\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 conventions are over, and the general-election campaign is officially on. While reproductive health is sure to play a key role in the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, it\u2019s less clear what role other health issues will play.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Medicare recently announced negotiated prices of the first 10 drugs selected under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The announcement is boosting attention to what was already a major pocketbook issue for both Republicans and Democrats.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Johns Hopkins University\u2019s schools of nursing and public health, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico.<\/p>\n \tJoanne Kenen \t\t\t \t\t\t \tShefali Luthra \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 The Democratic National Convention highlighted reproductive rights issues as never before, with a parade of public officials and private citizens recounting some of their most personal, painful memories of needing abortion care. But abortion rights activists remain concerned that Harris has not promised to push beyond codifying the rights established under Roe v. Wade<\/em>, which they believe allows too many barriers to care.<\/p>\n As reproductive rights have taken center stage in her campaign, Harris has been less forthcoming about her other health policy plans so far. In her career, she has embraced fights against anticompetitive behavior by insurers and hospitals and in drug pricing.<\/p>\n Would former President Donald Trump make Robert Kennedy Jr. his next health secretary? Even many Republicans would consider his elevation a bridge too far. Polls show Trump stands to gain from Kennedy\u2019s departure from the presidential race, but likely only slightly more than Harris.<\/p>\n In other national health news, abortion access will be on the ballot this fall in Arizona and Montana, and the federal government recently announced the first drug prices secured under Medicare\u2019s new drug-negotiation program.<\/p>\n Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News\u2019 Tony Leys, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-NPR \u201cBill of the Month<\/a>\u201d installment about a woman who fought back after being charged for two surgeries despite undergoing only one. Do you have a confusing or outrageous medical bill you want to share? 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> The New York Times\u2019 \u201cHot Summer Threatens Efficacy of Mail-Order Medications<\/a>,\u201d by Emily Baumgaertner.<\/p>\n Joanne Kenen:<\/strong> The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel\u2019s \u201cWho Is Gus Walz and What Is a Non-Verbal Learning Disorder?<\/a>\u201d by Natalie Eilbert.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alice Miranda Ollstein:<\/strong> The Wall Street Journal\u2019s \u201cThe Fight Against DEI Programs Shifts to Medical Care<\/a>,\u201d by Theo Francis and Melanie Evans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Shefali Luthra:<\/strong> The Washington Post\u2019s \u201cWeight-Loss Drugs Are a Hot Commodity. But Not in Low-Income Neighborhoods<\/a>,\u201d by Ariana Eunjung Cha.\u00a0<\/p>\n \tFrancis Ying \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
\n\t\t\t\t@jrovner\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tRead Julie’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\tPanelists\t<\/h3>\n
\n\tJohns Hopkins University and Politico<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t@JoanneKenen\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tRead Joanne’s articles.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\tThe 19th<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t@shefalil\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tRead Shefali’s stories.\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\tPolitico<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t@AliceOllstein\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tRead Alice’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