
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?'
Join Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, along with top health policy reporters from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico and other media outlets to discuss the latest news and explain what the health is going on here in Washington, D.C. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Jun 14, 2018 • 38min
Episode 50: California Here We Come
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Carrie Feibel of KQED San Francisco, Anna Maria Barry-Jester of FiveThirtyEight.com and Joanne Kenen of Politico report from San Francisco on the complicated health politics of the Golden State and the latest news on a lawsuit challenging parts of the Affordable Care Act. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists offer their favorite health stories of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 7, 2018 • 42min
Episode 49: Health Care Politics, Midterm Edition
In this episode of KHN’s “What The Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call discuss how Medicare, Medicaid and the fate of the Affordable Care Act are playing out in the politics of the coming midterm elections. Plus, Julie interviews Matt Eyles, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 31, 2018 • 48min
Episode 48: Virginia, The VA And Military Medicine
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call discuss the Virginia legislature’s about-face with a vote to expand the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act and the new bill to expand health programs for veterans. Plus, Julie interviews Dr. Arthur Kellerman, dean of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 24, 2018 • 48min
Episode 47: Campaign Promises Kept, Plus 'Nerd Reports'
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Sarah Kliff of Vox and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss a proposed Trump administration regulation that seeks to separate Planned Parenthood from federal family planning funds, the final congressional passage of legislation aimed at helping those with terminal illnesses obtain experimental medications, and new government reports on the uninsured and federal health spending. Also, Julie interviews KHN’s Liz Szabo about the May “Bill of the Month.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 17, 2018 • 51min
Episode 46: Much Ado About Drug Prices
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call discuss President Donald Trump’s proposals to control prescription drug prices and the efforts to sell the plan to lawmakers and the public. Also, Julie interviews emeritus law professor Timothy Jost about the state of the Affordable Care Act. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 10, 2018 • 40min
Episode 45: The Politics Of Rising Premiums And Menu Labeling
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News discuss the latest on the politics of rising premiums, GOP efforts to take back money from the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the controversy over new rules requiring calorie information on menus. Plus for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 3, 2018 • 47min
Episode 44: Medicaid, Privacy, And The Return Of Tom Price
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the latest on states’ efforts to reshape their Medicaid programs, the kerfuffle over President Donald Trump’s medical records and some controversial comments by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price about Congress’ repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate” for insurance. Julie also interviews Harvard professor Robert Blendon about the complex politics of health in the coming midterm elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 26, 2018 • 33min
Episode 43: What Next For The VA?
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the collapse of the nomination of White House physician Ronny Jackson to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. They also discuss new, bipartisan congressional efforts to address the opioid epidemic. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists offer their favorite health policy stories of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 19, 2018 • 55min
Episode 42: Nothing In Health Care Ever Goes Away
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Sarah Jane Tribble of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post examine how even after Republicans failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the health care debate continues to roil politics. They discuss how Republicans in Congress have shifted their ACA messaging and how the Democrats are looking to Medicare expansion. They also discuss state efforts to expand Medicaid and drug pricing. And they spend a moment talking about Congress’ push to do something about the opioid crisis. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists offer their favorite health policy stories of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 12, 2018 • 38min
Episode 41: It’s Nerd Week
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the Trump administration’s latest effort to revise rules for next year’s Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They also discuss state efforts to stabilize their own individual markets in light of some of the changes being made at the federal level. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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