100 Days of Health Policy Upheaval

The Host

Members of Congress are again in Washington this week, and Republicans are dealing with exhausting choices on easy methods to scale back Medicaid spending, whilst new polling reveals that will be unpopular amongst their voters.

In the meantime, with President Donald Trump marking 100 days in workplace, the Division of Well being and Human Companies stays in a state of confusion, as applications that had been rapidly minimize are simply as rapidly reinstated — or not. Even these main the applications appear not sure in regards to the standing of many key well being actions.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being and Politico Journal, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Instances.

Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:

• How and what congressional Republicans will suggest slicing from federal authorities spending remains to be up within the air — one massive cause being that the Home and Senate have two separate units of directions to observe throughout the funds reconciliation course of. The 2 chambers might want to resolve their variations ultimately, and most of the concepts on the desk might be politically dangerous for Republicans.
• GOP lawmakers are reportedly contemplating imposing sweeping work necessities on nondisabled adults to stay eligible for Medicaid. Solely Georgia and Arkansas have tried mandating that some enrollees work, volunteer, go to high school, or enroll in job coaching to qualify for Medicaid. These states’ experiences confirmed that work necessities don’t improve employment however are efficient at lowering Medicaid enrollment — as a result of many individuals have bother proving they qualify and get kicked off their protection.
• New reporting this week sheds mild on the Trump administration’s efforts to go after the accreditation of some medical scholar and residency applications, a part of the White Home’s efforts to crack down on variety and inclusion initiatives. But proof reveals that rising the range of medical professionals helps enhance well being outcomes — and that undermining medical coaching may additional exacerbate supplier shortages and worsen the standard of care.
• Trump’s upcoming funds proposal to Congress may make clear his administration’s funds cuts and workforce reductions inside — and spreading out from — federal well being companies. The proposal would be the first written documentation of the Trump White Home’s intentions for the federal authorities.

Plus, for “additional credit score” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they suppose it’s best to learn, too: 

Julie Rovner: KFF Well being Information’ “As a Variety Grant Dies, Younger Scientists Worry It Will Hang-out Their Careers,” by Brett Kelman. 

Joanne Kenen: NJ.com’s “Many Nursing Properties Feed Residents on Much less Than $10 a Day: ‘That’s Appallingly Low’” and “Contained in the ‘Multibillion-Greenback Sport’ To Funnel Money From Nursing Properties to Sister Firms,” by Ted Sherman, Susan Ok. Livio, and Matthew Miller. 

Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica’s “Utah Farmers Signed Up for Federally Funded Remedy. Then the Cash Stopped,” by Jessica Schreifels, The Salt Lake Tribune.  

Margot Sanger-Katz: CNBC’s “GLP-1s Can Assist Employers Decrease Medical Prices in 2 Years, New Examine Finds,” by Bertha Coombs.  

Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:

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