The recent passing of a controversial budget bill in the House has sparked debate and concern over its potential impact on Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the food stamp program. The bill, which includes tax cuts for the wealthy, has faced criticism for its potential to disproportionately affect low-income individuals. With a narrow margin of victory in the House, the bill’s fate now hangs in the balance as it moves to the Senate.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a report from his commission on “Making America Healthy Again,” highlighting various threats to public health. However, the report notably omitted any mention of threats posed by tobacco, gun violence, or lack of health insurance.
The latest episode of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?” features a panel discussion with experts Julie Rovner, Anna Edney, Sarah Karlin-Smith, and Alice Miranda Ollstein. The panelists delve into the implications of the budget bill, including its potential impact on Medicaid, work requirements, and abortion provisions.
One key aspect of the bill is the inclusion of work requirements for Medicaid recipients, which could lead to millions losing their coverage over the next decade. The bill also seeks to restrict abortion access in ACA marketplace plans and block funding for Planned Parenthood in Medicaid.
In other news, FDA leaders have released recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, prioritizing older adults and high-risk individuals. Questions remain about the legality and ethical implications of these recommendations, as well as the potential impact on vaccine manufacturers.
Additionally, a report on chronic disease starting in childhood has been released by HHS, drawing attention to the absence of discussion on gun violence, tobacco use, lack of health insurance, and socioeconomic factors affecting access to healthy food.
The podcast also features an interview with abortion historian Mary Ziegler on the “personhood” movement and its legal implications for fetuses and embryos.
For further reading, the panelists recommend articles on various health policy issues, including federal worker mental health, CDC communication cuts, OTC drug risks, and the benefits of remote work.
Listeners can access the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or other podcast platforms. KFF Health News is a national newsroom dedicated to producing in-depth journalism on health issues and is a core program of KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
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