KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: The Labor Pains Of ‘Medicare For All’


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Labor unions are divided over whether to endorse a Democratic candidate for president in 2020 — and, if so, whom to choose. Some unions are firmly behind the “Medicare for All” plans being pushed by Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. But the influential Culinary Workers Union in Nevada declined to endorse any candidate, with members worried about what might replace the generous benefits they won by bargaining away wage increases.

Meanwhile, a federal appeals court panel unanimously ruled that the Trump administration violated Medicaid law when it approved work requirements for beneficiaries in Arkansas. The ruling puts similar requirements in doubt in several other states.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jennifer Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call.

Among the takeaways from this week’s podcast:

Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read too:

Julie Rovner: CNN.com’s “Nation’s Largest Teachers Unions Call to End Active Shooter Drills Over Fears They’re Traumatizing Students,” by Leah Asmelash

Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Washington Post’s “Trust and Consequences,” by Hannah Dreier

Rebecca Adams: The New York Times’ “The Health System We’d Have if Economists Ran Things,” by Austin Frakt

Jennifer Haberkorn: Kaiser Health News’ “Ink Rx? Welcome To The Camouflaged World Of Paramedical Tattoos,” by Cara Anthony


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This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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