KFF Health News

What the Health? From KFF Health News

News EN ↓ 459 episodes

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.

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KFF Health News

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News

Podcast website

kffhealthnews.org

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

Episode 33: What Do The Budget, Idaho And FDA Chief Scott Gottlieb Have In Common? 15.02.2018

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Paige Winfield-Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss President Donald Trump’s budget plan and how some states are trying to stabilize the Affordable Care Act, while others are trying to violate it. Also, Julie and KHN’s Sarah...

Episode 32: There’s a Really Big Health Bill in that Budget Deal 09.02.2018

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss health policy changes in the just-concluded bipartisan budget deal on Capitol Hill. The panelists talk about the final enrollment numbers for individual insurance purchased under the Affordable Care Act,...

Episode 31: The State of the (Health) Union 31.01.2018

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, and Julie Appleby and Sarah Jane Tribble of Kaiser Health News discuss President Trump’s drug price promises in his first State of the Union Address. The panelists also discuss the departure of the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after conflict-of-intere...

Episode 30: CHIP (Finally) Gets Funded 25.01.2018

In this episode of “What The Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the short-term spending bill passed by Congress that reopened the federal government and funded the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years. The panelists also discussed the health programs s...

Episode 29: Our First Live Show: What The Health Will Happen In 2018? 18.01.2018

In this episode of “What the Health?” -- taped in front of a live audience -- Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the potential government shutdown and what may be...

Episode 28: Should You Work For Your Medicaid Coverage? 12.01.2018

In this episode of “What The Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss possible new work requirements for Medicaid recipients and the latest on renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, plus Rovner interviews Princeton health historian Paul Starr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Episode 27: While You Were Celebrating… 04.01.2018

In this episode of “What The Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Paige Winfield Cunningham of the Washington Post, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss this week’s news, as well as some health-related court rulings and other events that happened around the holidays. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend their favorite healt...

Episode 26: The Year In Health Policy 21.12.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss this week’s news, including health issues in the just-passed tax bill. They also look back on the year in health policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 25: Farewell Individual Mandate 15.12.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss health issues in the emerging tax bill, including the likely repeal of fines for those who fail to obtain health insurance. They also talk about the end of “open enrollment” for 2018 individual health insuranc...

Episode 24: Is Health Care Spending Still The Hungry, Hungry Hippo? 08.12.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of the Wall Street Journal, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Margot Sanger Katz of The New York Times discuss new health spending numbers from the federal government, as well as how the year-end legislating in Congress is being complicated by health issues. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists re...

Episode 23: Taxes, Medicare And The Year-End Mess 30.11.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the possible impact of the tax bill on the Medicare program, confirmation hearings for a new secretary of Health and Human Services and the future of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend...

Episode 22: Meanwhile, In Other Health News… 21.11.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Sarah Jane Tribble of Kaiser Health News discuss some of the under-covered health stories of the past several weeks, including drug price issues, the opioid epidemic and women’s reproductive health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Episode 21: Tax Bill Or Health Bill? 17.11.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the inclusion of health policies into the current tax cut debate, including a possible repeal of the fines for people who fail to maintain health insurance. Also, the latest on the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a nominee...

Episode 20: We Have Numbers! 10.11.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the first days of open enrollment for 2018 individual health insurance plans and whether the Democratic gains in Tuesday’s off-off-year elections will have any impact on health care policy in Washington, D.C. Hosted on Acast. S...

Episode 19: How Confused Are We? 02.11.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the start of open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, legislative efforts on Capitol Hill on taxes and children’s health insurance and recommendations of President Donald Trump's opioid com...

Episode 18: Open Enrollment is Nigh 26.10.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss this year’s open enrollment for individual health insurance that starts Nov. 1. And Julie interviews Lori Lodes, former Obama administration health official and founder of the new group “Get Covered America.”Plu...

Episode 17: Whiplash 19.10.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the bipartisan plan in the Senate to stabilize the individual insurance exchanges, and President Donald Trump’s mixed messages about his support or lack thereof. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recomme...

Episode 16: Let’s Blow It All Up 13.10.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Sarah Kliff of Vox and Julie Appleby of Kaiser Health News discuss the Trump administration’s latest efforts to undermine the individual insurance market. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Episode 15: Congress Is CHIPPING Away At Health Insurance For Kids 04.10.2017

In this episode of “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 Joanne Kenen of Politico discuss Congress’ tardiness in renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), and play the parlor game of who might become the new secretary of Health and Human Services. Plus the pod panel interviews Rep...

Episode 14: Repeal And Replace Is Dead. What Now? 28.09.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Margot Sanger-Katz of the New York Times, and Paige Winfield Cunningham of the Washington Post discuss what happens now that Republicans have officially failed in their latest effort to overhaul Obamacare. Plus an interview with Bruce Lesley of First Focus about the fate of the Children...

Episode 13: Zombie Repeal-And-Replace Bill Rises Again 20.09.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss Senate Republicans’ last-ditch effort to upend the Affordable Care Act ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 12: Health Plans Busting Out All Over 13.09.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of the New York Times, and Stephanie Armour of the Wall Street Journal discuss Democratic, Republican, and bipartisan health proposals all being pursued in Congress, including the latest version of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) “Medicare-for-All” proposal. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Episode 11: Welcome Back Congress. Now Get To Work. 08.09.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of the New York Times, and Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser Health News discuss the return of Congress and bipartisan efforts to shore up the individual health insurance market for 2018, as well as renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists re...

Episode 10: Hurricane Harvey And Health Costs 31.08.2017

In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss the potential health impact of Hurricane Harvey on the Texas Gulf Coast, and what impact the relief effort in Washington could have on an already jam-packed September agenda. Also this week: an interview with Elisabeth Rosenthal about why medical...

Episode 9: Back To Health Crunch Come September 24.08.2017

Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss the continuing efforts in Congress to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, upcoming open enrollment for individual insurance and Congress’ long health care to-do list for September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

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