With just days to go before the official launch of a new administration, the GOP-led Congress is putting together plans on how to enact incoming President Donald Trump’s agenda, with a particular emphasis on cutting spending on the Medicaid pro

New Year, New Congress, New Health Agenda

11 days ago 41m 4s

Health is unlikely to be a top priority for the new GOP-led 119th Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. But it’s likely to play a key supporting role, with an abortion bill already scheduled for debate in the Senate. Meanwhile, it’s unclea

Francis Collins on Supporting NIH and Finding Common Ground

19 days ago 18m 44s

Francis Collins led the National Institutes of Health for 12 years, under three presidents. During the Biden administration, he added White House science adviser to his long list of roles. Now he runs his own lab on the NIH campus, and his late

End-of-Year Chaos on Capitol Hill

Dec 19th, 2024 38m 22s

Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate successfully negotiated an enormous end-of-Congress health package, including bipartisan efforts to address prescription drug prices — only to see it blown up at the last minute after Elon Musk

A Killing Touches Off Backlash Against Health Insurers

Dec 12th, 2024 41m 21s

The shocking shooting death of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive in Midtown Manhattan prompted a public outcry about the problems with the nation’s health care system, as stories of delayed and denied care filled social media. Meanwhile, Presi

A Colorful Cast Could Lead Key Health Agencies

Dec 5th, 2024 45m 8s

President-elect Donald Trump has made his choices to fill some top jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services. They include controversial figures who were vocal critics of the Biden administration’s handling of the covid pandemic and h

Public Health and the Dairy Cow in the Room

Nov 26th, 2024 28m 2s

Public health, one of the more misunderstood concepts in the health world, is about the health of entire populations, rather than individuals. As a result, public health is closely tied to things like the environment, nutrition, and safety. Wit

Trump’s Nontraditional Health Picks

Nov 21st, 2024 43m 10s

Not only has President-elect Donald Trump chosen prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Trump also has said he will nominate controversial TV host Mehmet Oz to run the Centers for Me

Readying for Republican Rule

Nov 14th, 2024 37m 13s

With Republicans now set to control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives starting in January, their health agenda remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that just about anything could be on the table, from Medicare, Medica

Trump 2.0

Nov 8th, 2024 34m 57s

As Donald Trump readies for his return to the White House — with the backing of a GOP majority in the Senate and, possibly, the House — the entire health care industry is waiting to see what happens next. Clearly on the agenda: the future of ab

The Campaign’s Final Days

Oct 31st, 2024 35m 22s

It’s the final days of the 2024 campaign, and Republicans are suddenly talking again about making changes to the Affordable Care Act if former President Donald Trump wins.Meanwhile, new reporting uncovers more maternal deaths under state aborti

Less Than Two Weeks to Go

Oct 24th, 2024 46m 41s

With Election Day rapidly approaching, abortion is gaining traction as a voting issue, according to public opinion polls. Meanwhile, states with abortion bans are reviving the lawsuit — dismissed by the Supreme Court on a technicality this year

LIVE From KFF: Health Care and the 2024 Election

Oct 17th, 2024 49m 30s

The Affordable Care Act has not been a major issue in the 2024 campaign, but abortion and reproductive rights have been front and center. Those are just two of the dozens of health issues that could be profoundly affected by who is elected pres

Yet Another Promise for Long-Term Care Coverage

Oct 10th, 2024 42m 12s

As part of her presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris has rolled out a plan for Medicare to provide in-home long-term care services. The proposal would fill a longtime need for families trying to simultaneously care for young child

The Health of the Campaign

Oct 4th, 2024 40m 52s

The 2024 presidential race is taking on a familiar tone — with Democrats accusing Republicans of wanting to ban abortion and repeal the Affordable Care Act and Republicans insisting they have no such plans. Voters will determine whom they belie

Congress Punts to a Looming Lame-Duck Session

Sep 26th, 2024 35m 25s

Congress left Washington for the campaign trail this week, but not before approving a spending bill that expires shortly before Christmas. Lawmakers will be busy after the election working on not just the legislation needed to keep the governme

American Health Under Trump — Past, Present, and Future

Sep 19th, 2024 33m 21s

Dreaming of a Trump victory, Republicans have a wish list of health policy changes — including loosening Affordable Care Act regulations to make cheaper coverage available and ending Medicare drug price negotiations. Meanwhile, after the first

Trump-Harris Debate Showcases Health Policy Differences

Sep 12th, 2024 30m 2s

The much-anticipated presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted their policy differences not just on abortion, but also on other health issues, including the future of the Affordable C

Live from Austin, Examining Health Equity

Sep 9th, 2024 52m 35s

The term “health equity” means different things to different people. Beyond guaranteeing all Americans access to adequate, affordable medical care, the pursuit of equity can include addressing social determinants of health, such as housing, edu

Let the General Election Commence

Aug 23rd, 2024 40m 57s

Abortion and reproductive health issues headlined the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, as expected. But what Vice President Kamala Harris has in mind for other health policies as the Democratic nominee remains something of a mystery.

Happy 50th, ERISA

Aug 15th, 2024 30m 28s

What does a law to protect worker pensions have to do with how health insurance is regulated? Far more than most people may think. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, turns 50 in September. The law fundamentally changed the w

The Walz Record

Aug 8th, 2024 31m 3s

Vice President Kamala Harris this week officially became the Democratic nominee for president and named Minnesota governor and former U.S. congressman Tim Walz as her running mate.Meanwhile, a new study finds the number of abortions taking plac

Abortion Heats Up Presidential Race

Aug 1st, 2024 38m 44s

The elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the presumed Democratic presidential ticket is newly energizing the debate over abortion, while former President Donald Trump attempts to distance himself from more sweeping proposals

Harris in the Spotlight

Jul 25th, 2024 42m 13s

For the 2024 campaign, Joe Biden is out, and Kamala Harris is in. As the vice president makes moves toward the top of the Democratic presidential ticket, health policy is resurging as a campaign issue. Meanwhile, Congress tries — and again fail

At GOP Convention, Health Policy Is Mostly MIA

Jul 18th, 2024 41m 47s

After an assassination attempt last weekend sent former President Donald Trump to the hospital with minor injuries, the Republican National Convention went off with little mention of health care issues. And Trump’s newly nominated vice presiden