U.S. Congress Archives - Page 11 of 50

Abortion and SCOTUS, Together Again

Episode 326

Dec. 14, 2023

The Supreme Court agreed this week to hear its first major case on abortion since overturning Roe v. Wade — one that could restrict the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone, even in states where abortion remains legal. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers in the House and Senate finally moved to renew health programs that expired in October — but it’s likely too late to finish the job in 2023. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Riley Griffin of Bloomberg News, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Jen Golbeck, a University of Maryland professor and social media superstar, about her new book, “The Purest Bond,” which lays out the science of the human-canine relationship.

Listen Now

The Health 202

Republicans Once Championed Public Health. What Happened?

By Julie Rovner

Dec. 13, 2023

Kilolo Kijakazi reviews a sheet of paper being handed to her.

KFF Health News-CMG TV Stations Investigation

Social Security Clawbacks Hit a Million More People Than Agency Chief Told Congress

More than 2 million people a year have been sent notices that Social Security overpaid them and demanding they repay the money. That’s twice as many as the head of Social Security disclosed at a congressional hearing in October.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Dec. 6, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Trump Puts Obamacare Repeal Back on Agenda

Episode 324

Nov. 30, 2023

Although Republicans have never united behind a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, 2024 GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump said this week he wants to put the issue back on the national agenda. That delights Democrats, who have won at least two elections partly by defending the now-popular health law. Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court takes up a case brought by women who say their pregnancy complications further endangered their health due to the vagueness of Texas’ near-total ban on abortions. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Victoria Knight of Axios News join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Rachana Pradhan, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

Listen Now

KFF Health News-CMG TV Stations Investigation

In Congress, Calls Mount for Social Security to Address Clawbacks

In the wake of a KFF Health News-Cox Media Group investigation, U.S. lawmakers are asking what Social Security will do about its demands on their constituents to repay money already distributed — and sometimes in error. Sen. Rick Scott called the agency’s actions “unacceptable.”

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Nov. 30, 2023

US Military Says National Security Depends on ‘Forever Chemicals’

PFAS chemicals are found in hundreds of products and weapons used by the U.S. military. Defense Department officials say a blanket ban on these man-made substances would threaten military readiness.

By Patricia Kime

Nov. 20, 2023

KFF Health News-CMG TV Stations Investigation

New Social Security Report Shows Growing Overpayment Problem Tops $23B

Social Security has been overpaying recipients for years, then demanding the money back, leaving people with bills for up to tens of thousands of dollars or more.

By Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group and KFF Health News Staff

Nov. 17, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Congress Kicks the (Budget) Can Down the Road. Again.

Episode 323

Nov. 16, 2023

Congress narrowly avoided a federal government shutdown for the second time in six weeks, as Democrats came to the rescue of divided House Republicans over annual spending bills that were supposed to be finished by Oct. 1. But the brinksmanship is likely to repeat itself early in 2024, when the next temporary spending patches expire. Meanwhile, a pair of investigations unveiled this week demonstrate how difficult it still is for seniors to get needed long-term and rehabilitation care. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

Listen Now

KFF Health News & PolitiFact HealthCheck

Do Republican Spending Cuts Threaten Federal HIV Funding? For Some Programs, Yes.

Spending cuts proposed by a Republican-led House subcommittee would cut millions from HIV-related spending.

By Grace Abels, PolitiFact

Nov. 14, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News

A Very Good Night for Abortion Rights Backers

Episode 322

Nov. 9, 2023

Abortion rights backers won major victories in at least five states in the 2023 off-year elections Nov. 7, proving the staying power of abortion as a political issue in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health finally has a new director, after Democrats temporarily blocked President Joe Biden’s nominee over a mostly unrelated fight about prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Julie Appleby, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

Listen Now

A photo of former Governor Martin O'Malley seated and moving a microphone while testifying before the Senate Finance Committee.

KFF Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Biden Pick to Lead Social Security Pledges Action on ‘Heartbreaking’ Clawbacks

At a Senate confirmation hearing, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said he would address hardships the Social Security agency has caused by demanding money back from beneficiaries.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Nov. 3, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News

The New Speaker’s (Limited) Record on Health

Episode 320

Oct. 26, 2023

The House finally has a new speaker: Mike Johnson (R-La). He’s a relative newcomer who’s been a lower-level member of the House GOP leadership. And while he’s an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage, his record on other health issues is scant. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health appears on track to be getting a new director, and Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement experiment is off to a very slow start. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

Listen Now

A photo of Monica Bertagnolli sitting inside of a Senate committee room with her nameplate visible in front of her.

Postcard from Capitol Hill

Biden Pick to Lead NIH Finally Has Her Day, but Still Gets Caught Up in Drug Price Debate

Monica Bertagnolli, the president’s choice to head the National Institutes of Health, appeared before a Senate committee this week. Her confirmation has been held up by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has demanded President Joe Biden work more aggressively to lower prescription drug prices.

By Colleen DeGuzman

Oct. 19, 2023

Three pictures of U.S. senators. On the left is Sen. Ron Wyden. In the center is Sen. Bob Casey. On the right is Sen. Sherrod Brown.

KFF Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Senators Demand Answers From Social Security on Clawbacks Tied to Covid Relief

Covid relief payments weren’t supposed to cost people their Social Security benefits, but some recipients say they did. Senators want to know why.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 19, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News

The Open Enrollment Mixing Bowl

Episode 319

Oct. 19, 2023

Open enrollment for Medicare beneficiaries with private health plans began Oct. 15, to be followed Nov. 1 by open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans. The selection for both is large — often too large to be navigated easily alone. And people who choose incorrectly can end up with unaffordable medical bills. Meanwhile, those on both sides of the abortion issue are looking to Ohio’s November ballot measure on abortion to see whether anti-abortion forces can break their losing streak in statewide ballot questions since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Listen Now

A screenshot from a livestream of Kilolo Kijakazi testifying during a subcommittee hearing in the House of Representatives.

KFF Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Under Fire, Social Security Chief Vows ‘Top-to-Bottom’ Review of Payment Clawbacks

Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi was pressed by a House Ways and Means subcommittee to explain why so many poor, disabled, or retired people are suddenly hit with demands that can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 18, 2023

A photo of an older man reading on the couch in the background. His adult daughter, who is blind and has cerebral palsy, sits in the foreground.

KFF Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Covid Relief Payments Triggered Feds to Demand Money Back From Social Security Recipients

Some Social Security beneficiaries say the government is clawing back benefits after they received covid stimulus payments that were supposed to be exempt from asset limits.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 18, 2023

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Health Funding in Question in a Speaker-Less Congress

Episode 318

Oct. 12, 2023

A bitterly divided Congress managed to keep the federal government running for several more weeks, while House Republicans struggle — again — to choose a leader. Meanwhile, many people removed from state Medicaid rolls are not finding their way to Affordable Care Act insurance, and a major investigation by The Washington Post attributes the decline in U.S. life expectancy to more than covid-19 and opioids. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews physician-author-playwright Samuel Shem about “Our Hospital,” his new novel about the health workforce in the age of covid.

Listen Now

KFF Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

House Panel to Hold Hearing on Erroneous Social Security Payments

Congress is beginning to take action on the Social Security Administration’s clawbacks of payments it mistakenly made to poor, retired, and disabled Americans.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 11, 2023

KFF Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Social Security Chief Orders Broad Review of Benefit Overpayments

In the wake of an investigation by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group, the SSA acting commissioner said a special team will review “overpayment policies and procedures” and report directly back to her.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 4, 2023

Trump 2.0

Public Health

Audio Reports

Special Reports

More Topics

U.S. Congress