\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 Come January, Republicans will control the House of Representatives, Senate, and White House, regaining full power for the first time since 2018. That will give them significant clout to dramatically change health policy. But slim margins in Congress will leave little room for dissent.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed not to touch Medicare, though there are Medicare-related issues \u2014 including drug price negotiations and physician pay \u2014 that will soon demand attention.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post.<\/p>\n \tAnna Edney \t\t\t \t\t\t \tRachel Roubein \t\t\t \t\t\t \tLauren Weber \t\t\t \t\t\t Among the takeaways from this week\u2019s episode:<\/p>\n Republicans will control the House and the Senate beginning next year, potentially offering Trump crucial votes in support of his nominees and agenda. However, the party will govern with only a narrow majority in both chambers, which could hamper its ability to make sweeping or controversial changes. Regardless, the GOP will steer legislative efforts, such as setting government spending levels and limits, and control committees that decide what to prioritize and oversee.<\/p>\n Trump this week named several people he intends to nominate to his Cabinet. Yet many of his picks lack relevant experience or have staked out controversial policy positions \u2014 or both \u2014 raising the question: Can they clear the Senate confirmation process? Trump has suggested using recess appointments to get around that, a method that would largely bypass the Senate and limit his Cabinet secretaries\u2019 authority.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, among the issues on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\u2019s health agenda are some that resonate with Democrats, such as cracking down on ultra-processed foods and food dyes. Notably, those sorts of initiatives \u2014 which could tighten rules for businesses, for instance \u2014 have not been part of the traditional conservative playbook.<\/p>\n And, looking ahead, there\u2019s a lot the Trump administration could do to further erode abortion rights, and the GOP is likely to see this as a moment for trying things.<\/p>\n Plus, for \u201cextra credit,\u201d the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:<\/p>\n Julie Rovner:<\/strong> KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cIn Vermont, Where Almost Everyone Has Insurance, Many Can\u2019t Find or Afford Care<\/a>,\u201d by Phil Galewitz.<\/p>\n Anna Edney:<\/strong> The Atlantic\u2019s \u201cThrow Out Your Black Plastic Spatula<\/a>,\u201d by Zo\u00eb Schlanger.<\/p>\n Rachel Roubein:<\/strong> Politico\u2019s \u201c\u2018Been a Long Time Since I Felt That Way\u2019: Sexually Transmitted Infection Numbers Provide New Hope<\/a>,\u201d by Alice Miranda Ollstein.<\/p>\n Lauren Weber:<\/strong> JAMA Network Open\u2019s \u201cMedical Board Discipline of Physicians for Spreading Medical Misinformation<\/a>,\u201d by Richard S. Saver.<\/p>\n Also mentioned in this week\u2019s podcast:<\/p>\n The Washington Post\u2019s \u201cRFK Jr. Faces Battles in Question To Change America\u2019s Food<\/a>,\u201d by Rachel Roubein, Lauren Weber, Michael Scherer, and David Ovalle.<\/p>\n CNN\u2019s \u201cLunchables Removed From National School Lunch Program<\/a>,\u201d by Madeline Holcombe.<\/p>\n Politico\u2019s \u201cAbortion Opponents Prepare To Undermine Just-Passed Ballot Measures<\/a>,\u201d by Alice Miranda Ollstein.<\/p>\n The Wall Street Journal\u2019s \u201cThe Sickest Patients Are Fleeing Private Medicare Plans \u2014 Costing Taxpayers Billions<\/a>,\u201d by Anna Wilde Mathews, Christopher Weaver, and Tom McGinty.<\/p>\n \tTaylor Cook \tLonnie Ro \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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\n\t\t\t\tRead Anna’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tRead Rachel’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\tThe Washington Post<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tRead Lauren’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\tCredits\t<\/h3>\n
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