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POLITICO's Pulse Check

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POLITICO Pulse Check delivers the latest news in health care with sharp policy analysis and a dose of real-world perspective. Hear what stories POLITICO's deep bench of Health Care policy reporters are watching and their analysis of the critical issues facing regulators, legislators, and practitioners.

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POLITICO

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POLITICO Pulse Check delivers the latest news in health care with sharp policy analysis and a dose of real-world perspective. Hear what stories POLITICO's deep bench of Health Care policy reporters are watching and their analysis of the critical issues facing regulators, legislators, and practitioners.

Language:

English


Episodes

The rally to keep Medicaid coverage amid program unwinding

6/2/2023
The push to maintain Medicaid enrollment has intensified beyond patient advocates and state workers, with hospitals and clinics striving to prevent individuals from being removed from the program. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Daniel Payne about the efforts.

Duration:00:06:07

Doctors and hospitals ready to take on new, riskier ways to save Medicare

6/1/2023
Doctors and hospitals are eager to collaborate with the Biden administration on finding new cost-saving measures for Medicare, but they are encountering challenges in engaging with federal regulators. Host Carmen Paun talks with Robert King about the limited options provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and why doctors find the programs difficult to navigate.

Duration:00:08:31

Low-income workers scored in the Covid economy. But will their progress continue?

5/31/2023
A POLITICO analysis of data from the U.S. Labor Department shows that pandemic-era policies reversed the trend toward a widening income gap. But as the move away from those policies ends, that gain is threatened. So, what happens now? Host Ben Leonard talks with Victoria Guida about the labor economy and what the data shows about the health care sector.

Duration:00:07:14

How a one-time Alabama abortion clinic is adjusting

5/30/2023
Patients arriving for an appointment at the West Alabama Women’s Center one-year post-Roe find a clinic that has shifted its focus to non-abortion services. Host Daniel Payne talks with Alice Miranda Ollstein about the clinic’s struggle to serve patients in a state with a total abortion ban.

Duration:00:10:09

Why some Democrats joined with the GOP to pass new fentanyl legislation in the House

5/26/2023
On Thursday, the House passed legislation to classify street versions of fentanyl as a Schedule 1 substance, despite some Democrats saying the bill is a distraction. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with Carmen Paun about The HALT Fentanyl Act.

Duration:00:09:13

U.S. HIV infections decline, but racial disparities persist

5/25/2023
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a significant drop in new HIV infections across the U.S. — a 12 percent decrease between 2017 and 2021. Even though HIV infections have dropped, racial gaps remain in testing and treatment. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Alice Miranda Ollstein about improving access to testing, treatment and preventive measures as progress remains fragile.

Duration:00:08:45

Mayo Clinic vs. Minnesota in health spending fight

5/24/2023
Mayo Clinic threatened to withdraw $4 billion in new hospital investments in Minnesota if the state’s recent proposed health affordability bill wasn’t killed. Host Ben Leonard talks with Megan Messerly about the challenges states face in reining in health spending against influential industry players.

Duration:00:10:10

Medicare contractors will keep paying for remote health monitoring

5/23/2023
Private insurers will continue coverage for remote patient monitoring devices through Medicare, signaling a significant win for the telehealth industry. Host Megan Messerly talks with Ben Leonard about the decision, which may reduce spending in the program.

Duration:00:05:40

Debt limit breach could devastate health care

5/22/2023
If Congress and President Biden can’t reach a deal to cover U.S. debts, Medicare won’t be able to pay its bills, VA hospitals will miss their payrolls, and patients on Obamacare plans will lose their subsidies, among other effects. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Kelly Hooper about her reporting on the consequences of a prolonged default.

Duration:00:09:22

Senators investigate extent of Medicare coverage denials

5/19/2023
The Senate panel initiated a bipartisan investigation, demanding records from the largest Medicare Advantage insurers: Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and CVS. Host Ben Leonard talks with Robert King about the frequency of care denials for beneficiaries and the utilization of artificial intelligence.

Duration:00:05:49

Bernie's newest health care plan

5/18/2023
Sen. Bernie Sanders is launching his latest push as one of the Senate’s most powerful committee chairs: to pour nearly $200 billion of new money into the health care system. The new package is Sanders’ response to monthslong discussions on the Senate HELP Committee about how to address growing health workforce shortages and financial woes of community health centers. Host Megan Messerly talks with Daniel Payne.

Duration:00:07:45

The one abortion law Democrats aren’t rushing to repeal

5/17/2023
Democrats are divided over whether minors should be able to have abortions without telling their parents. Some see repealing parental notification and consent laws as a political liability, particularly as conservatives push “parents’ rights” to win popular support in other areas. Host Carmen Paun talks with Megan Messerly about the division.

Duration:00:08:16

Regulating AI in health care

5/16/2023
The use of artificial intelligence is gaining popularity, and some experts believe that personalized medicine delivered by AI is the future of health care. POLITICO’s Ruth Reader talks with AI entrepreneur and NYU professor emeritus Gary Marcus, who will testify before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law today, as lawmakers consider regulating AI.

Duration:00:13:35

Republicans object to Medicare cost-cutting experiment

5/15/2023
Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Robert King about some House Republicans’ opposition to a cost-cutting proposal from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation that would reduce payments for drugs that have won FDA approval but haven’t yet proven their clinical benefit. The GOP representatives argue it will curtail innovation and access to promising therapies.

Duration:00:07:36

Blue states waver on undocumented Medicaid coverage expansions

5/12/2023
Democratic lawmakers in some states are hesitant to expand health coverage to low-income undocumented immigrants because of budgetary concerns. It’s left some immigration advocates wondering how committed to the issue those Democrats really are. Host Ruth Reader talks with Megan Messerly about the intra-party debate.

Duration:00:11:05

FDA advisors back first OTC birth control pill

5/11/2023
Expert advisers to the FDA have recommended approving the first over-the-counter birth control pill, Opill. Host Ruth Reader talks with Katherine Ellen Foley about the decision.

Duration:00:10:41

The end of an era: What to expect when the Covid PHE is over

5/10/2023
The U.S.’ Covid-19 public health emergency ends Thursday along with pandemic-era rules and waivers. Host Megan Messerly talks with Daniel Payne about how the lifting of the PHE might affect the costs of Covid tests, vaccines and treatment; Title 42; Medicare; telehealth; and more.

Duration:00:07:46

Overdose prevention centers: Effective abroad, but controversial in the U.S.

5/9/2023
A first-of-its-kind, federally funded study will evaluate the impact of overdose-prevention centers in New York City and Providence, R.I., over the next four years. Host Ben Leonard talks with Maya Kaufman about how this may influence public health policy.

Duration:00:07:05

Boom and bust: The pandemic and community health workers

5/8/2023
Thousands of community health workers face layoffs as federal funding tied to the Covid pandemic dries up. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Daniel Payne about why many public health officials would like to keep this workforce to tackle other health challenges, like diabetes and obesity. They’re making the case to Congress that it would be foolish to let community health workers go after spending millions to train them.

Duration:00:06:06

The next front in the abortion rights ballot fight: Florida

5/5/2023
Planned Parenthood and partner organizations are launching an effort to put abortion on Florida’s ballot in 2024, setting the stage for a high-profile battle with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as he prepares to run for president. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with Megan Messerly about what this could mean for the 6-week ban DeSantis recently signed into law and the political implications in the state.

Duration:00:09:01