The Brian Lehrer Show How Congress Can Change Health Care
Dec 16, 2024
Rachel Cohrs Zhang, Chief Washington correspondent for STAT News, dives into the fallout from the tragic shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, igniting a national conversation on healthcare reform. She tackles the complexities and inequalities in the U.S. health system, highlighting life expectancy disparities and the Affordable Care Act's subsidy negotiations. The discussion also covers the blame game in healthcare, pharmacy pricing challenges, and rising concerns over Medicare Advantage plans amidst political dynamics. Cohrs sheds light on the pressing need for actionable solutions.
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Congress's Slow Healthcare Response
- Congress often reacts slowly to healthcare issues, trailing public discourse by years.
- Current discussions about pharmacy middlemen reforms exemplify this lag.
Bipartisan Healthcare Package and ACA Subsidies
- A bipartisan healthcare package, two years in development, aims to address telehealth, doctor pay, and pharmacy benefit managers.
- Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies might expire under the new Republican-controlled government.
Nursing Home Staffing Rule Controversy
- Republicans seek to repeal the Biden rule mandating nursing home staffing levels, citing it as a government overreach.
- Democrats oppose this repeal, highlighting potential negative impacts on resident care quality.