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KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Biden Wins Early Court Test for Medicare Drug Negotiations

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Thu, 15 Feb 2024 19:35:00 +0000

The Host

Julie Rovner
KFF Health News


@jrovner


Read Julie’s stories.

Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?” A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third edition.

A federal judge in Texas has turned back the first challenge to the nascent Medicare prescription-drug negotiation program. But the case turned on a technicality, and drugmakers have many more lawsuits in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, Congress is approaching yet another funding deadline, and doctors hope the next funding bill will cancel the Medicare pay cut that took effect in January.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post.

Panelists

Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico


@AliceOllstein


Read Alice’s stories.

Rachel Cohrs
Stat News


@rachelcohrs


Read Rachel’s stories.

Lauren Weber
The Washington Post


@LaurenWeberHP


Read Lauren’s stories.

Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:

  • Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), chair of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced she would retire at the end of the congressional session, setting off a scramble to chair a panel with significant oversight of Medicare, Medicaid, and the U.S. Public Health Service. McMorris Rodgers is one of several Republicans with significant health expertise to announce their departures.
  • As Congress’ next spending bill deadline approaches, lobbyists for hospitals are feverishly trying to prevent a Medicare provision on “site-neutral” payments from being attached.
  • In abortion news, anti-abortion groups are joining the call for states to better outline when life and health exceptions to abortion bans can be legally permissible.
  • Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is asking the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate a company that collected location data from patients at 600 Planned Parenthood sites and sold it to anti-abortion groups.
  • And in “This Week in Health Misinformation”: Lawmakers in Wyoming and Montana float bills to let people avoid getting blood transfusions from donors who have been vaccinated against covid-19.

Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:

Julie Rovner: Stateline’s “Government Can Erase Your Medical Debt for Pennies on the Dollar — And Some Are,” by Anna Claire Vollers.

Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico’s “‘There Was a Lot of Anxiety’: Florida’s Immigration Crackdown Is Causing Patients to Skip Care,” by Arek Sarkissian.

Rachel Cohrs: Stat’s “FTC Doubles Down in Welsh Carson Anesthesia Case to Limit Private Equity’s Physician Buyouts,” by Bob Herman. And Modern Healthcare’s “Private Equity Medicare Advantage Investment Slumps: Report,” by Nona Tepper.

Lauren Weber: The Wall Street Journal’s “Climate Change Has Hit Home Insurance. Is Health Insurance Next?” by Yusuf Khan.

Also mentioned on this week’s podcast:

Credits

Francis Ying
Audio producer

Stephanie Stapleton
Editor

To hear all our podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” on SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Title: KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Biden Wins Early Court Test for Medicare Drug Negotiations
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-334-medicare-drug-pricing-biden-court-february-15-2024/
Published Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2024 19:35:00 +0000

Kaiser Health News

Readers Embrace ‘Going It Alone’ Series on Aging and Chastise Makers of Pulse Oximeters

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kffhealthnews.org – – 2024-11-22 04:00:00

SUMMARY: Letters to the Editor discuss various healthcare concerns. Gail Daniels shares her struggles caring for a mother with dementia, while Shava Nerad reflects on the challenges faced by those without family support. Gloria Rankin suggests using pen pals to combat social isolation. Zoe Joyner Danielson recalls racial bias in pulse oximeter development, while Suzann Lebda questions fluoride’s impact on dental health. Readers also address issues like Medicare Advantage, high drug costs for seniors, and the financial burden of prepaying for baby deliveries. Liviu Steier advocates for fluorescence in dental care, emphasizing its diagnostic benefits.

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Kaiser Health News

Georgians With Disabilities Are Still Being Institutionalized, Despite Federal Oversight

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kffhealthnews.org – Sam Whitehead – 2024-11-22 04:00:00

SUMMARY: Lloyd Mills, a 32-year-old with autism, cerebral palsy, and kidney disease, has faced prolonged hospitalization due to inadequate community support in Georgia. After being admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital for mental health issues, Mills waited over eight months for appropriate housing, highlighting the systemic failures of a state still grappling with the consequences of a 2010 Department of Justice lawsuit regarding care for people with developmental disabilities. Despite significant investments and improvements in services, challenges like workforce shortages and inadequate funding persist, often leaving individuals like Mills in hospitals, impacting their mental and physical well-being.

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Kaiser Health News

TV’s Dr. Oz Invested in Businesses Regulated by Agency Trump Wants Him To Lead

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kffhealthnews.org – Darius Tahir – 2024-11-21 18:01:00

SUMMARY: President-elect Donald Trump nominated celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Oz, known for his investments in healthcare, tech, and food companies, holds significant stakes in UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Amazon, and other companies involved in health insurance and pharmaceuticals, raising potential conflicts of interest. His financial ties include hospital stocks and pharmaceutical investments. Oz has expressed support for Medicare Advantage and criticized the food and healthcare industries. Critics question whether Oz can separate his financial interests from his role, particularly with companies doing business with the federal government.

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