\tEmmarie Huetteman
\n\tKFF Health News<\/p>\n
\t\t\tEmmarie Huetteman,\u00a0senior editor, oversees a team of Washington reporters, as well as \u201cBill of the Month\u201d\u00a0and KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cWhat the Health?\u201d She previously spent more than a decade reporting on the federal government, most recently covering surprise medical bills, drug pricing reform, and other health policy debates in Washington and on the campaign trail.\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n
The secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., contradicted his agency\u2019s researchers this week with unsubstantiated or outright false claims about autism spectrum disorder and those with the condition. His public remarks were not the only recent example of Kennedy speaking against his employees; during an introductory appearance at the FDA, Kennedy said the staff \u2014 reeling from the layoffs of 3,500 colleagues \u2014 had become beholden to the industries they regulate.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at lowering drug prices as his administration signaled that tariffs on pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients could be on deck. And new data shows that the number of abortions performed nationwide increased slightly last year, as travel and telehealth prescribing maintained access for some patients in states with abortion bans.<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s panelists are Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Shefali Luthra of The 19th.<\/p>\n
\tAnna Edney
\n\tBloomberg News<\/p>\n
\t\t\t \t\t\t \t\t\t \tJessie Hellmann \t\t\t \t\t\t \t\t\t \tShefali Luthra \t\t\t \t\t\t Among the takeaways from this week\u2019s episode:<\/p>\n Kennedy\u2019s claim that genetics do not play a role in the development of autism contradicts decades of scientific inquiry into the disorder \u2014 including the work of his agency\u2019s own researchers, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who say there is indeed a genetic component to autism. Further, his striking remarks about the severe limitations of those with the disorder do not reflect reality for the many people living with autism.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s executive order to lower drug prices calls for changes to the Medicare drug negotiation program that could instead increase costs for the federal government. It also calls for the FDA to make it easier for states to import drugs from other countries, including Canada \u2014 but, among other things, the introduction of tariffs on drugs and drug ingredients could negate other efforts to lower prices.<\/p>\n And the picture of federal health cuts is still coming into focus, as people throughout the health care system grapple with the effects of slashing government efforts to do things like help Americans afford utility bills, monitor the spread of hepatitis, and much \u2014 much \u2014 more.<\/p>\n Also this week, Julie Rovner of KFF Health News interviews Krista Harrison and Robbie Zimbroff, health policy researchers at the University of California-San Francisco. They share some background on a case before the Supreme Court next week, Kennedy v. Braidwood Management<\/em>, which challenges the ability of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to make expert recommendations for American health.<\/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 Emmarie Huetteman:<\/strong> KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cStates Push Medicaid Work Rules, but Few Programs Help Enrollees Find Jobs<\/a>,\u201d by Sam Whitehead, Phil Galewitz, and Katheryn Houghton.<\/p>\n Anna Edney:<\/strong> ProPublica\u2019s \u201cUnsanitary Practices Persist at Baby Formula Factory Whose Shutdown Led to Mass Shortages, Workers Say<\/a>,\u201d by Heather Vogell.<\/p>\n Jessie Hellmann:<\/strong> The Hill\u2019s \u201cMilitary\u2019s Use of Toxic \u2018Forever Chemicals\u2019 Leaves Lasting Scars<\/a>,\u201d by Sharon Udasin and Rachel Frazin.<\/p>\n Shefali Luthra:<\/strong> The 19th\u2019s \u201cTrump\u2019s Push for \u2018Beautiful Clean Coal\u2019 Could Lead to More Premature Births<\/a>,\u201d by Jessica Kutz.<\/p>\n Also mentioned in this week\u2019s podcast:<\/p>\n KFF Health News\u2019 \u201cTrump HHS Eliminates Office That Sets Poverty Levels Tied to Benefits for at Least 80 Million People<\/a>,\u201d by Arthur Allen.<\/p>\n Wired\u2019s \u201cHHS Systems Are in Danger of Collapsing, Workers Say<\/a>,\u201d by David Gilbert.<\/p>\n Wired\u2019s \u201cElon Musk\u2019s DOGE Is Getting Audited<\/a>,\u201d by Leah Feiger and Tim Marchman.<\/p>\n \tFrancis Ying \tStephanie Stapleton 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
\n\t\t\t\t@annaedney\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t@annaedney.bsky.social\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tRead Anna’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\tCQ Roll Call<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t@jessiehellmann\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t@jessiehellmann.bsky.social\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tRead Jessie’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\tThe 19th<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t@shefali.bsky.social\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tRead Shefali’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\tCredits\t<\/h3>\n
\n\tAudio producer<\/p>\n
\n\tEditor <\/p>\nUSE OUR CONTENT<\/h3>\n