U.S. Congress Archives - Page 9 of 51

Congress Punts to a Looming Lame-Duck Session

Episode 365

Sept. 26, 2024

Congress left Washington for the campaign trail this week, but not before approving a spending bill that expires shortly before Christmas. Lawmakers will be busy after the election working on not just the legislation needed to keep the government running, but also several health programs set to expire. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to downplay abortion as Democrats press it as a campaign issue. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico join �Թϲ�� chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

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In Montana Senate Race, Democrat Jon Tester Misleads on Republican Tim Sheehy’s Abortion Stance

Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy has said he supports letting states decide the abortion parameters within their borders and supports including exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the pregnant woman in legislation to restrict abortion.

By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact

Sept. 26, 2024

What the Health? From �Թϲ��

American Health Under Trump — Past, Present, and Future

Episode 364

Sept. 19, 2024

Dreaming of a Trump victory, Republicans have a wish list of health policy changes — including loosening Affordable Care Act regulations to make cheaper coverage available and ending Medicare drug price negotiations. Meanwhile, after a publicly reported death stemming from a state abortion ban, Vice President Kamala Harris is emphasizing the consequences of Trump’s work to overturn Roe v. Wade. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Joanne Kenen of Politico and Johns Hopkins University join �Թϲ�� senior editor Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more.

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A roll of one hundred dollar bills sits among a row of prescription medication bottles.

California May Regulate and Restrict Pharmaceutical Brokers

California lawmakers are moving to rein in the pharmaceutical middlemen they say drive up costs and limit consumers’ choices. The bill sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom would require pharmacy benefit managers to be licensed in California and would ban some business practices. Newsom vetoed a previous effort three years ago.

By Don Thompson

Sept. 18, 2024

What the Health? From �Թϲ��

Trump-Harris Debate Showcases Health Policy Differences

Episode 363

Sept. 12, 2024

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Health Brief

Forget Repeal and Replace. The Next Big ACA Fight Will Be Over Subsidies.

By Julie Appleby

Sept. 12, 2024

The back of a row of apartments where some of the windows are boarded up. A sidewalk runs parallel to the building.

Systemic Sickness

A Teen’s Murder, Mold in the Walls: Unfulfilled Promises Haunt Public Housing

For years, federal lawmakers have failed to deliver the money needed to fix derelict public housing, leaving tenants — mostly people of color and families with low incomes — living with mold and gun violence that has had lasting health consequences.

By Fred Clasen-Kelly and Renuka Rayasam

Aug. 22, 2024

What the Health? From �Թϲ��

The Walz Record

Episode 359

Aug. 8, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris this week officially became the Democratic nominee for president and named Minnesota governor and former U.S. congressman Tim Walz as her running mate. Meanwhile, a new study finds the number of abortions taking place since the overturn of “Roe v. Wade” continued to rise into early this year, despite the imposition of abortion bans around the country. Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join �Թϲ�� chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

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A photo of Senator Ron Wyden speaking inside a Senate committee room.

Oregon Senator Proposes Criminal Charges and Fines for Rogue Obamacare Agents

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden introduced legislation intended to curb a growing problem in which consumers, without their consent, are enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans or their coverage is switched.

By Julie Appleby

July 24, 2024

The Nation’s 911 System Is on the Brink of Its Own Emergency

911 outages have hit at least eight states this year. They’re emblematic of problems plaguing emergency response communications due in part to wide disparities in capabilities and funding.

By Stephanie Armour

July 17, 2024

A photo of a man standing outside California's capitol.

Spotlight

California Health Care Pioneer Goes National, Girds for Partisan Skirmishes

Anthony Wright, a champion for Californians’ health care rights, will take the helm of Families USA in Washington, D.C., where he plans to campaign for more affordable and accessible care nationally. He leaves Health Access California, where he helped outlaw surprise medical billing, require companies to report drug price increases, and cap hospital bills for uninsured patients.

By Samantha Young

July 15, 2024

What the Health? From �Թϲ��

GOP Platform Muddies Abortion Waters

Episode 355

July 11, 2024

As Donald Trump prepares to be formally nominated as the GOP’s candidate for president next week, the platform he will run on is taking shape. And in line with Trump’s approach, it aims to simultaneously satisfy hard-core abortion opponents and reassure more moderate swing voters. Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission takes on pharmacy benefits management firms. Shefali Luthra of The 19th News, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join �Թϲ��’ chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Jennifer Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council, about the Biden administration’s policies to ensure access to reproductive health care.

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What the Health? From �Թϲ��

Nursing Home Staffing Rules Prompt Pushback

Episode 350

June 6, 2024

The nursing home industry — as well as a healthy number of Congress members — are all pushing back on the Biden administration’s new rules on nursing home staffing. Industry officials say that there are not enough workers to meet the requirements and that the costs would be prohibitive. Meanwhile, Democrats on Capitol Hill are trying to force Republicans to explain their exact positions on assuring access to contraceptives and in vitro fertilization. Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join �Թϲ��’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews �Թϲ��’ Bram Sable-Smith, who reported and wrote the latest �Թϲ��-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a free cruise that turned out to be anything but.

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Signage outside the Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, DC.

Health Worker for a Nonprofit? The New Ban on Noncompete Contracts May Not Help You

Provider groups are disappointed that the Federal Trade Commission’s new rule may not protect those who work for nonprofit hospitals and health care facilities, which employ the largest number of medical professionals.

By Harris Meyer

June 5, 2024

A still from a video showing Anthony Fauci sitting at a table before a House of Representatives committee.

COVID-19

Watch: Anthony Fauci Defends Feds’ Covid Response, Calling Lawmakers’ Accusations ‘Preposterous’

At a June 3 congressional hearing that underscored the nation's deep political divide over the coronavirus pandemic response, the longtime National Institutes of Health official addressed the agency’s controversies head-on.

By Hannah Norman

June 4, 2024

A photo of Anthony Fauci walking inside the U.S. Capitol.

COVID-19

After Grilling an NIH Scientist Over Covid Emails, Congress Turns to Anthony Fauci

In a trove of emails brought to light through a congressional probe, a former close adviser to longtime National Institutes of Health official Anthony Fauci spoke of hiding messages from public disclosure.

By David Hilzenrath

May 31, 2024

Health Brief

Wyden Demands Penalties for Obamacare Enrollment Fraud

By Julie Rovner

May 30, 2024

An aerial photo shows the entrance and front parking lot of a hospital.

An Obscure Drug Discount Program Stifles Use of Federal Lifeline by Rural Hospitals

A disconnect between two federal programs meant to help keep hospitals afloat discourages struggling rural facilities from accepting the aid.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

May 30, 2024

A man wearing a blue suit and blue tie speaks while seated at a table during a hearing in Washington, D.C.

Exclusive: Senator Urges Biden Administration To Thwart Fraudulent Obamacare Enrollments

With tens of thousands of Americans already affected by enrollment scams that leave some without doctors or treatments, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden wants increased enforcement against rogue agents or other perpetrators and legislation to allow for criminal penalties.

By Julie Appleby

May 21, 2024

What the Health? From �Թϲ��

Bird Flu Lands as the Next Public Health Challenge

Episode 347

May 16, 2024

Public health authorities are closely watching an unusual strain of bird flu that has infected dairy cows in nine states and at least one dairy worker. Meanwhile, another major health system suffered a cyberattack, and Congress is moving to extend the availability of telehealth services. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat join �Թϲ��’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Atul Grover of the Association of American Medical Colleges about its recent analysis showing that graduating medical students are avoiding training in states with abortion bans and major restrictions.

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