The Government Is Open – KFF Health News

The host

Emmarie Huetteman KFF Health News Editor Emmarie Huetteman oversees a team of Washington reporters, as well as “Bill of the Month” and “What the Health?” From KFF Health News. She previously spent more than a decade reporting on the federal government, most recently covering surprise medical bills, drug pricing reform and other health policy debates in Washington and on the campaign trail.

The longest federal government shutdown in history is over, after a handful of House and Senate Democrats joined most Republicans in approving legislation that funds the government through January. Despite Democrats’ demands, the package did not include an expansion of expanded tax credits that help most Affordable Care Act enrollees pay for their plans — meaning most people with ACA plans would have to pay much more for their premiums next year.

Additionally, new details are emerging about the Trump administration’s efforts to use the Medicaid program — aimed at low-income and disabled people — to advance its immigration and trans health policy goals. And President Donald Trump unveiled deals with two major pharmaceutical companies intended to increase access to weight-loss drugs for some Americans.

This week’s panelists are Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Shefali Luthra of The 19th and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.

Panelists

Anna EdneyBloombergNews

@annaedney

@annaedney.bsky.social Read Anna’s stories. Shefali Luthra 19th @shefali.bsky.social Read Shefali’s stories. Sandhya Raman QC Roll Call

@SandhyaWrites

@sandhyawrites.bsky.social Read Sandhya’s stories.

Among the takeaways from this week’s episode:

• Although the shutdown deal did not include an extension of the ACA’s enhanced subsidies, it was accompanied by a plan for a vote in the Senate by next month — on what, exactly, is unclear. Senate Republicans appear to be united in providing money through health savings accounts rather than grants, while House Republicans appear more fragmented. The clock is ticking; Existing credits expire January 1 and open enrollment has begun.
• Although the Trump administration faces being blocked in court over its efforts to use Medicaid to crack down on health care for immigrants and trans people, these efforts have had a real chilling effect. Immigrants, for example, are avoiding medical care and hospitals are reducing their offerings of gender-affirming care to trans people for fear of losing federal funding.
• Trump’s recently announced GLP-1 price deals could help Medicare enrollees afford the weight-loss drugs, potentially opening access to a new population of patients — and customers. And a steady stream of policy reversals, unexplained layoffs and negative media coverage has raised concerns that the FDA’s credibility is being undermined by internal drama. The question is also whether it interferes with the agency’s work. Drug companies would probably say yes, and some within the FDA are trying to combat these concerns.
• A major anti-abortion group is leaning into the current election season, targeting key states and preparing for significant political contributions ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Opponents of abortion see an opportunity to capitalize on voters’ changing motivations and reposition themselves to fit into the post-Trump Republican Party.

Also this week, KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Julie Appleby, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” article, about a doctor who became the patient after a car accident sent her to the hospital — and $64,000 in debt. Do you have an exorbitant medical bill? Tell us about it!

Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy articles they read this week that they think you should also read:

Emmarie Huetteman: KFF Health News “Immigrants with health conditions may be denied visas under new Trump administration guidelines,” by Amanda Seitz.

Anna Edney: “Bayer Weighs Roundup Exit as Cancer Legal Bill Nears $18 Billion” from Bloomberg News, by Tim Loh, Hayley Warren and Julia Janicki.

Shefali Luthra: The 19th “Detransition is rare, but it motivates anti-trans politics anyway,” by Orion Rummler.

Sandhya Raman: “Canada loses measles-free status and US on track to follow” from the BBC, by Nadine Yousif.

Also mentioned in this week’s episode:

• “KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public weighs in on health care debate and government shutdown,” by Audrey Kearney, Alex Montero, Mardet Mulugeta, Ashley Kirzinger and Liz Hamel.
• KFF Health News, “Trump’s HHS orders state Medicaid programs to help track down undocumented immigrants,” by Phil Galewitz.
• NPR’s “Trump Pushes End of Medical Care for Transgender Youth Nationwide,” by Selena Simmons-Duffin.
• “FDA’s Top Drug Regulator Resigns Amid Investigation,” by Lizzy Lawrence and Adam Feuerstein.
• Stat’s “Under Vinay Prasad, Employees at Key FDA Center Afraid to Speak Out, Seek Exits,” by Lizzy Lawrence.

Credits

Francis Ying Audio Producer Stephanie Stapleton Editor

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