Kaiser Health News
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: At GOP Convention, Health Policy Is Mostly MIA
Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:50:00 +0000
The Host
Julie Rovner
KFF Health News
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.
The Republican National Convention highlighted a number of policy issues this week, but health care was not among them. That was not much of a surprise, as it is not a top priority for former President Donald Trump or most GOP voters. The nomination of Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio adds an outspoken abortion opponent to the Republican ticket, though he brings no particular background or expertise in health care.
Meanwhile, abortion opponents are busy trying to block state ballot questions from reaching voters in November. Legal battles over potential proposals continue in several states, including Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins schools of public health and nursing and Politico Magazine.
Panelists
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Politico
Joanne Kenen
Johns Hopkins University and Politico
Sarah Karlin-Smith
Pink Sheet
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio has cast few votes on health policy since joining Congress last year. He has taken a doctrinaire approach to abortion restrictions, though, including expressing support for prohibiting abortion-related interstate travel and invoking the Comstock Act to block use of the mail for abortion medications. He also speaks openly about his mother’s struggles with addiction, framing it as a health rather than criminal issue in a way that resonates with many Americans.
- Although Republicans have largely abandoned calls to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, it would be easy for former President Donald Trump to undermine the program in a second term; expanded subsidies for coverage are due to expire next year, and there’s always the option to cut spending on marketing the program, as Trump did during his first term.
- Trump’s recent comments to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about childhood vaccinations echoed tropes linked to the anti-vaccination movement โ particularly the false claim that while one vaccine may be safe, it is perhaps dangerous to receive several at once. The federal vaccination schedule has been rigorously evaluated and found to be safe and effective.
- Covid is surging once again, with President Joe Biden among those testing positive this week. The virus is proving a year-round concern and has peaked regularly in summertime; covid spreads best indoors, and lately millions of Americans have taken refuge inside from extremely high temperatures. Meanwhile, the virology community is concerned that the nation isn’t testing enough animals or humans to understand the risk posed by bird flu.
Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Renuka Rayasam, who wrote the June installment of KFF Health News-NPR’s “Bill of the Month,” about a patient who walked into what he thought was an urgent care center and walked out with an emergency room bill. If you have an exorbitant or baffling medical bill, you can send it to us here.
Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:ย
Julie Rovner: Time magazine’s “โWe’re Living in a Nightmare:’ Inside the Health Crisis of a Texas Bitcoin Town,” by Andrew R Chow.
Joanne Kenen: The Washington Post’s “A Mom Struggles To Feed Her Kids After GOP States Reject Federal Funds,” by Annie Gowen.
Alice Miranda Ollstein: ProPublica’s “Texas Sends Millions to Crisis Pregnancy Centers. It’s Meant To Help Needy Families, but No One Knows if It Works,” by Cassandra Jaramillo, Jeremy Kohler, and Sophie Chou, ProPublica, and Jessica Kegu, CBS News.
Sarah Karlin-Smith: The New York Times’ “Promised Cures, Tainted Cells: How Cord Blood Banks Mislead Patients,” by Sarah Kliff and Azeen Ghorayshi.
Also mentioned on this week’s podcast:
The Wall Street Journal’s “Mail-Order Drugs Were Supposed To Keep Costs Down. It’s Doing the Opposite,” by Jared S. Hopkins.
Credits
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Emmarie Huetteman
Editor
To hear all our podcasts,ย click here.
And subscribe to KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” onย Spotify,ย Apple Podcasts,ย Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Title: KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: At GOP Convention, Health Policy Is Mostly MIA
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-356-republican-convention-health-policy-july-18-2024/
Published Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:50:00 +0000
Kaiser Health News
For People With Opioid Addiction, Medicaid โUnwindingโ Raises the Stakes
SUMMARY: Stephanie, a Florida resident recovering from opioid addiction, faced a crisis when she lost her Medicaid coverage during the state‘s eligibility reevaluation after COVID-19 protections ended. Her treatment with methadone, crucial for managing cravings, became financially burdensome. Reports indicate over 1.9 million Floridians lost Medicaid, jeopardizing addiction treatment access. Experts stress that interruptions in care increase overdose risks. Nonprofits like Operation PAR are struggling to assist uninsured patients amid rising demand. While some individuals regained coverage, many face ongoing challenges, emphasizing the need for stable funding sources to ensure continued access to lifesaving medications for those in recovery.
The post For People With Opioid Addiction, Medicaid โUnwinding’ Raises the Stakes appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
Kaiser Health News
Toddlerโs Backyard Snakebite Bills Totaled More Than a Quarter Million Dollars
SUMMARY: Two-year-old Brigland Pfeffer was bitten by a rattlesnake in his backyard in San Diego shortly after his birthday. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where medical staff faced challenges administering antivenom due to difficulties finding a vein. Eventually, an alternative method delivered the antivenom, stabilizing Brigland. His treatment cost $297,461, primarily for 30 vials of antivenom. Despite insurance negotiation, the family faced significant out-of-pocket costs. Brigland’s injuries included nerve damage, but he has since healed. Following the incident, the family installed snake fencing to enhance safety in their yard.
The post Toddler’s Backyard Snakebite Bills Totaled More Than a Quarter Million Dollars appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
Kaiser Health News
JD Vance Fact Check: Illegal Immigration Isn’t Causing Rural Hospital Closures
SUMMARY: VP nominee JD Vance claimed that providing care for undocumented immigrants is bankrupting hospitals and causing closures. However, fact-checking reveals that while undocumented populations may be more likely to be uninsured, their presence does not directly result in hospitals failing financially. Many states offer coverage for these individuals, and factors like low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, decreased patient volumes, and prolonged financial decline significantly contribute to rural hospital closures. Therefore, Vance’s assertion that care for unauthorized immigrants is the primary reason for hospital bankruptcies is misleading. The claim has been rated false.
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said providing care for immigrants without legal status was โbankruptingโ rural hospitals and forcing them to close.
Although that population is more likely to be uninsured, living in the country illegally does not mean people lack the ability to pay for health care โ especially if they live in states that offer them insurance coverage.
Research shows many factors contribute to rural hospital closures โ not solely financial losses from providing care for those without insurance, whether those people are migrants in the country illegally or U.S. citizens.
KFF Health News and @politifact rate Vance’s statement False.
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