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The year-end authorities spending invoice contains many modifications to federal well being packages, together with modifications to Medicare funds and a few construction for states to begin disenrolling folks whose eligibility has been dropped from Medicaid. maintained in the course of the pandemic.
Individually, the Biden administration took a number of steps to broaden the supply of the abortion tablet, which together with one other treatment can terminate a being pregnant inside 10 weeks of gestation. Anti-abortion forces have launched their very own marketing campaign to restrict the attain of the abortion tablet.
This week’s panelists are KHN’s Julie Rovner, Stat’s Rachel Cohrs, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being and Coverage, and The Washington Put up’s Rachel Roubein.
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- Congress ended the yr by approving a virtually $1.7 trillion authorities spending package deal. The laws included minor-than-scheduled cuts in Medicare funds for docs, expanded telehealth flexibilities and funding will increase for packages just like the Indian Well being Service and the 988 federal psychological well being hotline.
- However lawmakers put aside many priorities, comparable to more cash in response to the Covid-19 emergency, and included a change in Medicaid eligibility that would lead to hundreds of thousands of People shedding their medical health insurance.
- The Biden administration took maybe its greatest stance on abortion rights for the reason that Supreme Courtroom struck down Roe vs. Wade final yr, when the FDA introduced that retail pharmacies will have the ability to dispense abortion tablets for the primary time, and the Division of Justice confirmed that it’s authorized to ship the tablets by means of the US Postal Service.
- A brand new congressional report on Aduhelm, the controversial Alzheimer’s drug, reveals that its maker, Biogen, knew the impression its worth may have on the Medicare program, and priced it excessive anyway. The report additionally raises large questions concerning the FDA’s determination making in approving the drug and what some officers had been keen to do to make it occur.
- And in worth transparency information, insurers at the moment are required to offer sufferers with price estimating instruments designed to make greater than 500 non-emergency providers “reasonably priced.” Nevertheless it’s not clear whether or not insurance coverage firms are ready to assist customers entry and use that info.
Additionally this week, Rovner interviews Mark Kreidler, who wrote the newest NPR-KHN article, “Invoice of the Month,” about two sufferers with the identical identify and one unsuitable invoice. You probably have an outrageous or exorbitant medical invoice that you just wish to share with us, you are able to do so right here.
Plus, for additional credit score, the panelists advocate their favourite well being coverage tales of the week that they assume it is best to learn too:
Julia Rovner: “The FDA Now Says It Clearly: Morning After Capsules Are Not Abortion Capsules” from the New York Occasions, by Pam Belluck
Joanna from: “Racist Docs and Organ Thieves: Why So Many Black Individuals Mistrust the Well being Care System” from Politico Journal, by Joanne Kenen and Elaine Batchlor
Rachel Cohr: The New York Occasions’ “’Main Trustee, Please Prioritize’: How NYU’s ER Favors the Wealthy”, by Sarah Kliff and Jessica Silver-Greenberg
Rachel Roubien: “A whole bunch of hospitals are suing sufferers or threatening their credit score” from KHN, finds KHN analysis. Yours? by Noam N. Levey
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
“Stat’s ‘Stuffed with Wrongdoes’: Congressional investigation reveals FDA approval of Aduhelm marred by secretive discussions, protocol violations,” by Rachel Cohrs
KHN “Need a trace about healthcare prices up entrance? New instruments, strive it out”, by Julie Appleby
Stat’s “Congress Reaches Essential Well being Coverage Settlement on Medicare, Medicaid and Pandemic Preparedness”, by Rachel Cohrs and Sarah Owermohle
“Half of ambulance journeys result in shock medical payments” from USA Right this moment. What’s being accomplished to guard folks?” by Ken Alltucker
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