Politico's Pulse Check

With Congress on recess, POLITICO reporters break down a series of recent stories. First, POLITICO's Sarah Owermohle and Paul Demko discuss the FDA's landmark hearing on CBD and separate efforts to legalize marijuana. (Starts at the 0:50 mark.) Then, POLITICO's Rachana Pradhan and Adam Cancryn join Dan to review the policy fights over abortion access, drug pricing and LGBTQ protections, and how they're playing ahead of 2020 election campaigns. (Starts at the 16:25 mark.)

Less than three years ago, Lisa Blunt Rochester had never held elected office. Now the Delaware congresswoman — the first African-American and the first woman to represent her state — is emerging as a player in the House's health care efforts. Blunt Rochester joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss her key role in the Obamacare and drug pricing legislation that just passed the House, how she views the health industry as a former state health official and why she endorsed longtime friend Joe Biden for president. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Blunt Rochester's MORE Health Education Act was a key part of House Democrats' health care package last week. Blunt Rochester in April endorsed Biden for the presidency. Blunt Rochester broke new ground when she was elected in 2016 to represent Delaware.

For health care policy wonks, for decades, perhaps there was no more recognizable name than "Uwe" — the Princeton professor who could explain health care's broken economics in a snappy soundbite. Uwe Reinhardt passed away in November 2017 but his new book is out this week. His wife and collaborator, Tsung-Mei (May) Cheng, sat down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss Reinhardt's life, work and lasting lessons. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW "Priced Out," Reinhardt's final book, was published this week. Reinhardt appeared on NPR's "Fresh Air" in 2009 to discuss the push for the Affordable Care Act. POLITICO Pulse Check's November 2017 reflections on Reinhardt. (Starts at the 45:38 mark.) "It's the prices, stupid," Reinhardt and colleagues declared in a 2003 Health Affairs paper on the United States' problem with high health costs. At Stat News, Gerard Anderson — a Johns Hopkins professor and co-author on the "prices, stupid" paper — reflects on Reinhardt's life and work.

Two months ago, Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater learned that the state's flagship hospital system had paid Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh at least $500,000 for her self-published "Healthy Holly" children's books — even as Pugh sat on the system's board. More stunning details quickly emerged, and the resulting scandal has reshaped Maryland politics — Pugh resigned last week — and sparked new hospital legislation. Luke joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how he got the story, how the Sun has covered the fallout and where Maryland's hospitals and politicians go from here. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Luke's initial March 13 story on the University of Maryland Medical System's deals with its board members. Pugh's March 28 press conference, where she defended her work and touted "Healthy Holly" themed baby clothes. Luke's May 4 story on Pugh's decision to resign. The Baltimore Sun's archive of coverage in the scandal. Washington Post book critic Carlos Lozada reviewed the "Healthy Holly" book series an

The health care industry is trying to stop "Medicare for All." It's also a non-starter with Republicans, and some Democrats don't like it either. But progressives who support single-payer can count on the muscle of one key constituency: Organized labor. Bonnie Castillo, the head of National Nurses United, joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss why her 150,000-member-strong union has thrown its support behind Medicare for All, why she thinks the legislation would help patients and her members, and how her organization is setting strategy and viewing the 2020 election. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Activist Ady Barkan, who's testifying at this week's historic Medicare for All hearing, appeared on "Pulse Check" in December 2017, at an earlier stage of fighting ALS. National Nurses United helped organize a Medicare for All protest outside of the headquarters of PhRMA, the drug lobby, on Monday. Nursing unions have spent years pushing for policy priorities like nurse-to-patient ratios.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar and other officials this week unveiled new payment pilots that they say will transform primary care. Are they right? POLITICO's Rachel Roubein and Paul Demko join Dan Diamond to discuss the payment pilots (starts at the 1:30 mark), the latest Obamacare changes (starts at the 9:35 mark) and new developments in the "Medicare-for-All" debate (starts at the 17:10 mark). Then Asaf Bitton, the new leader of Ariadne Labs — the Atul Gawande-founded think tank — joins PULSE CHECK to discuss his vision for Ariadne and his experience as an adviser on this week's primary care reforms (starts at the 25:10 mark). MENTIONED ON THE SHOW HHS on Monday unveiled new payment pilots intended to reward primary care providers for high-value care. In a speech, Azar called it a "historic turning point in American health care." CMS last week finalized new rules for the Obamacare marketplace in 2020, which the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said will hit many consumers' pocketbooks. A new Kaiser Fa

On this week's episode, POLITICO reporters debate two of the biggest stories in health policy. First, POLITICO's Adam Cancryn and Alice Miranda Ollstein join Dan Diamond to discuss Bernie Sanders' new Medicare for All plan and how Democrats are approaching the fight for coverage expansion. Then after the break (starts at the 25:30 mark), pharma reporter Sarah Owermohle summarizes recent Congressional hearings into high drug prices and pharmacy benefit managers and previews a possible regulation to come. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Sanders unveiled his Medicare for All plan last week and touted it aggressively — including on Fox News. Congressional Republicans have pushed for votes on Medicare for All, seeking to highlight Democrats' splits. The New York Times profiled the tensions between the Sanders campaign and the Center for American Progress, partly over health care plans. The article sparked outrage from many Democrats, some of whom objected to quoting the 78-year-old mother of CAP's president. Lawmaker

Tony Fauci joined NIH in 1968. He was named head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1984. And on a warm day in April 2019, he sat down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to reflect on his ongoing work — from the emergence of HIV/AIDS nearly 40 years ago to how the Trump administration is trying to end the epidemic. On the podcast, Fauci also discussed the resurgence of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, his perspective on the Trump administration and what it's like to give advice to a president. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW President Donald Trump has vowed to effectively end HIV transmission within a decade. Fauci has long argued that we have the tools to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Jen Kates of the Kaiser Family Foundation recently appeared on "Pulse Check" to discuss Trump's HIV policy. Fauci was a prominent voice during the Ebola epidemic, urging a measured response and even treating one patient himself.

Rep. Joe Kennedy first appeared on this podcast in early 2017, at House Democrats' lowest moment: The GOP had steamrolled the party, speeding an Affordable Care Act repeal bill that seemed inevitable. But the GOP's efforts ultimately failed; Democrats retook the House a year later; and Kennedy this week rejoined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to reflect on how House Democrats' health policy has changed as they've become the majority party, why he now supports a Medicare for All bill, how he approaches questioning Trump officials like HHS Secretary Alex Azar and more. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Kennedy's 2017 appearance on the "Pulse Check" podcast. House Democrats have worried that the push for "Medicare for All" could divert the caucus' energy from other health care priorities, like preserving the Affordable Care Act. Kennedy's questioning of HHS Secretary Alex Azar during a hearing last month, which went viral. Kennedy last week introduced a bill to strengthen Medicaid and CHIP funding.

Just a year ago, Mike Braun was an underdog in the Republican primary for an Indiana Senate seat. Now he's a freshman senator, installed on the Senate's key health care committee — and pushing his own package of health reforms. Braun joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to explain his frustration over how Washington regulates the U.S. health system, his criticism of the latest effort to strike down the ACA and why he thinks more Republicans need to make health care a policy priority.

Scott Gottlieb was nominated to run the FDA in March 2017. Two years — and nearly 500 press announcements — later, the productive and high-profile commissioner is preparing to step down in early April 2019. Gottlieb joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss why he's leaving FDA (starts at 1:30), his regulatory and communications strategy (4:40), his work on medical device safety (10:30), digital health (16:30), opioid abuse (19:15), the Trump administration's approach to science and the choice of Ned Sharpless as acting FDA commissioner (24:25), what Gottlieb would've pursued if he had more time at FDA (26:30) and if he'll ever return to government (28:30). MENTIONED ON THE SHOW As commissioner, Gottlieb has received bipartisan praise for his activist agenda. Gottlieb's aggressive moves as commissioner came as a surprise, given his pre-Trump administration reputation as someone with a free-market background. The conservative Washington Times cheered Gottlieb's departure, suggesting that he became "an aven

He's tried to cut global HIV funds. He's made moves to roll back LGBTQ protections. He reportedly confused "HIV" and "HPV." Can we really trust President Donald Trump when he promises to end the HIV epidemic in a decade? Jen Kates of the Kaiser Family Foundation joins POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss the president's pledge, his latest funding moves and the state of the global fight against HIV. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Trump promised at the State of the Union that he would end "AIDS in America and beyond." The strategy unveiled by Trump's health department faces a potential minefield, from skeptical public health experts to conservative religious organizations. Meanwhile, Trump's budget proposed new money for domestic HIV initiatives — but significantly cut global health efforts. Anthony Fauci, the federal government's top infectious disease official, says that the recent cure of an HIV patient isn't a path to curing everyone.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb's leaving the Trump administration, and POLITICO reporters react to the monumental news. In the first panel (starts at the 1:30 mark), Sarah Karlin-Smith and Adam Cancryn join Dan Diamond to react to Gottlieb's resignation and discuss the political implications. In the second panel (starts at the 21:00 mark), Sarah Owermohle and Helena Bottemiller Evich join Dan to discuss Gottlieb's policies and reflect on his legacy. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Gottlieb's appeared on PULSE CHECK twice: In January 2018, to discuss his agency's priorities, and November 2018, to unveil his e-cigarette strategy. POLITICO's Sarah, Sarah and Helena looked at Gottlieb's departure and key milestones. Bloomberg's Max Nisen argued that Gottlieb was the Trump administration's most popular official. The shutdown hit FDA especially hard, with Gottlieb and others warning that FDA's food safety inspections were imperiled.

More than 100 House Democrats on Wednesday, led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, unveiled their sweeping Medicare for All legislation. So what comes next — and why is the health care industry so opposed to it? First, POLITICO's Alice Miranda Ollstein joins Dan Diamond (starts at the 1:05 mark) on Capitol Hill to explain the state of play. Then Lauren Crawford Shaver, head of the Partnership for America's Health Care Future (starts at the 9:00 mark), explains why her members — groups like the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association — think Medicare for All and Democrats' other proposals are non-starters. REFERENCED ON THE SHOW Democrats' Medicare for All bill, released this week, doesn't include a price tag, Alice and POLITICO's Adam Cancryn wrote. Jayapal appeared on "Pulse Check" in December 2018 to discuss her Medicare for All plans. The Partnership has been running digital ads against Medicare for All.

With Congress on recess, POLITICO's reporters (and a bonus guest) take stock of three big stories in a grab-bag episode. First, Rachana Pradhan leads a conversation on Utah's controversial changes to voter-approved Medicaid expansion (starts at the 1:20 mark). Next, Paul Demko offers an update on lawsuits over President Donald Trump's cancellation of ACA payments to insurers (starts at the 12:40 mark). Finally, Rodney Whitlock — a former top aide to Sen. Chuck Grassley — joins POLITICO's reporters to help preview next week's drug pricing hearings in the Senate (starts at the 24:00 mark). MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Utah's GOP leaders shrunk the state's voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Rachana will sit down with Utah Gov. Gary Herbert on Friday morning at a POLITICO livestreamed event. Multiple judges have now ruled that the United States owes billions of dollars to insurers after Trump cancelled certain ACA payments in 2017. Seven leading pharma executives will face the Senate Finance Committee in a much-an

"In our view, our jurisdiction is the world... Every time you watch the nightly news, [I] come up with at least three new ideas for hearings." Rep. Diana DeGette, the Colorado Democrat leading oversight for the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, joins POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss why she prioritized hearings on family separations, vow an investigation of high insulin prices, reflect on her mentor John Dingell and more. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW DeGette's subcommittee held its first hearing last week, focused on HHS' role in family separations. DeGette, alongside GOP Rep. Tom Reed, probed the high prices of insulin last year. DeGette says she has questions about HHS' new fetal tissue policy. Planned Parenthood's Leana Wen was on the podcast last week. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley also joined POLITICO in recent weeks to discuss his priorities. Bob Carey, the former head of the HHS refugee office, joined the podcast last year to explain the refugee office and his concerns about t

"We are at a time when everything is at stake… If we don’t fight and we don’t lead the charge… then who is going to?” The Trump administration has made no secret of its plans to roll back access to abortion. One of the key figures attempting to stop them: Leana Wen, a physician tapped to be Planned Parenthood's new leader last fall. Wen joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to rebut President Trump's latest efforts to limit abortion access, explain her vision for Planned Parenthood and share reflections on her fast-rising career. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Wen was tapped in September 2018 as the new leader of Planned Parenthood — the first doctor to run the organization in decades. BuzzFeed profiled Wen and her vision for Planned Parenthood, although Wen later took issue with the headline. Marjorie Dannenfelser, head of the prominent anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, appeared on POLITICO's podcast last year. In a separate episode, POLITICO reporters traced the fight over abortion access. (Interested in mor

Sen. Chuck Grassley says it's time for the secrecy in the pharma industry to end. "The lack of transparency... is something that allows the shenanigans that we read about every day," the Senate Finance Committee chairman said, on the eve of his committee's first drug pricing hearing. Grassley sat down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to review his drug pricing plans, explain his approach to government oversight and talk through his priorities — including his famous use of Twitter. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Grassley in 1983 disregarded the Reagan administration to probe Pentagon cost overruns. The resulting hearing led to a TIME Magazine cover story. Grassley in 2017 pushed back against the Trump administration's effort to limit oversight requests. Grassley in 2018 co-sponsored the CREATES Act, which was intended to lower prescription drug prices. Grassley has used social media to promote a variety of priorities — including his ongoing "corn watch."

Ashish Jha has spent years sounding the alarm about the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program — an Obamacare policy intended to encourage hospitals to provide better care. But Jha argues the program instead put patients at risk, and new data suggests he might be right. Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, joins POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss the readmissions policy and the latest data. Jha also reflects on the Trump administration’s approach to global health and how his perspective has evolved over the past two years. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Jha’s February 2017 appearance on POLITICO “Pulse Check,” where he discussed his career and global health priorities. A JAMA study in December found a link between the readmissions policy and rising mortality. Harvard researchers this month also concluded that Medicare has overstated the benefits of its readmissions policy. Yale’s Harlan Krumholz helped develop the policy and has extensively defended it, including in this 2017 comment in JAMA.

Why spend more than a year investigating hospital bills? Vox's Sarah Kliff says it all started with a $629 band-aid; now she's probing a hospital named after Facebook's founder. Sarah — a senior policy correspondent, host of "The Impact" podcast and a former POLITICO reporter — sits down with Dan Diamond to discuss her billing series and the reaction, what she's learned about health care prices and how she thinks about policy journalism. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Sarah's story on Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and its unusual billing practices. Sarah's ongoing series on hospital billing and the impact on patients. Dan's story on efforts to regulate not-for-profit hospitals, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley.