\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 The shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of New York City prompted a surprising wave of sympathy for the perpetrator, rather than the victim, from Americans who say they have been wronged by their health insurers. It remains to be seen whether backlash from the killing will result in a more serious conversation about what ails the health care system.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in some of his first extended interviews since the election, President-elect Donald Trump continued to be noncommittal about his plans for health care in general and the Affordable Care Act in particular.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.<\/p>\n \tRachel Cohrs Zhang \t\t\t \t\t\t \tAlice Miranda Ollstein \t\t\t \t\t\t \tSandhya Raman \t\t\t \t\t\t Among the takeaways from this week\u2019s episode:<\/p>\n The killing of UnitedHealthcare\u2019s chief executive has amplified simmering anger and distrust over the nation\u2019s health care system. Many people are upset about the cost of care, limitations of coverage, gaps in access \u2014 and much more. While Democratic policymakers have pushed in recent years to insure as many Americans as possible, insurance coverage is only part of the equation in resolving the system\u2019s ills.<\/p>\n There\u2019s not much time left for this Congress. Still on the agenda is passing funding for some health priorities. Extending telehealth access, for instance, is a small but key issue for which lawmakers will need to find money to offset the cost of an expensive program. And cultural issues continue to play a role, with the House passing a defense spending package this week that would cut coverage for gender-affirming care for minor dependents of those in the armed forces.<\/p>\n And Trump\u2019s recent interviews with NBC News\u2019 \u201cMeet the Press\u201d and Time magazine offered little clarity on his health care plans. He referred to making changes to the ACA and not making changes to abortion pill availability \u2014 but it is clear that such issues are not among his top concerns and that policies will depend largely on the personnel within the health agencies.<\/p>\n Also this week, Rovner interviews Francis Collins, who was the director of the National Institutes of Health and a science adviser to President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n\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\u2019s \u201cMedicare Spending was 27% More for People Who Disenrolled From Medicare Advantage Than for Similar People in Traditional Medicare<\/a>,\u201d by Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Alex Cottrill, Nolan Sroczynski, and Tricia Neuman.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alice Miranda Ollstein:<\/strong> CNN\u2019s \u201cMost Women in the US Aren\u2019t Accessing Family Planning Services, Even as Abortion Restrictions Grow<\/a>,\u201d by Deidre McPhillips.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sandhya Raman:<\/strong> Stat\u2019s \u201cSpending Less, Living Longer: What the U.S. Can Learn From Portugal\u2019s Innovative Health System<\/a>,\u201d by Usha Lee McFarling.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rachel Cohrs Zhang:<\/strong> ProPublica\u2019s \u201c\u2018Eat What You Kill<\/a>,\u2019\u201d by J. David McSwane.<\/p>\n Also mentioned in this week\u2019s podcast:<\/p>\n NBC News\u2019 \u201cRead the Full Transcript: President-Elect Donald Trump Interviewed by \u2018Meet the Press\u2019 Moderator Kristen Welker<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Time magazine\u2019s \u201cDonald Trump: 2024 TIME Person of the Year<\/a>,\u201d by Eric Cortellessa.<\/p>\n Politico\u2019s \u201cHow Trump\u2019s Transition Could End Up Hamstringing His Agenda<\/a>,\u201d by Alice Miranda Ollstein.<\/p>\n KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cFederal Judge Halts Dreamers\u2019 Brand-New Access to ACA Enrollment in 19 States<\/a>,\u201d by Julie Appleby.<\/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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