Trump’s Nontraditional Health Picks – KFF Health News

The Host

Julie Rovner
KFF Well being Information

@jrovner

Learn Julie’s tales.

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 skilled on well being coverage points, Julie is the writer of the critically praised reference guide “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.

President-elect Donald Trump is constant to workers his incoming administration, and his picks thus far for key well being coverage positions are significantly polarizing. He mentioned he’ll nominate outstanding vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to go the Division of Well being and Human Companies and Mehmet Oz — a controversial coronary heart surgeon, former Senate candidate, and TV host — to run the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Companies, which oversees protection for greater than 160 million People.

In the meantime, on Capitol Hill, the lame-duck Congress has simply weeks to complete its work for the 12 months, together with well being priorities resembling pandemic preparedness, whereas the incoming Congress begins to put out plans for adjustments to Medicaid and the Reasonably priced Care Act.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Riley Griffin of Bloomberg Information, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name.

Panelists

Rachel Cohrs Zhang
Stat Information

@rachelcohrs

Learn Rachel’s tales.

Riley Griffin
Bloomberg

@rileyraygriffin

Learn Riley’s tales.

Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Name

@SandhyaWrites

Learn Sandhya’s tales.

Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:

• Trump has named Kennedy as his selection for HHS secretary and Oz as head of CMS. Their appointments might create attention-grabbing tensions for Trump’s second administration. Kennedy’s campaign towards ultra-processed meals might translate into extra rules in an in any other case regulation-averse administration, and Oz’s embrace of Medicare Benefit — a program that has drawn consideration for costing greater than conventional Medicare — might run afoul of efforts to slash authorities spending.
• There’s one other aspect of the Kennedy decide that might trigger hiccups for the affirmation course of: He helps abortion rights and is ready to guide an company that many within the GOP hope might play a serious function in proscribing abortion entry nationwide. Might that element show problematic for Republican senators contemplating his nomination? Time will inform.
• With Trump transition officers vowing to wash home, particularly amongst public well being businesses, it’s value noting the broad authority granted to the HHS secretary. Congress commonly passes laws that leaves the small print to the businesses. The query, although, is how state well being officers will interpret federal steering — as appreciable energy on issues like vaccination coverage can also be left to the states.
• Within the halls of Congress, congressional committees are poised for a shake-up. Many members of key well being committees, such because the Vitality and Commerce Committee within the Home of Representatives and the Finance Committee within the Senate, aren’t returning. That personnel drain has broader implications: These departing lawmakers take with them numerous well being coverage data.

Additionally this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Varney, who has been overlaying a trial in Idaho difficult the dearth of medical exceptions in that state’s abortion ban.

Plus, for “additional credit score” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume it is best to learn, too:

Julie Rovner: ProPublica’s “How Lincare Grew to become a Multibillion-Greenback Medicare Scofflaw,” by Peter Elkind.  

Sandhya Raman: ProPublica’s “How UnitedHealth’s Playbook for Limiting Psychological Well being Protection Places Numerous People’ Remedy at Threat,” by Annie Waldman.  

Riley Griffin: The New York Instances’ “A.I. Chatbots Defeated Docs at Diagnosing Sickness,” by Gina Kolata.  

Rachel Cohrs Zhang: CNBC’s “Dental Provide Inventory Surges on RFK’s Anti-Fluoride Stance, Activist Involvement,” by Alex Harring.  

Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:

Credit

Lonnie Ro
Audio producer

Taylor Cook dinner
Audio producer

Emmarie Huetteman
Editor

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