\tJulie Rovner
\n\tKFF Health News<\/p>\n
\t\t\t \t\t\t \t\t\tJulie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News\u2019 weekly health policy news podcast, \u201cWhat the Health?\u201d A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book \u201cHealth Care Politics and Policy A to Z,\u201d now in its third edition.\t\t<\/p>\n Health care might not have been the biggest issue in the campaign, but the return of Donald Trump to the presidency is likely to have a seismic impact on health policy over the next four years.\u00a0<\/p>\n Changes to the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and the nation\u2019s public health infrastructure are likely on the agenda. But how far Trump goes will depend largely on who staffs key health policy roles and on whether Democrats take a majority in the U.S. House, where several races remain uncalled.\u00a0<\/p>\n This week\u2019s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.<\/p>\n \tRachel Cohrs Zhang \t\t\t \t\t\t \tAlice Miranda Ollstein \t\t\t \t\t\t Among the takeaways from this week\u2019s episode:<\/p>\n As of Friday morning, it remained unclear which party will control the House next year. A Democratic-controlled House would offer a check against Republican policy changes and some control of key government oversight committees. A Republican House would give the party full control of Congress and the presidency. Either way, the party in control will have a slim majority.<\/p>\n Majorities of voters in eight states voted to protect abortion rights \u2014 though the ballot measures passed in only seven states. (More than half of voters in Florida voted for the abortion rights measure, but the state requires at least 60% support for ballot measures to pass.)<\/p>\n Robert F. Kennedy Jr. \u2014 now a key voice in the Trump transition team \u2014 is telegraphing big plans for health policy. Who ends up in Trump\u2019s Cabinet will make a difference, as the president-elect is seemingly outsourcing much of his health policy planning in favor of focusing on issues such as the economy, immigration, and trade.<\/p>\n And conservative appointees throughout the judicial system are likely to remain friendly to Trump administration causes, which could open the door to more challenges to federal policies. Several important legal challenges are already winding through the courts.<\/p>\n Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News\u2019 Jackie Forti\u00e9r, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-Washington Post \u201cBill of the Month\u201d feature, about a 2-year old who had an expensive run-in with a rattlesnake. Do you have a medical bill that is exorbitant, baffling, infuriating, or all of the above? Tell us about it<\/a>!<\/p>\n Plus, for \u201cextra credit,\u201d the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:\u00a0<\/p>\n Julie Rovner:<\/strong> KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cDentists Are Pulling \u2018Healthy\u2019 and Treatable Teeth to Profit From Implants, Experts Warn<\/a>,\u201d by Brett Kelman and Anna Werner of CBS News.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alice Miranda Ollstein:<\/strong> Politico\u2019s \u201cThe Election\u2019s Stakes for Global Health<\/a>,\u201d by Carmen Paun.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rachel Cohrs Zhang:<\/strong> KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cAs Nuns Disappear, Many Catholic Hospitals Look More Like Megacorporations<\/a>,\u201d by Samantha Liss.\u00a0<\/p>\n Also mentioned in this week\u2019s podcast:<\/p>\n The New York Times\u2019 \u201cR.F.K. Jr. Lays Out Possible Public Health Changes Under Trump<\/a>,\u201d by Remy Tumin.<\/p>\n KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cToddler\u2019s Backyard Snakebite Bills Totaled More Than a Quarter Million Dollars<\/a>,\u201d by Jackie Forti\u00e9r.<\/p>\n \tZach Dyer \tEmmarie Huetteman To hear all our podcasts,\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n And subscribe to KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cWhat the Health?\u201d on\u00a0Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0Pocket Casts<\/a>, or wherever you listen to podcasts.<\/em><\/p>\n KFF Health News<\/a> is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF\u2014an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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