U.S. Congress Archives - Page 3 of 50

The Government Is Open

Episode 422

Nov. 13, 2025

The record-long federal shutdown is over after a small group of Democrats agreed to a deal with most Republicans that funds the government through January — but, notably, does not extend more generous Affordable Care Act tax credits. Plus, new details are emerging about how the Trump administration is using the Medicaid program to advance its policy goals. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Julie Appleby, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

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Wielding Obscure Budget Tools, Trump’s ‘Reaper’ Vought Sows Turmoil in Public Health

Through shrouded bureaucratic maneuvers, White House budget director Russell Vought and DOGE have quietly upended outbreak response, HIV treatment, and dementia care in communities across America.

By Amy Maxmen

Nov. 7, 2025

A red emergency sign on the side of a building

White House Calls This 9/11-Era Fund ‘Wasteful.’ Red and Blue States Rely on It.

States from California to Texas say they rely on tens of millions in federal funding to help them prepare for the next pandemic, cyberattack, or mass-casualty catastrophe. The Trump administration wants to cut it.

By Don Thompson

Nov. 6, 2025

A photo of a man at an orchard picking persimmons from a tree.

Farmers, Barbers, and GOP Lawmakers Grapple With the Fate of ACA Tax Credits

Small-business owners and their employees, who make up nearly half of the Obamacare marketplace, are worried about their health care and their livelihoods as insurance prices surge. Republicans, who have long opposed Obamacare, are at odds over how to respond to upset from one of their party’s most loyal constituencies.

By Amanda Seitz

Nov. 6, 2025

A photo of HealthCare.gov's website. A pop-up form reads, "Get covered for 2026. Start here."

Congressional Stalemate Creates Chaos for Obamacare Shoppers

This year, Affordable Care Act marketplace consumers will need to be more informed than ever to navigate their health coverage choices.

By Michelle Andrews

Nov. 4, 2025

The Week in Brief

Deal or No Deal? States Prepare for Congress To Act at the Last Minute on Obamacare

Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.

By Amanda Seitz

Oct. 31, 2025

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Happy Open Enrollment Eve!

Episode 420

Oct. 30, 2025

A standoff in Congress is keeping much of the government shut down as open enrollment begins in most states for Affordable Care Act plans. Democrats are demanding Republicans agree to extend ACA tax credits, but there has been little negotiating — even as customers are learning what they’ll pay for coverage next year. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is telling states they can’t pass their own laws to keep medical debt off consumers’ credit reports. Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more.

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A Ticking Clock: How States Are Preparing for a Last-Minute Obamacare Deal

Even if Congress strikes a deal soon to extend more generous Affordable Care Act subsidies, the prices and types of ACA plans available could change dramatically. Unprecedented uncertainty and upheaval could cloud this year’s open enrollment season, which begins in most states on Saturday.

By Amanda Seitz and Julie Appleby

Oct. 28, 2025

Many Fear Federal Loan Caps Will Deter Aspiring Doctors and Worsen MD Shortage

Health care professionals fear that new caps on federal student lending, set to start in July, will put medical school out of reach for many who want to become doctors and exacerbate physician shortages. Others say unlimited federal lending has fed a rise in academic costs, saddling families and, ultimately, taxpayers with debt.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

Oct. 28, 2025

KFF Health News On Air

Reporters Cover the Shutdown and the Use of AI in Health Care

KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national or local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Oct. 25, 2025

The Week in Brief

‘Cancer Doesn’t Care’: Volunteer Lobbyists Push Past Washington’s Ugly Politics

Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.

By Noam N. Levey

Oct. 24, 2025

A photo of the U.S. Capitol. In the foreground is part of a sign that reads, "closed."

Listen: Amid Shutdown Stalemate, Families Brace for SNAP Cuts and Paycheck Limbo

KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” to discuss how the government shutdown is affecting food benefits and the help many Americans get to offset their health insurance premiums.

By Julie Rovner

Oct. 24, 2025

A photo of a phone screen showing the HealthCare.gov website.

GOP Talking Point Holds ACA Is Haunted by ‘Phantom’ Enrollees, but the Devil’s in the Data

Enhanced Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies have emerged as a flash point in the congressional standoff over the federal government shutdown. Republicans point to what they characterize as increasing amounts of fraud as a reason to hold up the subsidies. But there are two sides to the story.

By Victoria Knight

Oct. 24, 2025

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Nutrition Programs Face Their Own Shutdown

Episode 419

Oct. 23, 2025

Two major nutrition programs — SNAP and WIC — are likely to exhaust their funding in November, and the furloughs and firings at the CDC have left the agency unable to perform some of its major functions. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s new IVF policy is being met with dissatisfaction from both sides. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Katheryn Houghton, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

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Common Ground

‘Cancer Doesn’t Care’: Citizen Lobbyists Unite To Push Past Washington’s Ugly Politics

Despite a poisonous political climate, hundreds of volunteer advocates put partisan differences aside and pressed Congress to help people with cancer.

By Noam N. Levey

Oct. 21, 2025

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Schrödinger’s Government Shutdown

Episode 418

Oct. 16, 2025

Democrats and Republicans remain stalled over funding the federal government as Republicans launch a new attack on the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is taking advantage of the shutdown to lay off workers from programs supported mostly by Democrats. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews health insurance analyst Louise Norris about Medicare open enrollment.

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A photo of a sign advertising Covered California, the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace, in Los Angeles.

Asking Never Hurts

California’s Health Insurance Marketplace Braces for Chaos as Shutdown Persists

Jessica Altman, the head of California’s Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace, warns letters will be sent out this week with sky-high premiums unless Washington extends covid-era enhanced tax credits by then. Even if Congress acts later and rates are lower than feared, she says, shoppers could be scared off.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

Oct. 14, 2025

KFF Health News On Air

Journalists Dig Into Government Shutdown and Rural Doctor Drought

KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Oct. 11, 2025

A photo of Sen. Ron Wyden, a file folder in hand, walking out of a doorway.

Senators Press Deloitte, Other Contractors on Errors in Medicaid Eligibility Systems

As contractors position themselves to cash in on a gush of new business managing Medicaid work requirements, a cadre of senators has launched an inquiry into the companies paid billions to build eligibility systems.

By Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss

Oct. 10, 2025

A portrait of a woman smiling at the camera and wearing a white blouse with a name tag.

Dead Zone

Trump Called Digital Equity Act ‘Racist.’ Now Internet Money for Rural Americans Is Gone.

President Donald Trump called the Digital Equity Act unconstitutional, racist, and illegal. Then the $2.75 billion program for rural and underserved communities to gain internet access disappeared.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

Oct. 10, 2025

Trump 2.0

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