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KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Planning for Round Two

The ink is barely dry on the recent covid relief bill, but Democrats in Congress and President Joe Biden are wasting no time gearing up for their next big legislative package. Meanwhile, predictions of more states expanding Medicaid have proved premature. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Lauren Weber, who reported the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode.

April 1, 2021

Indiana’s Medicaid Expansion — Designed by Pence and Verma — Panned in Federal Report

Indiana’s program seeks to give expansion enrollees “skin in the game,” requiring that they pay small monthly premiums and manage health savings accounts.

By Phil Galewitz

April 1, 2021

Doctor in white coat drawing vaccine into a syringe for injection.

COVID-19

In California, Blue Shield’s Vaccination Takeover Fixes What Wasn’t Broken

Rural Mendocino County had finally figured out its vaccination program. But now the community clinics that helped make it happen are changing course as Blue Shield of California takes over the state vaccine program.

By Rachel Bluth

April 1, 2021

KHN on the Air

Journalists Dish on Vaccination Loopholes and Alliances

KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

March 27, 2021

How Much of Trump’s Health Agenda Has Biden Undone?

In his campaign, President Joe Biden promised to undo policies, particularly health policies, implemented by former President Donald Trump. Yet, despite immense executive power, reversing four years of action takes time and resources.

By Julie Rovner

March 25, 2021

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Getting Down to Work at HHS

After a bruising confirmation process, Xavier Becerra was sworn in as secretary of Health and Human Services this week. The Senate also confirmed the nominations of former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to return to the post he held in the Obama administration, and former Pennsylvania health secretary Rachel Levine as assistant secretary for health. Levine is the first openly transgender person to receive Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, questions continue to swirl around the AstraZeneca covid vaccine, which some public health experts worry will create more hesitancy toward other vaccines.

March 25, 2021

Democrats Gave Americans a Big Boost Buying Health Insurance. It Didn’t Come Cheap.

The $1.9 trillion covid relief bill expands subsidies for private insurance plans. That will lighten the burden on consumers, but it locks taxpayers into yet more support for the health care industry.

By Noam N. Levey

March 24, 2021

Lots of Health Insurance Help in Covid Relief Law — But Do Your Homework First

Democrats’ $1.9 trillion covid relief package will offer some of the most significant help for Americans to pay for health insurance in a decade. But the temporary provisions are complicated. KHN offers tips for consumers.

By Michelle Andrews

March 24, 2021

Under New Cost-Cutting Medicare Rule, Same Surgery, Same Place, Different Bill

A Trump administration Medicare rule will push some hospital patients into a Catch-22: The government says several hundred procedures no longer need to be done in a hospital, but it did not approve them to be performed elsewhere. So patients will still need to use a hospital while not officially admitted — and may be charged more out-of-pocket for the care.

By Susan Jaffe

March 23, 2021

KHN On Air

Journalists Analyze the Covid Relief Bill

KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

March 20, 2021

COVID-19

Blue Shield Spent Years Cultivating a Relationship with Newsom. It Got the State Vaccine Contract.

Insurance giant Blue Shield of California has made millions in charitable and political donations to Gov. Gavin Newsom over nearly two decades, largely to his dearly held homeless initiatives. In turn, Newsom has rewarded the insurer with a $15 million no-bid contract to lead the state’s covid vaccination distribution.

By Samantha Young and Angela Hart

March 19, 2021

Covid-Inspired Montana Health Insurance Proposal Wouldn’t Kick In for 2 Years

Montana is looking to join most other states in requiring small businesses to offer laid-off employees temporary continuity of their health care plans. But the bill, if it passes, likely won’t take effect in time to help people directly affected by the pandemic.

By Sara Reardon

March 19, 2021

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: ACA Packs More Benefits — And More Confusion

The covid relief bill signed by President Joe Biden includes a long list of new health benefits for consumers. But many eligible people may have difficulty taking advantage of them because of the interaction with the income tax system and a lack of expert guidance. Meanwhile, Democrats are debating internally about what should come next on the health agenda. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Rachana Pradhan of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

March 18, 2021

‘Painless’ Glucose Monitors Pushed Despite Little Evidence They Help Most Diabetes Patients

The numbers of people wearing these monitors are soaring as prices have fallen and device-makers promote them to doctors and patients. But few studies show the devices lead to better outcomes for the nearly 25 million Americans with Type 2 diabetes who don’t inject insulin to regulate their blood sugar.

By Phil Galewitz

March 16, 2021

Analysis: The Trump Health Care Policies That Deserve to Stick Around

President Joe Biden may want to continue the previous administration’s efforts to lower drug prices and make medical costs transparent.

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

March 16, 2021

female doctor taking notes in telemedicine appointment

The Boom in Out-of-State Telehealth Threatens In-State Providers

Health provider conflicts, fraud and access disparity temper the covid telehealth revolution.

By Matt Volz

March 15, 2021

COVID-19

For Covid ‘Long Haulers,’ Battling for Disability Benefits Adds Aggravation to Exhaustion

Early in the pandemic, many patients couldn’t be tested. The lack of a covid diagnosis complicates disability insurance for those whose illness continues.

By David Tuller

March 10, 2021

Portrait of Stephanie Salazar-Rodriguez at her home

Pandemic Aid Package Includes Relief From High Premiums

Experts say the two-year expansion of subsidies for most people who buy insurance through the government exchanges would be among the most significant changes to the affordability of private insurance since the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

By Emmarie Huetteman

March 9, 2021

Letters to the Editor

Readers and Tweeters Dispense Timely Advice for Difficult Times

Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

March 2, 2021

KHN & PolitiFact HealthCheck

Becerra Has Long Backed Single-Payer. That Doesn’t Mean It Will Happen if He’s HHS Secretary.

Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has been on record throughout his career for this type of health care system. But the president doesn’t support it, which is the position that counts.

By Victoria Knight

March 1, 2021

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