Politico's Pulse Check

The recent short-term government funding agreement has likely closed the door on typical year-end omnibus spending packages that could have advanced health priorities. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO health care reporter David Lim about the dim prospects for passing health policies before year’s end and what it means for 2024.

The latest Lancet Countdown report details the dire consequences of rising temperatures and increasing energy emissions. Host Ben Leonard talks with POLITICO EU health care reporter Ashleigh Furlong about the potential catastrophic threats climate change poses to human health.  

The CDC announced last week that over 77,000 additional doses of a monoclonal antibody shot protecting infants from severe RSV are being distributed to providers amid ongoing shortages. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO health care reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo about the extra doses arriving as the winter illness season approaches.

In a global first, the United Kingdom has approved a gene-editing treatment for some rare blood diseases that may receive U.S. approval next month. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO Europe health care reporter Carlo Martuscelli about the U.K. decision.    

The lack of a year-end omnibus spending bill creates uncertainty for health industry groups seeking 11th hour fixes on Medicare physician payment cuts. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO health care reporter Robert King about possible backup plans for the groups or fixes potentially getting added to other year-end spending bills.

The high cost of weight-loss drugs has states trying to figure out how their employee health plans can afford to cover them. Host Lauren Gardner talks with POLITICO health care reporter Kelly Hooper about Connecticut’s approach, which ties health plan coverage to lifestyle programs, and whether that method can serve as a model for other states.

Organizers behind an abortion-rights initiative have yet to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in the Sunshine State. Host Ben Leonard talks with POLITICO policy reporter Arek Sarkissian about the challenges facing the campaign.    

Four years ago, President Donald Trump convinced Congress to commit millions in funding toward ending AIDS. But House Republicans plan to vote this week to cut most of the funding. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO's Evan Peng about what's behind this dramatic change in Republican support.

Support for abortion rights cuts across party lines, doing significantly better with voters than President Joe Biden and other Democrats. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO health care reporter Megan Messerly, who breaks down the results of Tuesday’s elections and what’s ahead for the 2024 race.

At the 2023 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit this week, experts agreed AI will revolutionize health care, but lawmakers, regulators and thought leaders warned of the risks around misinformation and data privacy, among others . Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with Politico health care reporter Daniel Payne about the key takeaways from the conference.

Doulas — birthing experts who provide nonmedical support during pregnancy and childbirth — have been shown to improve health outcomes and combat racial inequities in maternal mortality and morbidity. New York just passed legislation to increase access to doulas. Host Ruth Reader talks with POLITICO health care reporter Maya Kaufman about the law and how New York plans to expand access statewide.

The CDC’s advisers on infection control are proposing updates to 16-year-old guidance on how doctors can limit transmission of viral infections in health care facilities. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO health care reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo about what’s ahead for the proposed changes.

Gov. Kathy Hochul now opposes state funding for new overdose-prevention centers, despite an advisory board's recommendations. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO health care reporter Maya Kaufman about the governor's shifting stance.   

CMS is holding public listening sessions on Medicare price negotiations for the first 10 drugs selected, but reporting uncovered concerns patient advocates and the pharma industry have over transparency and potential conflicts of interest from some speakers. Host Ben Leonard talks with POLITICO health care reporter David Lim about the ties some speakers have to the industry or advocacy groups.  

The 2024 Affordable Care Act open enrollment period started Wednesday, with changes such as higher premiums and different plan choices. Federal, and in some cases state, subsidies are expected to shield most enrollees from cost hikes. Host Evan Peng talks with POLITICO health care reporter Kelly Hooper about the open enrollment process and what to expect.

Artificial intelligence is working its way into health care. But, so far, government agencies have done little to regulate its use, potentially putting patients at risk for misdiagnoses, bias and privacy violations. Host Lauren Gardner talks with POLITICO health care reporter Daniel Payne about those risks and the debate over how to balance innovation and patient safety.

A Biden administration executive order directs HHS to develop guidelines and oversight for the use of AI in health care. Host Chelsea Cirruzzo talks with POLITICO health care reporter Ben Leonard about what the order means for the sector.  

Ohio voters will decide next week whether to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights, overriding the current six-week ban. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO Morning Score author Madison Fernandez about what's at stake.    

Congress took up new rules from the Biden administration that set minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes. At a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing this week, members debated whether more staff would help care for patients or make it impossible for the businesses to stay afloat. Host Evan Peng talks about that and other workforce issues with POLITICO health care reporter Daniel Payne.    

Sen. Bernie Sanders sought Democratic support for more action on lowering drug prices this year before he advanced President Joe Biden's pick to lead the NIH. It didn't work. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO health care reporter Erin Schumaker about why Sanders' "no" vote on advancing Dr. Monica Bertagnolli's nomination failed.