VJulie Rovner KHN @jrovner. Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KHN’s weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?” A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third edition.
President Joe Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget proposal includes new policies and funding boosts for many of the Democratic Party’s important constituencies, including advocates for people with disabilities and reproductive rights. It also proposes ways to shore up Medicare’s dwindling Hospital Insurance Trust Fund without cutting benefits, basically daring Republicans to match him on the politically potent issue.
The state of Texas is being sued by five women who claim they were denied abortions when their pregnancies endangered their lives or the viability of the fetuses they were carrying. They assert that the Texas abortion ban’s wording prevents doctors from offering necessary care without worrying about facing severe penalties or jail time.
Julie Rovner of KHN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times will be on the panel this week.@victoriaregisk Victoria Knight Axios Luthra Shefali The 19th Margot Sanger-Katz @Shefalil @sangerkatz The New York Times
Some of the lessons from this week’s show include:
In order to advance progressive objectives and preserve Medicare while keeping the Medicare trust fund stable, Biden’s budget skillfully walks a fine line. Republican budget proposals have not yet been made, but it appears certain that any GOP plan will mainly rely on Medicaid cuts and subsidies given by the Affordable Care Act. Both of those will be opposed by Democrats.
Despite the Democratic “wish list” of social policy priorities being included in the president’s budget, this year’s suggestions are less comprehensive than those from the previous year. Instead, many build on prior accomplishments, such as expanding the $35 monthly Medicare cost cap for insulin to private insurance.
