KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Looking Ahead to the Lame-Duck Session

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When the lame-duck Congress returns to Washington after Election Day, it’s going to face a protracted checklist of well being objects needing consideration earlier than the tip of the yr, together with setting general spending for well being applications and averting a sequence of Medicare fee cuts to well being care suppliers.

In the meantime, in California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a first-in-the-nation invoice aimed toward curbing covid-19 misinformation and disinformation by docs.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KHN; Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name; Jessie Hellmann, additionally of CQ Roll Name; and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN.

Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:

• When congressional lawmakers left city final week for a month of campaigning earlier than the midterm elections, they agreed to fund the federal government — however solely till mid-December. The election outcomes might influence whether or not they attain agreements on funding for the complete fiscal yr once they come again.
• Key Democratic members of the Home have pledged to jettison the so-called Hyde Modification from any spending payments, however clearly these efforts don’t have sufficient help to get via the Senate. The Hyde Modification, named for Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ailing.), who died in 2007, bans federal funds from getting used for many abortions.
• Among the many funding points nonetheless to be settled by lawmakers is whether or not they may proceed sure applications begun throughout the pandemic, similar to permitting Medicare to cowl telehealth companies and whether or not enhanced Medicaid will proceed for U.S. territories.
• Additionally nonetheless awaiting a call by Congress is a bipartisan effort to enhance psychological well being companies.
• In response to a number of the uncommon therapies and theories that emerged surrounding covid, California has enacted a regulation that would carry extra self-discipline for docs who knowingly unfold disinformation on to sufferers. They are often reprimanded by the state medical board.
• The difficulty of abortion is heating up in campaigns across the nation, particularly amongst Democrats working for Congress, governor, or legal professional basic. Republicans, however, are enjoying down the problem whereas they attempt to emphasize financial and immigration points.
• A brand new report from Ohio officers factors to the surprisingly excessive variety of ladies and younger teenagers looking for abortions. The state well being division reported that amongst 538 youngsters age 17 and youthful who acquired abortions in Ohio final yr, 57 had been underneath 15.

Additionally this week, Rovner interviews KHN’s Sam Whitehead, who reported and wrote the newest KHN-NPR “Invoice of the Month” episode a few household who tried to make use of pressing care to economize however ended up with a giant emergency room invoice, anyway. In case you have an outrageous or monumental medical invoice you’d wish to share with us, you are able to do that right here.

Plus, for further credit score, the panelists suggest their favourite well being coverage tales of the week they assume you need to learn, too:

Julie Rovner: NPR’s “The Ice Bucket Problem Wasn’t Only for Social Media. It Helped Fund a New ALS Drug,” by Wynne Davis

Sandhya Raman: Mountain State Highlight’s “As WV Officers Tout Small Reductions in Drug Overdose Deaths, Epidemic Stays at Disaster Ranges,” by Allen Siegler

Jessie Hellmann: KHN’s “Extreme Sleep Apnea Prognosis Panics Reporter Till He Finds a Easy, No-Value Resolution,” by Jay Hancock

Mary Agnes Carey: The Washington Put up’s “Seniors Are Caught Dwelling Alone as Well being Aides Flee for Increased-Paying Jobs,” by Christopher Rowland

Additionally talked about on this week’s episode:

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