Health Care News Podcast

Republicans are resisting pressure to include Obamacare premium tax credits in the Stopgap Funding bill which would fund the government until November 21. In this episode of The Heartland Daily Podcast, AnneMarie Schieber, managing editor of Health Care News and Devon Herrick, of the Goodman Institute Health Blog discuss why Republicans should resist that idea. Also on tap, how health insurance premiums have increased 297 percent in the past 24, the rising cost of having a baby, whether there is a special interest campaign to get HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. fired, Trumps’ news conference on Tylenol and autism, and in a $5 trillion industry, how is it that bankruptcies in health care are on the rise?

HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. is clamping down on removing organs from patients declared “brain dead.” Join AnneMarie Schieber, managing editor of Health Care News and Devon Herrick, of the Goodman Institute Health Blog to find out starting new facts on, as well as the latest headlines in health care from a free market perspective. Also on tap, Minnesota is encouraging moms on Medicaid to deliver babies at home, what happened to hormone replacement therapy for women? Will FDA Commissioner Martin Makary take steps to make it more available? Sen. Josh Hawley wants to repeal limits on Medicaid provider taxes to keep rural hospitals afloat, states are suing to stop ICE from using Medicaid data to enforce immigration laws, and is being a doctor today a job or a calling? Devon explains what has changed over the years.

Welcome to another episode of the Heartland Daily Podcast, where Ann Marie Sheber and healthcare economist Devon Herrick unpack this week’s biggest developments in health policy:🔹 Prior Authorization ReformHHS Secretary RFK Jr. & CMS’s Dr. Oz secured voluntary pledges from major insurers to streamline prior authorization—cutting red tape, boosting transparency, and digitizing approvals by 2026–2027. Devon shares a personal story of how prior auth actually saved his wife thousands—and why this process isn’t always the bogeyman.🔹 Healthcare for Gig WorkersWith gig roles rising, rigid benefits laws in states like California have faltered. We discuss how personal HSAs and portable coverage could replace one-size-fits-all models—and help millions working flexibly.🔹 The Heat Wave & Health RisksFrom Chicago’s 1995 heat disaster to Europe’s recent summer crisis, air conditioning isn’t a luxury—it’s lifesaving. We highlight how cooling can protect vulnerable populations and why power reliability matters.🔹 Whole Milk Isn’t the EnemyNew research (Maha Commission) reveals full-fat milk may benefit kids more than skim—boosting nutrition and curbing junky snack cravings. Is it time to rethink “fat-free” school policies?

The "Big Beautiful Act" turned into a big disappointment for Medicaid reform. Instead of adding ways to improve Medicaid benefits, like cutting non-medical spending, Republicans caved. Work requirements and eliminating provider taxes will help, but the failure to fix Medicaid spending now creates major debt headaches just a few years down the road.AnneMarie Schieber, managing editor of Health Care News, and Devon Herrick of the Goodman Institute Health Blog discuss how this golden opportunity was lost in the U.S. House.Also on tap: tips beyond the obvious to bring down your prescription drug bill. Plus, what happened to baby powder? Why does it now feel like chalk? Trial lawyers. Even the American Cancer Society isn't convinced talc is dangerous. And what's a realistic way to understand risk? Vox had a good read on how to consider risk. Devon and AnneMarie agree it’s time to "take a deep breath, relax, and educate yourself." We all die; the only difference is when and how.

Will AI replace your doctor? Bill Gates seems to think so. In today’s podcast, AnneMarie Schieber, managing editor of Health Care News, and Devon Herrick of the Goodman Institute Health Blog discuss where AI can be a benefit—such as reducing medical error. But when it comes to replacing highly trained medical doctors to reduce the doctor shortage and save money for insurance companies, Herrick and Schieber say "nada."Also in the podcast: how tariff policy could impact the low cost of generic drugs in the U.S., and how far Trump should go in getting foreign countries to pay their fair share of drug R&D. Herrick and Schieber also discuss states now authorizing ivermectin to be sold over the counter, and why it’s so difficult for Medicare patients to get good post-acute hospital care. Lots of gaps—and reasons why facilities are closing.

Can you beat a medical bill you feel is unfair? AnneMarie Schieber and Devon Herrick discuss their personal experience. Can Congress rein in Medicaid? Many ideas being consider: block grants to states, changing funding rates for expanded Medicaid, work requirements. Do enrollees value Medicaid or waste it? Schieber and Herrick also discuss “gutting the FDA.” Herrick discusses why DOGE and the Trump administration might want to proceed cautiously. New parody book out critical of MI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her pandemic lockdowns. True Gretchen is a hilarious parody of the governor’s own tome, True Gretch. Be sure to check out Health Care News at the Heartland.org website and the health care blog and the Goodman Institute Health Blog for the free market perspective on the very latest in health care news.

In this episode of Health Care News, hosts AnneMarie Schieber and Devon Herrick dive into the critical debates shaping health care today. They discuss the potential expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), exploring proposals from Rep. Chip Roy and policy experts who argue HSAs could significantly improve coverage, especially for gig workers and those seeking direct care options.AnneMarie and Devon also highlight Ohio’s groundbreaking step to enforce price transparency at hospitals—holding institutions accountable by barring debt collection if hospitals fail to disclose clear pricing. Additionally, they examine troubling conflicts of interest within medical boards, spotlighting cases from Texas and beyond, raising crucial questions about whether medical boards protect patients or physicians' profits.Tune in for these insights and more in this timely discussion on the evolving landscape of health care policy.

Olympian Mary Lou Retton made a stunning revelation when asked why she didn’t have health insurance while she was in intensive care fighting for her life. “I couldn’t afford it,” Retton told the Today Show on January 8 when she was faced with a life threating pneumonia recently. Retton’s daughter started a “Go Fund Me” page to help her mother pay for what was likely to be tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills. Health Care News managing editor AnneMarie Schieber talked to Kansas State Senator Beverly Gossage as to why Retton may have gone without health insurance. The likely answer is Obamacare, the only option for people without an employer health plan. Gossage discusses what Retton might have paid for an Obamacare plan without subsidies and why there are almost no other options today for middle income people. She also discusses what Congress needs to do about it.Read more: https://heartlanddailynews.com/2024/02/i-couldnt-afford-it-olympic-champion-mary-lou-retton-on-health-insurance/PHOTO: ROBIN MARCHANT/GETTY IMAGES NEWS

In this episode of Health Care News, we delve into the recent revelation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that certain over-the-counter decongestants, specifically those labeled with "PE" (phenylephrine), are no more effective than a placebo. Our guest, Dr. Jeffrey Singer, a practicing surgeon from Phoenix, Arizona, and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, sheds light on how these medications found their way onto store shelves.Dr. Singer traces the issue back to the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA), enacted 18 years ago in response to the methamphetamine crisis. This legislation pushed pseudoephedrine, an effective decongestant, behind the counter, leading drug companies to modify their formulas to include PE for over-the-counter sales.Throughout the episode, Dr. Singer discusses several key points:The factors that led the FDA to reconsider its stance on over-the-counter decongestants.An overview of different decongestant drugs and tips for consumers to differentiate them.The process for purchasing pseudoephedrine, the effective decongestant.An exploration of why the FDA initially overlooked the ineffectiveness of PE.The sales strategies of drug manufacturers for OTC decongestants.Evaluating the CMEA's impact on the Meth epidemic.The potential for a class-action lawsuit against this misleading practice.The future: Is there a possibility that Congress will repeal the CMEA?For further insights, don't miss Dr. Singer’s op-ed in Health Care News, linked in the episode description.

For almost 4 weeks, four-year-old Autumn Schall has been virtually trapped at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, in Palo Alto, CA against the will of her parents. Today, mother Hope Schacter joins the program to discuss Autumn’s situation. Autumn was admitted to the teaching hospital for an e-coli infection but within days, she became critically ill, receiving care in the ICU, being given intravenously a cocktail of risky drugs, and eventually put on a ventilator. When the parents questioned the treatment, the hospital reported them to Child Protective Services. They are working with advocates and a lawyer to have her moved to another hospital where their daughter won’t be viewed as a “case study,” and the family is treated like an ally not an adversary. Autumn was referred to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital for a diagnostic work to examine her bowel after a week-long case of diarrhea. Her bowel was normal, but the hospital diagnosed an e-coli condition and wanted to admit her. After the parents agreed, the hospital proceeded with an aggressive treatment plan including powerful drugs such as Lasix, Diarel, and Aminophalen. “Their protocol was very aggressive. My daughter was never on Tylenol before. She was never really sick and when they’re throwing all these diuretics at you, and given the side effects these can produce, I just thought it was a lot for her constitution,” said Hope Schacter. The family has been working with Remnant Nursing advocacy services which has identified multiple ethical and clinical lapses. Schacter believes the hospital is trying to cover up clinical errors at the beginning of care that damaged her daughter’s kidneys and caused her to have a seizure. They complied with all treatment recommendations, even an MRI, which required intubation. Autumn has also had to undergo a blood transfusion. There was a hearing involving the CPS complaint. The hospital is trying to get the parents to sign off on all intervention deemed “emergency,” but the parents say it has been vaguely defined. Related Health Care News articles on patient advocacy in hospitals: Minnesota Legislature Considers ‘Trusted Doctor’ Bill, May 3, 2023 Down Syndrome Patient’s Family Sues Hospital for Do Not Resuscitate Order, June 20, 2023 Judge Plans Three Week Jury Trial in Do Not Resuscitate Case, August 1, 2023 Patient Takes Hospital to Court for Life-Saving COVID -19 Treatment, Feb. 12, 2021 Ivermectin obstacles during COVID

Join us as Hal Frampton, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, delves into a pivotal legal case in Michigan's Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He's representing Christian Healthcare Centers (CHC) and Sacred Heart Academy as they navigate the expanded civil rights protections in Michigan, which now encompass "gender" and "sexual preference." Both institutions could potentially be compelled to hire individuals who don't align with their religious principles. Established in 2018, the Grand Rapids-based Christian Healthcare Centers offers a unique, direct-pay primary care model that also caters to patients' spiritual well-being. While they serve all patients irrespective of sexual preference and identity, their hiring process requires employees to resonate with their religious beliefs and confirm this with a signed statement. Potentially, CHC could be sued for not hiring someone who does align with its mission. In this episode, Frampton addresses: 1. If there has been no fine or penalty yet against CHC, why is it being sued? 2. The significance of faith in CHC's practice model. 3. The quagmire that can be presented by expanding civil rights protections to include “gender” and “sexual preference.” 4. The potential of this case reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more:Christian Healthcare Centers, Inc. v. Dana Nessel et. al., U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan Southern Division, August 29, 2023: https://adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net/files/ChristianHealthcareCentersComplaint.pdf (appellate briefs will be submitted mid-October) Health Care News articles on Christian Healthcare CentersHealth Care News articles on Alliance Defending Freedom

Hidden within the intricacies of Obamacare lies an unsettling truth that many are unaware of. Dive deep with us as we uncover how this renowned health care reform might not be the safety net for the genuinely ill as it's often portrayed. Join Host AnneMarie Schieber and guest John C. Goodman, Ph.D., co-publisher of Health Care News and founder of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research, to learn the layers behind this revelation.Goodman shed light on the problems with Obamacare in his recent article for the Wall Street Journal. He delves into the financial burdens faced by families with severe health challenges who, without an employer plan, turn to Obamacare exchanges. For these families, Obamacare effectively becomes a staggering 182% "tax." Even with insurance subsidies, they face the pitfalls of Obamacare's limited networks. Alarmingly, both Democrats and Republicans remain silent on this issue, and Goodman sheds light on their reticence.Despite the U.S. pouring billions into health care across both private and public sectors, glaring coverage gaps persist, leading to mounting medical debts for many. Goodman believes there's a viable solution: the Health Care Fairness for All Act, proposed by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX). He also explores the potential of a "Medicare Advantage" style program to revolutionize public health care and insurance exchanges. Goodman contends that insurers should vie to support those with health issues, rather than shying away.