

Health Affairs This Week
Health Affairs
Health Affairs This Week places listeners at the center of health policy’s proverbial water cooler. Join editors from Health Affairs, the leading journal of health policy research, and special guests as they discuss this week’s most pressing health policy news. All in 15 minutes or less.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 16, 2023 • 15min
Sara Rosenbaum Goes Deep in the Weeds of Medicaid
Health Affairs' Chris Fleming interviews Sara Rosenbaum from George Washington University to dive into the Supreme Court decision on Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County v Talevksi.Related Links:A Victory for Medicaid Beneficiaries In Supreme Court’s Talevski DecisionInside The Administration’s Proposed Medicaid Managed Care Rule: Steering A BehemothIs The Supreme Court Poised To Wipe Out Legal Rights For Medicaid Beneficiaries?Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

Jun 9, 2023 • 15min
LGBTQ+ Health Care Policies: Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Backward?
Health Affairs' Kathleen Haddad and Michael Gerber discuss the state of health policy related to the LBGTQ+ community in honor of Pride Month. They discuss state policies' impact on the community, the burgeoning data on gender, and more.Related Links:LGBTQ+ Health Is An Essential Component Of Public Health Equity Efforts (Health Affairs Forefront)Health Insurance Coverage And Access To Care Among LGBT Adults, 2013–19 (Health Affairs)Transgender Adults Have Higher Rates Of Disability Than Their Cisgender Counterparts (Health Affairs)Anti-LGBTQ+ laws put U.S. in a state of emergency, Human Rights Campaign says (Los Angeles Times)US judge blocks Florida ban on trans minor care in narrow ruling, says ‘gender identity is real’ (AP)Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

Jun 2, 2023 • 11min
How Health Care Fared in the Debt Limit Deal
Health Affairs' Chris Fleming and Rob Lott discuss how health care would fare under in current legislation negotiated by the White House and Congressional Republications. to suspend the debt limit. They discuss COVID-19 funding claw backs, SNAP work requirements, and more.Related Links:CBO’s Estimate of the Budgetary Effects of Medicaid Work Requirements Under H.R. 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (CBO)Medicaid Work Requirements Are Back On The Agenda (KFF)Forcing States To Tie Medicaid To Work Is An Unconstitutional ‘Gun To The Head’ (Health Affairs Forefront)Medicaid Work Requirements: Who’s At Risk? (Health Affairs Forefront)Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

May 26, 2023 • 15min
Resident Physicians Turn To Strikes and Unions
Health Affairs' Michael Gerber and Jessica Bylander discuss the end of the strike by resident physicians at Elmhurst Hospital in New York City and the recent trend of unionization among health care workers, including resident physicians, plus other efforts to secure health care worker rights across the country.Submit to You're A Health Policy Wonk If... Contest (submissions will be taken through May 31, 2023).Join us for a Policy Spotlight on June 1 with Carrie Colla from CBO.Related Links:Minnesota Lawmakers Take Step to Mandate Nursing Home Wages (Modern Healthcare)'More Than Half of My Paycheck Goes To Rent': Young US Doctors Push To Unionize (The Guardian)Resident Doctors End Strike at Elmhurst Hospital (The New York Times)Nursing Home Workforce Standards (Minnesota)Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

May 19, 2023 • 15min
Tom Insel on the Mental Health Crisis and Behavioral Health Care Reform
Health Affairs' Kathleen Haddad interviews Tom Insel, author of Healing: Our Path From Mental Illness to Mental Health, on the latest federal efforts to reform mental and behavioral health care in the United States. Insel previously led the Mental Health Team at Verily and served as Director of the National Institute of Mental Health.Submit to You're A Health Policy Wonk If... Contest (submissions will be taken through May 31, 2023).Related Links:Integrating Behavioral Health In Primary Care: Overcoming Decades of Challenges (Health Affairs Forefront)A New Approach To Mental Health Care, Imported From Abroad (Health Affairs)Tackling Unfinished Business and Taking on Current Challenges: Putting Biden's Mental Health Proposals in Context (Brookings)Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CalHHS)MindSite NewsCurrently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

May 12, 2023 • 15min
Lawrence Gostin on The End of COVID As We Know It
Health Affairs' Chris Fleming interviews Lawrence Gostin from Georgetown University on the end of the public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris and Lawrence discuss the loss of trust in public health, how the Affordable Care Act was the unsung hero of the pandemic, and our readiness for the next pandemic. Submit to You're A Health Policy Wonk If... Contest (submissions will be taken through May 31, 2023).Related Links:Why The End of The Public Health Emergency Really Matters (Health Affairs Forefront)Advancing Equity In The Pandemic Treaty (Health Affairs Forefront)Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

May 5, 2023 • 15min
Kaiser, Geisinger and the Uncertain Future of Value-Based Care
Listen to Health Affairs' Leslie Erdelack and Michael Gerber discuss the newly-announced merger between Kaiser Permanente and Geisinger Health System. They discuss the evolution of value-based care, how mergers may impact patient outcomes and health spending, and how health economists are reacting to the news.Submit to You're A Health Policy Wonk If... Contest (submissions will be taken through May 31, 2023).Related Links:New Mega-deal Highlights Geisinger's Fall, and Raises Concerns About Where Kaiser Is Going Next (Stat News)Have Alternative Payment Models Led To Provider Consolidation? (Health Affairs Forefront)Value-Based Payment As A Tool To Address Excess US Health Spending (Health Affairs)Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

Apr 28, 2023 • 14min
Celebrating Health Equity
Listen to Ryann Tanap and Vabren Watts discuss the latest news and developments in the Health Equity Department at Health Affairs. They preview elevating voices during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the first published article from the Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees. Plus, Vabe shares a scene report from the conferences he recently attended.Sign up for our newsletters, podcasts, and social media to stay informed on our health equity efforts.Related Links:Antiracist Institutional Change in Healthcare (Harvard)Health Policy Brief: US Residential Segregation (Health Affairs)Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

Apr 21, 2023 • 14min
Sabrina Corlette on the Health of Health Reform
Health Affairs' Chris Fleming and Rob Lott interview Sabrina Corlette from Georgetown University on the health of the Affordable Care Act marketplaces and the final rule for the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2024, which has many initiatives related to health equity.Join us April 24 for a special Insider-only Virtual Networking event!Related Links:Final 2024 Payment Rule, Part 1: Insurance Market Rules And Consumer Assistance (Health Affairs Forefront)Final 2024 Payment Rule, Part 2: Risk Adjustment (Health Affairs Forefront)Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

Apr 14, 2023 • 12min
Abortion Pill Mifepristone Has Its Day(s) In Court
Health Affairs' Leslie Erdelack and Jessica Bylander discuss the large amount of news and controversy over the abortion pill mifepristone as the drug's 2000 approval -- and subsequent changes to how patients can access it -- make their way through the courts. NOTE: This episode was recorded in the afternoon of April 13, 2023, shortly before the Justice Department requested the Supreme Court to restore access to the mifepristone. Related Links:FDA's Liberalization of Mifepristone Dispensing: Securing The Future Of Access To Medical Abortion (Health Affairs Forefront)Drugmakers sign letter supporting FDA and calling for reversal of Texas judge's mifepristone ruling (CNN)Abortion Medication Mifepristone Will Remain Legal for Now, but With More Restrictions (Vanity Fair)United States Department of Justice Statement - April 13, 2023Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available — and we’d like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.