The host
Julie Rovner KFF Well being Information @jrovner
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 e book “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
It is not stunning that the nursing residence business is submitting lawsuits to dam new Biden administration guidelines requiring minimal staffing at amenities that settle for federal {dollars}. What’s barely stunning is the pushback in opposition to the foundations from members of Congress. Lawmakers do not seem to have the votes to disapprove the rule, however they may be capable to power a ground vote, which could possibly be embarrassing for the administration.
In the meantime, Senate Democrats goal to power Republicans who proclaim assist for contraceptive entry to vote for a invoice guaranteeing it, which all however a handful have refused to do.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name.
Panelists
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
In suing to dam the Biden administration’s staffing guidelines, the nursing residence business is arguing that the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Companies lacks the authority to implement the necessities and that the foundations, if enforced, may power many amenities to downsize or shut.
Anthony Fauci, the retired director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses and the person who suggested each Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden on the covid-19 pandemic, testified this week earlier than the congressional committee charged with reviewing the federal government’s pandemic response. Fauci, the topic of many conspiracy theories, pushed again onerous, significantly on the cost that he lined up proof that the pandemic started as a result of harmful microbes escaped from a lab in China partly funded by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being.
A large inflatable intrauterine machine was positioned close to Union Station in Washington, D.C., marking what appeared to be “Contraceptive Week” on Capitol Hill. Republican senators blocked an effort by Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer to power a vote on consideration of laws to codify the federal proper to contraception. Instantly after, Schumer introduced a vote for subsequent week on codifying entry to in vitro fertilization providers.
Hospitals in London look like the most recent, high-profile cyberattack victims, elevating the query of whether or not it may be time for some form of worldwide cybercrime-fighting company. In america, well being programs and authorities officers are nonetheless within the very early levels of tackling the issue, and it isn’t clear whether or not Congress or the administration will take the lead.
An FDA advisory panel this week really helpful in opposition to the formal approval of MDMA, a psychedelic often known as ecstasy, to deal with post-traumatic stress dysfunction. Members of the panel stated there was not sufficient proof to advocate its use. However the dialogue did present extra steerage about what firms have to current by way of trials and proof to make their argument for approval extra possible.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews KFF Well being Information’ Bram Sable-Smith, who reported and wrote the most recent KFF Well being Information-NPR “Invoice of the Month” characteristic a couple of free cruise that turned out to be something however. When you’ve got an outrageous or baffling invoice you’d wish to ship us, you are able to do that right here.
Plus, for “additional credit score,” the panelists recommend well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume you need to learn, too:
Credit
Francis Ying Audio producer
Stephanie Stapleton Editor
This text was reprinted from khn.org, a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is without doubt one of the core working applications at KFF – the unbiased supply for well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism.
