House Republicans have recently approved legislation that would result in significant cuts to federal health programs over the next decade, mainly targeting the Medicaid program for individuals with low incomes or disabilities. However, the bill still faces opposition, with at least one Republican senator speaking out against the proposed Medicaid cuts.
In other news, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his first appearance before Congress since assuming office. During heated exchanges with lawmakers, Kennedy denied cutting programs despite evidence suggesting otherwise. At one point, he even stated that Americans should not seek medical advice from him.
This week’s panelists, including Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Julie Appleby of KFF Health News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, discussed the implications of the GOP budget legislation and Kennedy’s testimony.
The House GOP’s proposed legislation aims to reduce federal spending while funding President Donald Trump’s priorities, such as tax cuts and border security. The bill includes provisions that would make it more challenging for individuals to enroll and maintain coverage under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. For instance, there would be a requirement for nondisabled adults to work, volunteer, or study a certain number of hours per month to qualify for coverage, which critics argue could lead to coverage losses due to administrative burdens.
Additionally, the bill does not extend the enhanced tax credits introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to help individuals afford ACA marketplace coverage. As a result, premiums are expected to rise, potentially causing many people to forgo renewing their coverage.
Kennedy faced tough questioning from Democrats in Congress on various issues, including vaccines, agency firings, and the use of appropriated funds. The panelists also recommended several health policy stories for further reading, covering topics like blood-testing startups, Medicaid work requirements, weather service cuts, and food safety concerns.
The podcast also credited Francis Ying as the audio producer and Emmarie Huetteman as the editor. Listeners were encouraged to subscribe to KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” podcast on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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