a response from the FDA. I overlook precisely the quote, however it was very quickly on what they’re going to do on Purple Dye Quantity 3, which is form of the one which has been studied probably the most and has hyperlinks to most cancers and doubtlessly hyperactivity in youngsters.
Roubein: I believe it’s additionally value noting, in speaking in regards to the FDA’s vitamin division, is the day after the election, RFK Jr. was on MSNBC saying that there are whole departments at FDA that must go, and he particularly stated the vitamin division. Once more, whether or not you can simply have type of a mass firing of civil servants is type of fairly TBD, however that’s how he’s viewing the nutritionists there, and that’s alarming to workers. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf the opposite day stated that, known as them hardworking folks. He was requested about it and had a little bit of a protection there.
Weber: Simply so as to add in on that, too, there are some vitamin advocates that wouldn’t be that unhappy about that. I imply, I do know that they really feel just like the FDA has been too sluggish, is simply too influenced by trade. I imply, take a look at the meals label story that we talked about additionally on this podcast, that Rachel and I did. The Biden administration was presupposed to suggest potential front-of-pack labels for entrance of meals, and numerous vitamin advocates thought, although this proposal has not come out but, that what they have been desirous about was too weak and too deferential to trade. So RFK has definitely tapped into this rising anger, it appears, on the lack of protections for teenagers or normally in regards to the meals provide. I believe a part of it’s is that he and Trump are excellent entrepreneurs. They’ve these catchy slogans, “Make America Wholesome Once more.” I believe that’s considerably at play as properly.
Rovner: I believe earlier than we depart this form of subsequent administration section, although, I do need to broaden it out a bit of bit, as a result of we’ve been speaking about this contradiction that’s Donald Trump, which is, on the one hand, he’s obtained a bunch of individuals that desires to strip the federal authorities of all of its capacity to control and eliminate laws and let trade run wild as a result of, as Vivek Ramaswamy says, regulation is a yoke across the neck of innovation. Then again, he’s obtained folks like RFK Jr. who need to are available and say: No, let’s get trade out of presidency. Let authorities do its job regulating. I imply, the well being trade should be — their heads should be spinning, as a result of this clearly goes to have an effect on completely different parts of the trade alternative ways, proper?
Edney: Yeah, it’s a complicated factor, too, when you consider the pharma trade, for example. I can say, they’re extremely regulated within the sense that they pay a lot of cash to the FDA, thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of {dollars} to have their new drug purposes reviewed. There’s a really strict strategy of what they get for that, what the FDA will do for that. They don’t need that thrown away, as a result of that offers them numerous safety on, Right here’s how issues are going to work and we have to know that, versus for those who simply had someone up there being like, Sure to that one, no to that one. And there could possibly be different areas. Actually Large Pharma wouldn’t adore it if all the things was tried to be cured with ivermectin and the hydroxychloroquine. So that might be an issue for all of us. So I believe that there’s simply numerous confusion and uncertainty in pharma, not less than.
Rovner: And I imply, the one factor we all know is that trade hates uncertainty. They want to have the ability to plan.
Edney: Sure. Proper, sure. They very a lot want that for themselves, for his or her researchers, for his or her shareholders. That’s tremendous essential.
Rovner: Yeah, so clearly, all people in well being care is form of watching eagerly. All proper, properly, whereas we’ve all been busy speaking in regards to the election, open enrollment started for the Inexpensive Care Act for 2025, presumably the final yr that thousands and thousands of Individuals will stay eligible for expanded subsidies, since a completely Republican Congress and president appear unlikely to increase them past December thirty first, 2025. What’s going to turn into of the ACA expanded subsidies? Is there any probability they get prolonged? It could displace thousands and thousands of people that have gotten medical insurance by the ACA.
Edney: Properly, I believe if we’re speaking in ways in which Trump could also be desirous about, the insurance coverage corporations wouldn’t prefer it, as a result of they don’t need to lose all of these sufferers. So I assume perhaps that’s the potential glimmer of hope for individuals who need these expanded subsidies to remain intact.
Rovner: And we nonetheless don’t know what the Republicans keep in mind for the Inexpensive Care Act. As I prefer to level out, they’ve been speaking a few alternative since 2010 and we’ve by no means truly seen one.
Roubein: Trump has ideas of a plan, he says.
Rovner: So we’ve heard.
Roubein: Keep in mind that within the debate? I imply, we heard that for what number of years, proper? Years and years.
Rovner: Two weeks. He’s going to have one thing in two weeks.
Edney: I used to be going to say, if anybody writes an In two weeks it’s coming story, they’ve to purchase drinks for everybody.
Rovner: Completely. Lauren, you wished to say one thing.
Weber: I imply, I used to be simply going to say that the primary Trump administration was not identified for increasing any form of subsidies for the ACA. So I’m curious. However as Anna identified, frankly it’s all the time onerous to remove one thing that’s common. You don’t essentially need these folks mad at you. So to be fairly trustworthy, let’s wait and see.
Rovner: Yeah, TBD.
Weber: TBD.
Rovner: Properly, that is additionally the primary yr that DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] recipients, the so-called “Dreamers” who have been dropped at the U.S. with out documentation as youngsters, are eligible themselves for backed ACA protection. That’s estimated to be about 100,000 folks. I wouldn’t count on that to final both, although. And I’m questioning, it may not even make it by the yr, because it’s the topic of a lawsuit introduced by Republican attorneys normal that I count on a brand new Justice Division would simply drop?
Roubein: Yeah, I really feel like with all the things, there’s type of a highway map to have a look at what Trump did within the first time period, simply type of talking broadly, not simply on DACA. However then there are issues that they won’t do once more. So I really feel prefer it’s onerous to foretell, however yeah, feasibly I really feel like that would form of be the pondering.
Rovner: Trump has been nothing greater than unpredictable all over. So I’m going to do my extra-credit story early this week as a result of I would like us all to speak about it a bit of bit. It’s from my KFF Well being Information colleague Phil Galewitz, and it’s known as “In Vermont, The place Nearly Everybody Has Insurance coverage, Many Can’t Discover or Afford Care.” And it’s about an issue that’s type of been sneaking up on us and is now right here for all to see: Having insurance coverage is critical however not adequate to get well being care.
As Phil factors out, Vermont has mainly the bottom uninsured fee in the US, however care there may be costly. Each suppliers and insurers are having monetary difficulties, and rising numbers of sufferers both can’t discover care or can’t pay for it or each. A few of this seems to be demographics. Vermont is, on common, older and extra rural than most different states, and a few of it’s presumably attributable to well being supplier consolidation. However I really feel like that is type of the early warning of the identical kinds of issues taking place across the nation. At what level do we’ve to truly take inventory of the truth that our well being system isn’t functioning very properly? I imply, we’re so busy speaking about what trade desires and what authorities desires and what’s going to assist this group and what’s going to assist that group. And it’s like, even with an all-time-low uninsured fee, the tales about folks being unable to get care have gotten greater than anecdotal, proper?
Weber: I imply, I believe, Julie, return to the title of this podcast. The podcast is named “What the Well being?” I imply, I believe you’ve, clearly, and all of us right here have been overlaying this for a few years. However Phil’s story was simply fantastically completed, as a result of it confirmed how multifaceted the issue is. However that additionally means there’s not a fast repair. However the bottom-line kicker was these individuals are paying a ton of cash for his or her well being care and are having to attend months and months and months for stuff they really feel like isn’t that nice, or they’re compelled to go throughout state strains and pay extra elsewhere to get it faster. And clearly that’s, as you stated, not fairly an answer. So an interesting take a look at, what it looks as if, a lot of components which are inflicting severe points with folks’s well being care supply.
Rovner: I simply really feel prefer it’s a warning to not — I imply, clearly we’re well being reporters. We take a look at issues within the micro. However typically I really feel like we’re type of shedding the forest for the timber, and this was a extremely good reminder. It’s like there’s a forest on the market and issues aren’t going nice within the forest.
All proper, properly, let’s flip to abortion. Despite the fact that seven out of 10 states with poll measures voted for the abortion rights place — eight states, for those who rely Florida, the place the measure to overturn the state six-week ban obtained 57%, however that was wanting the 60% it wanted to go — the anti-abortion motion is nonetheless gearing as much as undo as a lot of this as it will probably.
In response to our podcast panelist Alice Ollstein, among the methods anti-abortion teams plan to pursue are ones that we’ve talked about right here earlier than, together with requiring that abortion tablets be labeled as a managed substance, like they’re doing in Louisiana, or that the stays of treatment abortion be dealt with as medical waste. Different concepts are new or not less than new-ish, like attempting to chop off funding to schools and universities that present abortion tablets at campus services. The anti-abortion motion can be attempting to push state laws aimed toward circumventing the protecting amendments that these states’ voters simply handed. This combat is a good distance from being over, proper?
Edney: Oh, yeah. And also you simply talked about states. That’s the place I’m certain that numerous the main target is, as a result of if Trump holds to his phrase, and I don’t know if that’s the case, he stated it ought to be as much as the states on how they deal with all of these things. So I think about now’s their second in the event that they’re going to strive a few of these extra out-of-the-box methods of coping with it.
Roubein: And I believe one factor that emerged, notably after Republicans took again the Home in 2022 and Roe v. Wade was overturned, was that the battleground being states, but additionally the manager department. The battleground by way of Congress, the Home didn’t deliver up a invoice to ban abortion at 15 weeks or something politically—
Rovner: They couldn’t have gotten the votes with their tiny majority.
Roubein: Yeah, it’s very politically difficult. We’ve seen Republicans again away from these stances. And then you definitely take a look at the Biden administration, which has stated, There are issues we are able to do to form of do some tips, et cetera, like letting the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] do abortions in sure situations, or they rolled again Trump’s adjustments on the Title X federal household program that mainly compelled Deliberate Parenthood out. So you can form of see a few of these issues being rolled again once more.
Rovner: Properly, one of many issues that I haven’t seen famous by anyone, and I completely agree with you about: The very first thing that the Trump and whoever within the Trump administration to do is reverse the issues that [President Joe] Biden did, which in some methods have been reversals of issues that Trump did the primary time round. However we do have a bunch of abortion-related lawsuits nonetheless in play that contain the Justice Division. Keep in mind that Supreme Courtroom case the place the justices dominated that the anti-abortion medical doctors who introduced the case didn’t have standing to sue? Properly, that case remains to be alive. It’s nonetheless in court docket, as a result of states have stepped in as plaintiffs. Then there are instances difficult the Biden administration’s interpretation of EMTALA, which is the federal legislation that requires emergency abortions be supplied to guard a pregnant lady’s well being and says that these override state legal guidelines that solely permit abortions if the girl’s life is imminently endangered. I might assume these instances would go away beneath Legal professional Common Matt Gaetz or whoever goes to be accountable for the Justice Division, proper?
Edney: I imply, that makes excellent sense to me that they’d not proceed arguing these by any means except Trump is extra centered on attempting to overturn his personal convictions. I don’t know what that would appear to be.
Rovner: Sure, it doesn’t matter what, the Justice Division can be very busy, however I believe not very busy arguing the abortion rights aspect of abortion instances.
Edney: Proper.
Rovner: Properly, I need to flip to Medicare. Trump insisted throughout the marketing campaign that he wouldn’t contact Medicare, however that’s not truly potential for a Congress and an administration. The one actual query is how Medicare can be touched. Medical doctors are, as soon as once more, going through a Medicare pay lower for subsequent yr. This one is slightly below 3%. And that’s one thing that the lame-duck Congress, which is simply getting again into session this week, might or might not cancel, given how loopy issues are proper now on Capitol Hill. And The Wall Road Journal has a bit this week about how sicker individuals are leaving their Medicare Benefit plans to return to conventional Medicare, which is smart as a result of non-public Medicare Benefit plans make care tougher to entry while you’re sick. In order that finally ends up making — once they depart, it finally ends up making the plans richer as a result of they don’t must pay for the care, and the taxpayers poorer as a result of now Medicare, conventional Medicare, is paying for the care. So Medicare’s going to must be on the desk in some kind. We will’t simply ignore Medicare for 4 years, proper?
Edney: Yeah, I believe notably that is the form of larger image. However when you consider if Trump does need to do a bunch of tax cuts and the place does the cash come from, I’m certain there are methods to do it. There are all types of finances tips that may be completed to appear to be you’re not touching Medicare however you’re touching Medicare, so you’ll be able to preserve that marketing campaign promise. And I don’t know if that’s actually on the desk for them, however I don’t assume we are able to count on nobody to be taking a look at this, notably additionally due to the form of Republican need to prop up the Medicare Benefit a bit of bit extra to get … So I don’t know if there’s a option to encourage some folks again on these plans or how they’re going to have a look at that.
Rovner: Yeah, it’s essential to keep in mind that the standard Republican thought on Medicare is to get extra folks to enter Medicare Benefit, which is going on naturally anyway as a result of people who find themselves growing old into Medicare are largely popping out of managed care plans, so that they’re used to being in managed care plans. So it’s straightforward for them to enter these Medicare Benefit plans that say, Hey, we’re going to give you additional advantages that Medicare doesn’t. And it’s not till they really want care and might’t get it that they understand that perhaps that wasn’t one of the best thought. However I definitely count on this whole debate to hold over to the subsequent administration.
Edney: Properly, and also you additionally … I don’t know why, however you jogged my memory that there are nonetheless medicine to barter beneath Medicare.
Rovner: That’s proper.
Edney: And also you by some means must cope with that, and taking it away can be fairly troublesome, seemingly.
Rovner: And price some huge cash.
Edney: And price some huge cash. However you can negotiate issues in another way or — I’m undecided.
Rovner: Sure, we’ll have loads of Medicare to speak about. All proper, properly, that’s the information, not less than up till this second. Now it’s time for our extra-credit section. That’s the place we every acknowledge a narrative we learn this week we expect you need to learn, too. Don’t fear for those who miss it. We’ll put the hyperlinks in our present notes in your cellphone or different cellular system. I’ve already completed mine. Anna, why don’t you go subsequent? Yours is so very on model for you.
Edney: Thanks. So mine is from The Atlantic. It’s known as “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula.” Actually, I grew up in my household and my dad and mom nonetheless have all their black cooking utensils. And what that is speaking about is how most of our black cooking utensils are comprised of recycled electronics. And there’s a complete cause for that. It’s actually attention-grabbing to examine. However the end result is that there are additionally numerous fireplace retardants in these, so we’re getting fireplace retardants leaching out into our meals.
Rovner: After all, fireplace retardants are why they’d them within the first place, proper? Since you’re placing them in very popular issues.
Edney: Properly, that is extra due to the electronics. Like, yeah, while you’re utilizing an digital, I assume there’s fireplace retardants in there since you don’t need the battery blowing up or no matter. However for those who’re recycling these and making utensils out of them, then you definitely’re going to get a few of that in your meals.
Rovner: The darkish aspect of recycling.
Edney: Sure.
Rovner: Lauren, why don’t you go subsequent?
Weber: Mine’s truly a research in JAMA that’s titled “Medical Board Self-discipline of Physicians for Spreading Medical Misinformation.” And the research discovered that truly the least frequent cause for medical board self-discipline was spreading misinformation, which was not truly information to me or a few of my colleagues at The Washington Submit, as they cite our work on this research. However Lena Solar, Hayden Godfrey, and I final yr did a big investigation through which we truly surveyed all 50 medical boards and went by and requested them about whether or not or not they’d disciplined anybody for misinformation.
After which on the boards that didn’t reply, which was many, we then went by and skim each single disciplinary motion to see what we may discover. And the underside line is is medical doctors didn’t get punished. There’s numerous free-speech protections, and, frankly, it needed to be very, very, very egregious for medical boards to step in. Usually, medical boards are weak. They’re identified to be poor at self-regulating their very own. It takes loads to actually get punished by a medical board, so it’s not that stunning. However after numerous clamor throughout covid and numerous physicians that actually grew to become megaphones for unscientific proof, it’s nonetheless fairly putting that not very a lot of them confronted any form of repercussions for that.
Rovner: Yeah, one other concern going ahead. Rachel.
Roubein: My additional credit score, it’s titled “‘Been a Lengthy Time Since I Felt That Means’: Sexually Transmitted An infection Numbers Present New Hope,” in Politico by Alice Miranda Ollstein. The story talks about mainly how there’s been this drop in sexually transmitted infections, and that has adopted years of simply skyrocketing instances. So that is from new information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention that got here out this week. So, for example, complete instances of syphilis elevated 1% and congenital syphilis ticked up 3%, however that’s a far slower fee of progress than the spikes of the previous couple of years. In order that’s an encouraging notice for STD well being administrators in states. However within the piece, she talks about how there’s some concern from public well being specialists and different advocates about doubtlessly backsliding beneath Trump, relying what occurs, and likewise noting that Congress final yr clawed again lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in public well being funding.
Rovner: That’s proper. And clearly the federal Household Planning Program performs an enormous position within the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and we don’t know what’s going to turn into of the federal Household Planning Program beneath a Republican trifecta. So once more, a narrative that I’m certain we’ll spend extra time speaking about.
All proper, that’s this week’s present. As all the time, for those who benefit from the podcast, you’ll be able to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We’d recognize it for those who left us a overview. That helps different folks discover us, too. Particular thanks this week to our momentary manufacturing staff, Taylor Cook dinner and Lonnie Ro, in addition to our editor, Emmarie Huetteman. As all the time, you’ll be able to electronic mail us your feedback or questions. We’re at whatthehealth, all one phrase, @kff.org. Or you’ll be able to nonetheless discover me at X @jrovner and more and more at Bluesky @julierovner.bsky.social. The place are you guys today? Lauren?
Weber: Nonetheless simply on X, LaurenWeberHP. The “HP” is for “well being coverage.”
Rovner: Anna.
Edney: On X. It’s @annaedney. And I’m attempting out Bluesky as properly, however I’m so new that I don’t even bear in mind my title.
Rovner: It’s OK.
Edney: I’ll get that subsequent time.
Rovner: Rachel.
Roubein: Equally to Lauren, on X, @rachel_roubein.
Rovner: We can be again in your feed subsequent week. Till then, be wholesome.
Credit
Taylor Cook dinner
Audio producer
Lonnie Ro
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
To listen to all our podcasts, click on right here.
And subscribe to KFF Well being Information’ “What the Well being?” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you hearken to podcasts.
