Politico's Pulse Check

Hospitals are seeing a rise in uncompensated care as millions lose Medicaid coverage after redetermination resumed, according to new data. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO health care reporter Ben Leonard about what that could mean for hospitals.

A growing shortage of primary care physicians paired with an influx of nurse practitioners and physician assistants is rapidly changing who provides Americans health care. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO reporter Erin Schumaker about what’s driving this shift and what it means for patients. 

Former president Donald Trump’s zigzagging on abortion policy is causing turmoil within the anti-abortion movement and shaking up the dynamics of the GOP presidential primary. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO reporter Sally Goldenberg about the fallout.    

Host Katherine Ellen Foley and health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein discuss key takeaways from POLITICO’s “Transforming Health Care: Site-Neutral Payments & Billing Transparency” live event.   

YouTube wants to become an authority on medical information. Host Lauren Gardner talks with POLITICO reporter Erin Schumaker about plans by the online video sharing and social media platform to do that.  

The new CDC director is working to regain public confidence in the agency following the Covid-19 pandemic. Host Ben Leonard talks with POLITICO health care reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo about the agency's plans to improve communication and transparency. 

The Biden administration has proposed new rules aimed at making health insurers comply with a 2008 law requiring them to offer mental health care on the same terms as physical health. Insurers say they’re trying, but workforce shortages stand in the way.

The former president is among a group of establishment Republicans working to convince anti-abortion groups and conservatives to support reauthorizing the global HIV/AIDS program. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO global health care reporter Carmen Paun about the last-ditch effort. 

The Affordable Care Act created health insurance co-ops to spur competition. Most have been very public failures, but three managed to survive. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO cannabis editor Paul Demko about the strategies employed by these surviving co-ops and how their example might help improve health care access.    

Deadly heat is expanding across the hottest parts of the globe, and large swaths will face conditions that test the limits of human survival, according to a new study. Host Daniel Payne talks with E&E’s climate science reporter Chelsea Harvey about the study’s implications for policymakers and public health.    

House Republican leaders have unveiled a new health care package focused on boosting transparency and addressing high drug costs. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO health care reporter Ben Leonard about what's in the package.

As millions lose Medicaid coverage, states are taking steps to prevent consumers from purchasing junk health insurance plans that offer limited benefits. Robert King talks with POLITICO health care reporter Kelly Hooper about state efforts to curb misleading health insurance marketing as consumers seek new coverage.            

With personal U.S. medical debt at alarming levels, state legislators in more than a dozen states have enacted consumer protections to address the issue. Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO deputy health care editor Dan Goldberg about the growing crisis.    

As Congress considers bipartisan reforms to increase regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, advocates are pushing to maintain momentum. Katherine Ellen Foley talks with POLITICO reporter Megan R. Wilson about the debate over PBM reforms and the timeline for potential legislative action. 

Congress could miss the September 30 deadline to reauthorize PEPFAR, a law governing U.S. global HIV/AIDS relief, because of abortion disputes, threatening the program’s future. Daniel Payne talks with POLITICO health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein about the potential cuts to the program if Congress can’t reach an agreement by the end of the year.  

There are 25 days before the end of the fiscal year, and a potential government shutdown looms due to a funding standoff between Congress and the White House. Host Kelly Hooper talks with POLITICO HHS reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo about what a shutdown would mean for health care agencies.

The Biden administration on Tuesday is expected to unveil the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiations, setting up legal and political fights over health care costs. Carmen Paun talks with POLITICO White House Correspondent Adam Cancryn about the policy and political implications of this milestone.

A debate is heating up in Congress over proposed changes to high-deductible health insurance plans. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with POLITICO health care reporter Ben Leonard about changes that could help or hurt lower-income families.    

The FDA is working to update standards for prescription drug marketing on radio and TV. But some consumer advocates are calling for updated regulations when it comes to drugs promoted by influencers on social media, where the line between personal endorsement and sponsored content can be blurred. Host Chelsea Cirruzzo talks with POLITICO’s FDA reporter Lauren Gardner about social media’s changing nature and whether the agency can adequately monitor drug-marketing content on online platforms.    

What makes the Florida and Texas infections so puzzling is that the patients contracted malaria here -- after 20 years of no locally transmitted cases. Host Ben Leonard talks with POLITICO fellow Mia McCarthy about the mysterious reemergence and the response from public health experts.