[Editor’s note: This transcript was generated using both transcription software and a human’s light touch. It has been edited for style and clarity.]
Julie Rovner: Hello, and invite back to “What the Health?” I’m Julie Rovner, chief Washington reporter for KFF Health News, and I’m signed up with by a few of the very best and most intelligent health press reporters in Washington. We’re taping today on Thursday, March 14, at 10 a.m. Happy Pi Day, everybody. As constantly, news takes place quickly and things may have altered by the time you hear this, so here we go. We are signed up with today by means of video conference by Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times.
Margot Sanger-Katz: Good early morning, everyone.
Rovner: Anna Edney of Bloomberg News.
Anna Edney: Hi there.
Rovner: And Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine.
Joanne Kenen: Hey, everybody.
Rovner: Later in this episode we’ll have my interview with Dr. Kelly Henning, head of the general public health program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. She’ll offer us a sneak peek of the brand-new four-part documentary series on the history of public health called “The Invisible Shield;” It premieres on PBS March 26. Initially this week’s news. We’re going to begin here in Washington with the yearly State of the Union/ budget plan dance, which this year accompanies the official launch of the basic election project, with both President Biden and previous President Donald Trump having actually clinched their particular elections today.
Regardless of earlier claims that this year’s project would mainly overlook health problems, that’s ending up not a lot to be the case. Biden in his speech highlighted reproductive health, which we’ll discuss in a minute, in addition to prescription drug rates and the Affordable Care Act growths. His proposed spending plan launched on Monday consists of tips of how to operationalize a few of those propositions, consisting of broadening Medicare’s drug working out powers. Did anything in specific in the speech or the budget plan dive out at any of you? Anything we weren’t anticipating.
Edney: I would not state there was anything that I wasn’t anticipating. There were things that I was informed I need to not anticipate which I seem like I’ve been shown right, therefore I’m delighted about that, which was the Medicare drug rate settlement. I believed that was a win that he was going to take a lap on throughout the State of the Union, and definitely he did. And he’s likewise discussing attempting to broaden it, although that appears to deal with a very uphill struggle, however it’s an excellent talking point.
Rovner: Well, and naturally the broadened aids from the ACA end at the end of next year. I picture there’s going to be enough of a battle simply to keep those going?
Edney: Yeah. I believe individuals truly value the aids. If those were to disappear, then the uninsured rate might increase.