The Host
Julie Rovner
KFF Well being Information
Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Well being Information’ weekly well being coverage information podcast, “What the Well being?” A famous knowledgeable on well being coverage points, Julie is the creator of the critically praised reference ebook “Well being Care Politics and Coverage A to Z,” now in its third version.
In a extremely uncommon White Home information convention this week, President Donald Trump — with out proof — boldly blamed the painkiller Tylenol and a string of childhood vaccines for inflicting a current rise in autism. That got here simply days after the newly reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, now populated with vaccine skeptics and opponents, voted to vary long-standing suggestions.
Podcast host Julie Rovner interviews Demetre Daskalakis, who till final month was the pinnacle of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s Nationwide Heart for Immunization and Respiratory Ailments, in regards to the response to those unprecedented actions.
In the meantime, as the federal government approaches a possible shutdown, with Congress at a standoff over funding for the brand new fiscal yr that begins Oct. 1, the Trump administration is ordering federal companies to not simply furlough employees however to fireplace them if their jobs don’t align with the president’s priorities.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Well being Information, Anna Edney of Bloomberg Information, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Name.
Panelists
Anna Edney
Bloomberg Information
Sandhya Raman
CQ Roll Name
Among the many takeaways from this week’s episode:
- The federal Workplace of Administration and Price range on Wednesday night time despatched a memo to authorities companies asking for contingency plans within the occasion of a authorities shutdown beginning Oct. 1. Such a memo isn’t uncommon in relation to pre-shutdown planning. This time round, it took an unprecedented flip in informing company personnel that they need to put together for mass firings of staff whose applications lack various funding sources or who’re engaged on a program whose mission doesn’t instantly align with Trump’s priorities. Although federal RIFs, or reductions in power, and authorities shutdowns have every occurred earlier than, the mixed RIF/shutdown menace is a primary.
- It appears we’re headed for a shutdown. Earlier than adjourning till after the fiscal yr ends Sept. 30, the Home authorized a stopgap funding measure. However, as a result of Home members don’t plan to return to Washington till Oct. 6, that leaves the Senate in a jam. If senators change something within the invoice, it could require one other Home vote, which, due to the Home schedule, may not occur earlier than the month ends.
- There’s additionally interparty strife. Republicans say they need a clear invoice to supply short-term funding, whereas Democrats produce other concepts. Their prevailing perspective is that they went together with this method in March and obtained burned. This week, Trump additionally canceled a gathering with Democratic leaders. The underside line is that each side are jockeying for a place that may permit them to solid shutdown blame throughout the aisle. Some name it a recreation of three-dimensional chess, whereas others name it a recreation of hen. Both manner, there might be penalties.
- Confusion and chaos have emerged as buzzwords to explain two current occasions: final week’s assembly of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and this week’s White Home press convention about autism. Each had been marked by combined messages. On the White Home occasion, for example, Trump warned pregnant ladies to not take Tylenol. However the FDA data that shortly adopted downplayed the Tylenol danger.
- The Trump administration’s new $100,000 charge for H-1B visas may have an effect on well being care. Such visas are sometimes utilized by graduating medical college students and different well being professionals who come to the U.S. for coaching, then keep to apply. That $100,000 charge is steep and generated an virtually speedy backlash from hospitals and well being techniques, particularly these in rural areas — a response that caught administration officers off guard. Administration officers have urged that well being professionals would qualify for an exemption from this charge. What just isn’t but clear is what hoops the sponsoring hospitals must soar by way of to qualify for it.
- Trump has given 17 drug corporations a Sept. 29 deadline by which they must decide to adopting his “most favored nation” pricing coverage. It’s supposed to extend the associated fee drugmakers cost in different international locations whereas decreasing costs within the U.S. Talks between the administration and the drugmakers are ongoing. Up to now, indications are that Trump would possibly find yourself with half a loaf. Some massive drugmakers have introduced they may increase the costs of particular drugs in different international locations however haven’t agreed to cut back costs within the U.S.
Plus, for “further credit score,” the panelists counsel well being coverage tales they learn this week that they assume you must learn, too:
Julie Rovner: NBC Information’ “RFK Jr. Has the Federal Vaccine Court docket in His Sights. Attacking It Might Threaten Vaccine Manufacturing within the U.S.,” by Liz Szabo.
Anna Edney: The Washington Put up’s “Do State Abortion Legal guidelines Have an effect on Ladies’s Recruiting? That’s As much as Athletes,” by Kevin B. Blackistone.
Sandhya Raman: ProPublica’s “Psychiatric Hospitals Flip Away Sufferers Who Want Pressing Care. The Services Face Few Penalties,” by Eli Cahan.
Additionally talked about on this week’s podcast:
Credit
Francis Ying
Audio producer
Stephanie Stapleton
Editor
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