Latest California Healthline Stories
KHNâs âWhat the Health?â: Record ACA Enrollment Puts Pressure on Congress
Temporary subsidies helped boost enrollment under the Affordable Care Act to a record 14.5 million, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. But unless Democrats in Congress extend those subsidies, many of those new enrollees will be in for a rude surprise just ahead of midterm elections. Meanwhile, the need to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer further crowds an already tight legislative schedule. Joanne Kenen of Politico and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KHNâs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Diana Greene Foster, author of âThe Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having â Or Being Denied â An Abortion.â
KHNâs âWhat the Health?â: Roe v. Wadeâs (Possibly Last) Anniversary
Jan. 22 marks the 49th â and very likely last â anniversary of the Supreme Courtâs landmark abortion decision, Roe v. Wade. The courtâs conservative supermajority seems poised to overturn later this year the ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Also this week, the Biden administration turns 1, with much of its domestic and health agenda yet unrealized. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of the 19th, and Kimberly Leonard of Insider join KHNâs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, about what a post-Roe world might look like.
Justices Block Broad Worker Vaccine Requirement, Allow Health Worker Mandate to Proceed
The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a federal rule requiring larger businesses to mandate employees be vaccinated or wear masks and undergo weekly testing. At the same time, however, it allowed a federal order that health care workers be vaccinated.
KHNâs âWhat the Health?â: Dealing With Drug Prices
Medicare officials tentatively plan to restrict the use of a controversial Alzheimerâs drug to only those patients participating in clinical trials, while the Department of Health and Human Services looks into lowering the monthly Medicare Part B premium. Meanwhile, covid confusion still reigns, as the Biden administration moves, belatedly, to make more masks and tests available. Joanne Kenen of Politico and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join KHNâs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Clinics Say Stateâs New Medicaid Drug Program Will Force Them to Cut Services
On Jan. 1, California started buying prescription drugs for its nearly 14 million Medicaid enrollees, a responsibility that had primarily been held by managed-care insurance plans. State officials estimate California will save hundreds of millions of dollars by flexing its purchasing power, but some health clinics expect to lose money.
Supreme Court Weighs Bidenâs Workplace Vaccine Requirements
The court is considering whether to let the rules go into effect as opponents fight them in lower courts. Conservative justices pressed lawyers hard about whether the administration overstepped its authority, but liberal members of the high court questioned why the government shouldnât be expected to move forcefully when facing a severe health crisis.
A Catch-22 Trips Up Some in Legal Guardianship Who Try to Regain Independence
If a judge decides someone cannot make their own decisions, the person can be placed under a court-appointed guardianship, also known as a conservatorship. Some states are beginning to allow less-restrictive alternatives.
KHNâs âWhat the Health?â: Contagion Confusion
Itâs 2022 and the covid-19 pandemic is still with us, as are congressional efforts to pass President Joe Bidenâs big health and social spending bill. But other issues seem certain to take center stage on this yearâs health agenda, including abortion, the state of the health care workforce, and prescription drug prices. Tami Luhby of CNN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call join KHNâs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHNâs Victoria Knight, who reported the latest KHN-NPR âBill of the Monthâ episode.
The letters function as liens that âprotectâ spine surgery clinics while patients could be left with inflated medical bills and unexpected health risks.
KHNâs âWhat the Health?â: Oh, Oh, Omicron
Even before the omicron variant of covid starts to spread widely in the U.S., hospitals are filling up with post-holiday delta cases. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court signals â loudly â that 2022 will be the year it rolls back abortion rights in a big way. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call join KHNâs Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.