U.S. Congress Archives - Page 11 of 50 - ��ýҕ�l Health News

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

A Very Good Night for Abortion Rights Backers

Episode 322

Nov. 9, 2023

Abortion rights backers won major victories in at least five states in the 2023 off-year elections Nov. 7, proving the staying power of abortion as a political issue in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health finally has a new director, after Democrats temporarily blocked President Joe Biden’s nominee over a mostly unrelated fight about prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join ��ýҕ�l Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews ��ýҕ�l Health News’ Julie Appleby, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

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A photo of former Governor Martin O'Malley seated and moving a microphone while testifying before the Senate Finance Committee.

��ýҕ�l Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Biden Pick to Lead Social Security Pledges Action on ‘Heartbreaking’ Clawbacks

At a Senate confirmation hearing, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said he would address hardships the Social Security agency has caused by demanding money back from beneficiaries.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Nov. 3, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

The New Speaker’s (Limited) Record on Health

Episode 320

Oct. 26, 2023

The House finally has a new speaker: Mike Johnson (R-La). He’s a relative newcomer who’s been a lower-level member of the House GOP leadership. And while he’s an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage, his record on other health issues is scant. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health appears on track to be getting a new director, and Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement experiment is off to a very slow start. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Rachel Cohrs of Stat join ��ýҕ�l Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

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A photo of Monica Bertagnolli sitting inside of a Senate committee room with her nameplate visible in front of her.

Postcard from Capitol Hill

Biden Pick to Lead NIH Finally Has Her Day, but Still Gets Caught Up in Drug Price Debate

Monica Bertagnolli, the president’s choice to head the National Institutes of Health, appeared before a Senate committee this week. Her confirmation has been held up by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has demanded President Joe Biden work more aggressively to lower prescription drug prices.

By Colleen DeGuzman

Oct. 19, 2023

Three pictures of U.S. senators. On the left is Sen. Ron Wyden. In the center is Sen. Bob Casey. On the right is Sen. Sherrod Brown.

��ýҕ�l Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Senators Demand Answers From Social Security on Clawbacks Tied to Covid Relief

Covid relief payments weren’t supposed to cost people their Social Security benefits, but some recipients say they did. Senators want to know why.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 19, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

The Open Enrollment Mixing Bowl

Episode 319

Oct. 19, 2023

Open enrollment for Medicare beneficiaries with private health plans began Oct. 15, to be followed Nov. 1 by open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans. The selection for both is large — often too large to be navigated easily alone. And people who choose incorrectly can end up with unaffordable medical bills. Meanwhile, those on both sides of the abortion issue are looking to Ohio’s November ballot measure on abortion to see whether anti-abortion forces can break their losing streak in statewide ballot questions since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

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A screenshot from a livestream of Kilolo Kijakazi testifying during a subcommittee hearing in the House of Representatives.

��ýҕ�l Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Under Fire, Social Security Chief Vows ‘Top-to-Bottom’ Review of Payment Clawbacks

Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi was pressed by a House Ways and Means subcommittee to explain why so many poor, disabled, or retired people are suddenly hit with demands that can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 18, 2023

A photo of an older man reading on the couch in the background. His adult daughter, who is blind and has cerebral palsy, sits in the foreground.

��ýҕ�l Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Covid Relief Payments Triggered Feds to Demand Money Back From Social Security Recipients

Some Social Security beneficiaries say the government is clawing back benefits after they received covid stimulus payments that were supposed to be exempt from asset limits.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 18, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

Health Funding in Question in a Speaker-Less Congress

Episode 318

Oct. 12, 2023

A bitterly divided Congress managed to keep the federal government running for several more weeks, while House Republicans struggle — again — to choose a leader. Meanwhile, many people removed from state Medicaid rolls are not finding their way to Affordable Care Act insurance, and a major investigation by The Washington Post attributes the decline in U.S. life expectancy to more than covid-19 and opioids. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join ��ýҕ�l Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews physician-author-playwright Samuel Shem about “Our Hospital,” his new novel about the health workforce in the age of covid.

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��ýҕ�l Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

House Panel to Hold Hearing on Erroneous Social Security Payments

Congress is beginning to take action on the Social Security Administration’s clawbacks of payments it mistakenly made to poor, retired, and disabled Americans.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 11, 2023

��ýҕ�l Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Social Security Chief Orders Broad Review of Benefit Overpayments

In the wake of an investigation by ��ýҕ�l Health News and Cox Media Group, the SSA acting commissioner said a special team will review “overpayment policies and procedures” and report directly back to her.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Oct. 4, 2023

Two vector images of a Black woman. In the left image, she is pregnant. In the right image, she is holding a newborn baby.

Facing Criticism, Feds Award First Maternal Health Grant to a Predominantly Black Rural Area

Mississippi has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the U.S. Now, it also has a federal grant to help in rural areas. The award could signal more flexibility from federal officials.

By Sarah Jane Tribble

Oct. 2, 2023

A split-screen photo showing Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator Maggie Hassan, Senator Rick Scott, Representative Mike Carey, and Representative John Larson.

��ýҕ�l Health News / CMG TV Stations Investigation

Social Security Overpayments Draw Scrutiny and Outrage From Members of Congress

Lawmakers are faulting the Social Security Administration for issuing billions of dollars of payments that beneficiaries weren’t entitled to receive — and then demanding the money back — in the wake of an investigation by ��ýҕ�l Health News and Cox Media Group.

By David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group

Sept. 29, 2023

What Happens to Health Programs if the Federal Government Shuts Down?

Medicare and Medicaid shouldn’t be affected, but confusion can be expected.

By Julie Rovner

Sept. 27, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

Countdown to Shutdown

Episode 315

Sept. 21, 2023

Congress appears to be careening toward a government shutdown, as a small band of House conservatives vow to block any funding for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 unless they win deeper cuts to health and other domestic programs. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump continues to roil the GOP presidential primary field, this time with comments about abortion. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Tami Luhby of CNN join ��ýҕ�l Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.

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A photo of the dome of the U.S. Capitol at dawn.

In Move to Slash CDC Budget, House Republicans Target Major HIV Program Trump Launched

Republicans in Congress have proposed substantial cuts to the budget of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking aim at one of former President Donald Trump’s major health programs: a push to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

By Andy Miller and Sam Whitehead

Sept. 8, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

Welcome Back, Congress. Now Get to Work.

Episode 313

Sept. 7, 2023

Congress returns from its summer recess with a long list of tasks and only a few work days to get them done. On top of the annual spending bills needed to keep the government operating, on the list are bills to renew the global HIV/AIDS program, PEPFAR, and the community health centers program. Meanwhile, over the recess, the Biden administration released the names of the first 10 drugs selected for the Medicare price negotiation program.

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A photo of a construction worker covering his face with his hand while working outside.

Workers Pay the Price While Congress and Employers Debate Need for Heat Regulations

Studies suggest official numbers vastly underestimate heat-related injuries and illness on the job. To institute protections, the government must calculate their cost — and the cost of inaction.

By Amy Maxmen

Sept. 5, 2023

A photo of a medical team ready for surgery in an operating room.

After Backlash, Feds Cancel Plan That Risked Limiting Breast Reconstruction Options

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services backed off from a plan that could have curtailed access to a type of reconstructive surgery known as DIEP flap. Breast cancer patient advocates are relieved.

By Rachana Pradhan, Anna Werner, CBS News, and Leigh Ann Winick, CBS News

Aug. 23, 2023

What the Health? From ��ýҕ�l Health News

Congress Is Out. The Presidential Campaign Is In.

Episode 308

Aug. 3, 2023

Congress is in recess until after Labor Day, and lawmakers won’t have much time when they return to get the government funded before the next fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Republican campaign for president has begun in earnest, and while repealing the Affordable Care Act is no longer the top promise, some candidates have lively ideas about what to do with federal health programs. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join ��ýҕ�l Health News’ chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews ��ýҕ�l Health News’ Phil Galewitz, who reported the latest ��ýҕ�l Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month,” about how a bill that should never have been sent created headaches for one patient.

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