Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Is Health Spending The Next Big Political Issue?

The Republican-led Congress was unable to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017, but the Trump administration continues to implement elements of the failed GOP bill using executive authority. The latest change would make it easier for states to waive some major parts of the health law, including allowing subsidies for people to buy insurance plans that don’t meet all the law’s requirements.

Meanwhile, in states that are transitioning from Republican governors to Democrats, GOP legislators are using lame-duck sessions to try to scale back executive power and lock in some key health changes, such as work requirements for Medicaid enrollees.

And there is growing evidence that even with health insurance, patients who use significant amounts of medical care are increasingly unable to afford their share.

This week’s panelists for KHN’s “What the Health?” are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call.

Among the takeaways from this week’s podcast:

• The Trump administration outlined last week what type of waivers it is willing to consider for states’ ACA markets. Options include changes in who gets premium subsidies and how much they receive, and making short-term insurance plans that are not as comprehensive as current marketplace plans eligible for subsidies.
• Any changes are likely to end up in court, as have most of the revisions that the Trump administration has proposed.
• In Wisconsin and Michigan, Republican legislatures are seeking to restrict what the new Democratic governors can do to change GOP policies on Medicaid and challenges to the ACA.
• A recent study has highlighted that health problems can create financial hardships well beyond the illness. For example, loss of income from a debilitating illness can make paying other bills very difficult and sometimes other family members must give up their jobs to be caregivers.

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

Julie Rovner: NBC News.com’s “FDA Approves Drug for Dogs Scared by Noise,” by Maggie Fox

Margot Sanger-Katz: The Washington Post’s “An Experiment Requiring Work for Food Stamps Is a Trump Administration Model,” by Amy Goldstein

Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic’s “The CRISPR Baby Scandal Gets Worse by the Day,” by Ed Yong

Rebecca Adams: The New York Times’ “Why Hospitals Should Let You Sleep,” by Austin Frakt

Also mentioned in this episode:

The New York Times: “1,495 Americans Describe the Financial Reality of Being Really Sick,” by Margot Sanger Katz

Kaiser Health News: “No Cash, No Heart. Transplant Centers Require Proof of Payment,” by JoNel Aleccia

CBS News: “High Cost Has Many Diabetics Cutting Back on Insulin,” by Serena Gordon

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