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The Abortion Pill Goes Back to Court

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Thu, 18 May 2023 18:15:00 +0000

The Host

Julie Rovner
KFF News


@jrovner


Read Julie’s stories.

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

The fate of the abortion pill mifepristone remains in jeopardy, as an appellate court panel during a hearing this week sounded sympathetic to a lower court’s ruling that the FDA should not have approved the drug more than two decades ago. No matter how the appeals court rules, the case seems headed for the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, in the partisan standoff over raising the nation’s debt ceiling, a key sticking point has emerged: whether to add a work requirement to the state-federal program. Republicans are adamant about adding one; Democrats point out that, in the few states that have tried them, red tape has resulted in eligible people wrongly losing their health coverage.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Victoria Knight of Axios.

Panelists

Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Call


@SandhyaWrites


Read Sandhya’s stories

Rachel Roubein
The Washington Post


@rachel_roubein


Read Rachel’s stories

Victoria Knight
Axios


@victoriaregisk


Read Victoria’s stories

Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:

  • Hopes among abortion rights advocates for continued access to mifepristone dimmed as the three judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals signaled they are skeptical of the FDA’s decades-old approval of the drug and of the Biden administration’s arguments defending it. Lawyers debated whether the doctors challenging the drug had been harmed by it and thus had standing to sue. If the original ruling effectively revoking the drug’s approval is allowed to stand, the case could open the door to future legal challenges to the approval of controversial .
  • Two more states in the South are moving to restrict abortion, further cutting access to the procedure in the region. In North Carolina, a new Republican supermajority in the state enabled the passage this week of a new, 12-week ban, as lawmakers in South Carolina consider a six-week ban.
  • In Congress, the top Senate Republican said he will not back one senator’s months-long effort to hold up Pentagon nominations over a policy that supports troops and their dependents who must travel to other states to obtain an abortion.
  • Envision โ€” which spent big in 2019 to fight legislation prohibiting some surprise medical bills โ€” has filed for bankruptcy protection more than a year after the law took effect and cut into its bottom line. But a federal from a group of emergency room physicians against Envision may move forward. The lawsuit claims the private equity-backed company is in violation of a California law banning corporate control of medical practices, and it could carry major consequences for the growing number of practices backed by private equity firms across the country.
  • Monica Bertagnolli has been nominated to the National Institutes of Health. Currently the director of the National Cancer Institute, she will need to be confirmed by the Senate, which hasn’t confirmed an NIH chief since before the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ stewardship of a key health committee is causing delays on even bipartisan efforts.

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

Julie Rovner: The Washington Post’s “A 150-Year-Old Law Could Help Determine the Fate of U.S. Abortion Access,” by Dan Diamond and Ann E. Marimow.

Victoria Knight: The New York Times’ “World Health Organization Warns Against Using Artificial Sweeteners,” by April Rubin.

Rachel Roubein: CBS News’ “Thousands Face Medicaid Whiplash in South Dakota and North Carolina,” by Arielle Zionts of KFF Health News.

Sandhya Raman: CQ Roll Call’s “A Year After Dobbs Leak, Democrats Still See Abortion Driving 2024 Voters,” by Mary Ellen McIntire and Daniela Altimari.

Also mentioned in this week’s episode:

KFF Health News’ “ER Doctors Vow to Pursue Case Against Envision Despite Bankruptcy,” by Bernard J. Wolfson.

Credits

Francis Ying
Audio producer

Emmarie Huetteman
Editor

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Title: The Abortion Pill Goes Back to Court
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-298-mifepristone-abortion-pill-court-may-18-2023/
Published Date: Thu, 18 May 2023 18:15:00 +0000

Kaiser Health News

Whatโ€™s at Stake: A Pivotal Election for Six Big Health Issues

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kffhealthnews.org – Arthur Allen and Phil Galewitz, KFF and Julie Rovner, KFF Health News and Daniel Chang – 2024-11-01 14:24:00

SUMMARY: In the election campaign’s final days, Vice President Kamala Harris and former clash over , issues of access and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Harris aims to preserve ACA subsidies and protect health care rights, while Trump’s campaign lacks clarity on health plans, suggesting significant cuts. The future of , drug prices, and transgender health care also hinges on the election outcome. Trump’s proposals could roll back protections for these groups, contrasting with Harris’ promises to uphold existing health care rights and enhance drug pricing negotiations, setting stark differences for voters.

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Kaiser Health News

Trump quiere que Harris pague un precio polรญtico por ofrecer salud a inmigrantes sin papeles

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kffhealthnews.org – Joanne Kenen – 2024-11-01 13:18:00

SUMMARY: Marรญa Sรกnchez, una inmigrante de 87 aรฑos de Mรฉxico, vive sin papeles en Illinois y carecรญa de seguro mรฉdico durante aรฑos, a pesar de haber trabajado y pagado impuestos. A los 65, no pudo inscribirse en Medicare y evitรณ atenciรณn hasta caer enferma. En 2020, Illinois lanzรณ un programa que cubre a mayores indocumentados, permitiendo a Marรญa acceder a atenciรณn mรฉdica que le salvรณ la vida. Esta iniciativa se enmarca en un movimiento mรกs amplio en estados demรณcratas para proporcionar seguro a inmigrantes. Sin embargo, enfrenta crรญticas republicanas y desafรญos econรณmicos, dado el creciente costo del programa en Illinois.

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Kaiser Health News

Trump Wants Harris To Pay a Political Price for Generous Immigrant Health Policies

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kffhealthnews.org – Joanne Kenen – 2024-11-01 04:00:00

SUMMARY: Maria Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, has lived in Chicago for 30 years without insurance. At 87, she finally gained coverage through an Illinois program for older undocumented . Many states are expanding public insurance to unauthorized immigrants, especially for seniors, despite criticism from who argue it burdens American citizens. The expansions address access disparities highlighted by the pandemic. While programs in states like California and New York have made strides, enrollment pressures and costs pose challenges. For Sanchez, the new coverage has significantly improved her health and quality of .

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