Kaiser Health News
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: GOP Platform Muddies Abortion Waters
Thu, 11 Jul 2024 20:00:00 +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.
Republicans released a draft party platform in advance of the GOP national convention next week, and while it is being described as softening the party’s stance opposing abortion, support from major groups that oppose abortion suggests that claim may be something of a mirage.
Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission is taking on the pharmacy benefits management industry as it prepares to file suit charging that the largest PBMs engage in anticompetitive behavior that raises patients’ drug costs.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Shefali Luthra of The 19th News, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.
Panelists
Jessie Hellmann
CQ Roll Call
Shefali Luthra
The 19th
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Call
Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:
- For the first time in decades, the GOP presidential platform will not include a call for a national abortion ban. But Republicans are hardly soft-pedaling the issue: The new platform effectively asserts that abortion violates the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law for all citizens โ including, under their reading, human embryos. Under that argument, abortion opponents may already have the constitutional justification they need to defend in court further restrictions on the procedure.
- Lawmakers in Washington are making early progress on government spending bills, including for the Department of Health and Human Services. Some political issues, like access to gender-affirming care for service members and minors, are creating wrinkles. Congress will likely need to pass a stopgap spending measure to avoid a government shutdown this fall.
- And a new report from the Federal Trade Commission illuminates the sweeping control of a handful of pharmacy benefits managers over most of the nation’s prescription drugs. As the government eyes lawsuits against some of the major PBMs alleging anticompetitive behavior, the findings bolster the case that PBMs are inflating drug prices.
Also this week, Rovner interviews Jennifer Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council, about the Biden administration’s policies to ensure access to reproductive health care.
Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:
Julie Rovner: STAT News’ “Troubled For-Profit Chains Are Stealthily Operating Dozens of Psychiatric Hospitals Under Nonprofits’ Names,” by Tara Bannow.
Jessie Hellmann: North Carolina Health News’ “N.C. House Wants to Spend Opioid Money on Multiple Abstinence-Based Recovery Centers, While Experts Stress Access to Medication,” by Grace Vitaglione.
Shefali Luthra: The Washington Post’s “These GOP Women Begged the Party to Abandon Abortion. Then Came Backlash,” by Caroline Kitchener.
Sandhya Raman: Roll Call’s “For at Least One Abortion Clinic, Dobbs Eased Stressors,” by Sandhya Raman.
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?’: GOP Platform Muddies Abortion Waters
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-355-gop-platform-abortion-gender-july-11-2024/
Published Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2024 20:00:00 +0000
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.biloxinewsevents.com/colorado-dropped-medicaid-enrollees-as-red-states-have-alarming-advocates-for-the-poor/
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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