Facing Recall, Newsom Draws Support From Health Care Allies
By Samantha Young
July 30, 2021
KFF Health News Original
California Gov. Gavin Newsom faces a recall election in September, fueled in part by anger over his pandemic policies. The health care industry has ponied up more than $4.8 million so far to defend the first-term Democrat.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Alabama’s IVF Ruling Still Making Waves
February 29, 2024
Podcast
Lawmakers in Congress and state legislatures are scrambling to react to the ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that frozen embryos created for in vitro fertilization are legally children. Abortion opponents are divided among themselves, with some supporting full “personhood” for fertilized eggs, while others support IVF as a moral way to have children. Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Riley Griffin of Bloomberg News, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University schools of nursing and public health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews University of Pittsburgh law professor Greer Donley, who explains how a 150-year-old anti-vice law that’s still on the books could be used to ban abortion nationwide. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too.
Republicans Nervous That Decade-Long ‘Repeal And Replace’ Push Will Come Back To Bite Them During Pandemic
June 23, 2020
Morning Briefing
The White House is expected to file legal briefs this week asking the Supreme Court to put an end to the Affordable Care Act. But some Republicans are now wondering if that’s the most political savvy move during a pandemic. Meanwhile, Democrats want to expand subsidies and Medicaid incentives. In other news, lawmakers push for more information on federal aid distribution.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The Policy, and Politics, of Medicare Advantage
March 23, 2023
Podcast
Medicare Advantage, the private plan alternative to traditional Medicare, is embroiled in a growing controversy over whether insurers are being overpaid and what it would mean to reduce those payments. Meanwhile, even as maternal mortality in the U.S. continues to rise, providers of care to pregnant women say they’re leaving states with abortion bans that prevent them from treating pregnancy complications. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KHN’s chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Health Care Gets Heated On Night 2 Of The Democratic Presidential Debate
By Shefali Luthra
June 27, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Though the candidates tended to agree on the end goal of universal coverage, differences emerged over how to get there.
Analysis: The Trump Health Care Policies That Deserve to Stick Around
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
March 16, 2021
KFF Health News Original
President Joe Biden may want to continue the previous administration’s efforts to lower drug prices and make medical costs transparent.
Americans Overwhelmingly Want Federal Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
By Jordan Rau
April 24, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Three-quarters of people urge action to keep patients from facing high medical costs when their insurance doesn’t cover the care, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll.
Direct And Unfiltered: John Dingell’s Popular Health Care Tweets
February 8, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Although his posts dealt with a wide variety of issues, Dingell’s longtime devotion to improving health care was a frequent topic.
A Big Hearing For ‘Medicare-For-All’ — In A Small Room
By Julie Rovner
April 30, 2019
KFF Health News Original
In an unusual move, the House Rules Committee, instead of one of the panels that typically oversee health policy, held the first House hearing in a decade about converting the U.S. to a government-financed health care system.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ The GOP’s Health Reform Whiplash
April 4, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the latest “will they or won’t they?” when it comes to Republicans and comprehensive health reform. Also, a wrap-up of the latest abortion fights in the states and on Capitol Hill. And, another court setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Paula Andalo about the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.
If Trump Wins, Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting for That ACA Replacement Plan
By Julie Rovner
October 27, 2020
KFF Health News Original
The administration seeks to have the Supreme Court overturn the federal health law but has not explained how it would ensure Americans’ health care coverage.
Advocates View Health Care as Key to Driving LGBTQ Rights Conversation
By Aneri Pattani
January 20, 2021
KFF Health News Original
A state ban preventing local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances expired Dec. 1, opening the door for a new wave of local nondiscrimination laws.
Trump Administration And Democrats Return Health Law To Political Center Stage
By Julie Rovner
March 26, 2019
KFF Health News Original
The Justice Department asks a federal appeals court to strike down the Affordable Care Act, then, hours later, House Democrats unveil proposals to bolster the law.
The Election’s Impact On Health Care: Some Bellwether Races To Watch
By Julie Rovner
November 2, 2018
KFF Health News Original
A number of health issues — from preexisting conditions to Medicaid expansion to changes to Medicare — could be at stake when voters head to the polls Tuesday.
Democrats Fight Back Against Lawsuit Threatening Health Law
By Julie Rovner
January 4, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Among the first things Democrats did after officially taking control of the House was to express support for efforts to appeal a Texas district court decision declaring the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: The Affordable Care Act Turns 10
March 19, 2020
KFF Health News Original
Next week is the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Millions of Americans have benefited from the law, yet its future is in the hands of both the Supreme Court and voters in November. For this special episode of “What the Health?” host Julie Rovner interviews Kathleen Sebelius, who was Obama’s secretary of Health and Human Services when the law was passed. Then Rovner, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News discuss its history, impact and prospects for the future.
Cory Gardner’s Bill Has as Much to Do With Politics as Preexisting Conditions
By Julie Appleby
September 18, 2020
KFF Health News Original
The legislation falls short of the big challenge.
Former Chairman Of Powerful Energy And Commerce Committee Rep. Walden Won’t Seek Re-Election
October 29, 2019
Morning Briefing
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) played a key role in the Republicans’ efforts to repeal and replace the health law when they had control of the House.
Utah’s Novel Plan For Medicaid Expansion Opens Door To Spending Caps Sought By GOP
By Phil Galewitz
February 14, 2019
KFF Health News Original
Utah’s proposal to limit federal and state funding on Medicaid is a radical change. Anti-poverty advocates are concerned that caps could limit how many people are enrolled and restrict services. They also worry other states would adopt a similar plan.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Congress Is Out. The Presidential Campaign Is In.
August 3, 2023
Podcast
Congress is in recess until after Labor Day, and lawmakers won’t have much time when they return to get the government funded before the next fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Republican campaign for president has begun in earnest, and while repealing the Affordable Care Act is no longer the top promise, some candidates have lively ideas about what to do with federal health programs. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Phil Galewitz, who reported the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month,” about how a bill that should never have been sent created headaches for one patient.