Politico's Pulse Check

The CDC has a new leader who’s working to regain the public’s trust in the sometimes-beleaguered agency. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO health care reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo, who caught up with CDC Director Mandy Cohen to discuss her national “trust” tour and her plans for the agency’s future.            

Some state insurance commissioners want Congress to restore their authority to regulate Medicare Advantage marketing. Host Ben Leonard talks with POLITICO health care reporter Robert King about what they want and why.  

The U.S. drug overdose crisis is out of control. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Carmen Paun about why Washington’s efforts are failing.

Some experts fear the FDA's accelerated approval process for neurological disease treatments greenlights clinically promising but unproven drugs that can result in giving patients false hope. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO health care reporter Katherine Ellen Foley about how the FDA is balancing those concerns against the needs of patients.

For the first time, CMS is screening Medicare Advantage plan TV ads before they air, blocking hundreds of them over what the agency calls misleading information and unsubstantiated claims. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO health care reporter Robert King about the impact of CMS policing ads during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period.    

The Biden administration’s health care price transparency rules were meant to help employers get better deals from insurers. But, so far, the data’s quality has been so poor that they can’t use it. Host Lauren Gardner talks with POLITICO health care reporter Kelly Hooper about how the unclear data prevents employers from shopping around for insurers.  

Health care policy is at the center of some congressional hearings this week. Host Megan R. Wilson talks with reporter Ben Leonard about how health care issues figure into upcoming action on Capitol Hill.     

After months of delay, senators on the HELP Committee on Wednesday will vet President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health: Dr. Monica Bertagnolli. Host Daniel Payne talks with POLITICO health care reporter Erin Schumaker about the reasons for the delay and what to expect at the hearing. 

Rep. Michael McCaul's (R-Texas) has seen the fentanyl crisis up close, whichdrives his push for bipartisan legislation against opioid trafficking. Host Daniel Payne talks with POLITICO global health reporter Carmen Paun about McCaul's attempts to build support.

In four weeks, voters in Ohio will decide whether to add abortion protections into the state constitution. Host Lauren Gardner talks with Alice Miranda Ollstein about why anti-abortion groups are pinning their hopes on the Buckeye State.            

Many Republicans in the U.S. point to European policies when pushing to restrict gender-affirming care for minors, but the view on the other side of The Atlantic is more nuanced than portrayed. Host Kelly Hooper talks with Kaja Klapsa, a former POLITICO fellow and a reporter for the German newspaper Die WELT, who sorts out the details.    

Lawmakers have proposed legislation that could cost hospitals billions. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO reporter Megan R. Wilson about what’s in the bills and why hospitals, despite their clout on Capitol Hill, are facing a tough fight.

The number of cases in The Big Apple is on pace to hit the city's highest levels in more than a decade. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO New York health care reporter Maya Kaufman about the rise in infections and the implications.

A 3-day strike by nearly 75,000 nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and other health care workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington state began Wednesday. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO’s labor reporter Nick Niedzwiadek about what the workers want and the strike's impact on the health care system.            

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is about to embark on monumental drug price negotiations, and one of its first steps will be to host patient listening sessions. Host Lauren Gardner talks with POLITICO reporter Robert King about the sessions, designed to gather patient input on the first 10 drugs selected for price negotiation.

A continuing resolution will keep the federal government open through Nov. 17. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO reporter Ben Leonard about what happens to health care agencies and programs.

The Congressional Budget Office released a report showing that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, created under Obamacare to test new ways to pay for health care, will increase federal spending rather than reducing it. In 2010, CBO projected CMMI would reduce spending by $2.8 billion over 10 years, but current estimates show it increasing $1.3 billion from 2021 to 2030. Host Ben Leonard talks with Robert King about why.

Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO health care reporter Daniel Payne about key takeaways from POLITICO’s “Mission Update: Inside the Cancer Moonshot” live event.      

The Biden administration has not reversed a Trump-era rule pushing a type of insurance plan that can save employers money but not necessarily employees. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO health care reporter Kelly Hooper about why.

The American Medical Association’s shift on social issues has strained its ties to the GOP, risking influence on health care policy. Host Lauren Gardner talks with POLITICO health care reporter Daniel Payne about the growing divide between the influential doctors group and Republicans.