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Congress appears to be inching ever closer to contract on a long-delayed COVID-19 relief costs, which would extend unemployment insurance and other emergency programs set to expire in the next several days. That expense, nevertheless, obviously will not include the top-priority products for both political parties: service liability protections supported by Republicans and aid to states and areas sought by Democrats.
The expense is likely to be part of a huge spending expense to keep the federal government funded for the remainder of the. And it may consist of a last-minute surprise: legislation to put an end to “surprise” medical expenses sent out to patients who accidentally acquire care outside their insurance coverage network.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN.
Amongst the takeaways from today’s podcast:
- Congress has essentially agreed on a federal spending expense for the remainder of the — which began in October. It will likely wait as legislators continue squabbling over the COVID relief bundle, with negotiations now centering on little information.
- Republicans for months have actually been hesitant to move forward on a bill that would supply more relief for customers impacted by the pandemic due to the fact that party leaders did not like Democrats’ insistence that it include more state and regional help. But that arrangement has been rejected, so Republicans are less opposed to the step. Plus, they see a political disadvantage to holding up the costs: Their 2 Georgia prospects for Senate– facing Democratic opponents in a special runoff election– are being hammered on the issue.
- The compromise on surprise medical costs came after fans secured contract among Democrats who had actually favored varying solutions and all the committees in the House and Senate on the expense, an agreement that was created with major concessions by progressives.
- But physicians’ groups and other industry critics are still attacking the surprise billing proposal– even though many observers see the costs as tilted in their favor over insurance companies– so its passage is not ensured. Supporters are counting on the looming end of the congressional session to move the procedure over the finish line.
- Vice President Mike Pence announced he will get vaccinated versus COVID-19 in public this week in hopes of convincing anyone skeptical about the shots that they are safe. President-elect Joe Biden is planning to do the very same soon. But this is a hard position for political leaders. They do not wish to appear they are pushing themselves ahead in line, but they also want to stabilize the use of the vaccine.
- About 200 state and local public health leaders have actually quit or been fired since of public opposition to measures to curb the coronavirus. Although President Donald Trump has actually controlled his criticism of some of these officials and their efforts, the opposition is still strong. Those critics may be strengthened by worries that new limitations imposed to manage the surging infection will hurt the economy.
Likewise this week, Rovner interviews Elizabeth Mitchell, president and CEO of the Pacific Company Group on Health, about the future of employer-provided medical insurance.
Plus, for extra credit, the panelists advise their preferred health policy stories of the week they think you ought to read too:
Julie Rovner: The Texas Month-to-month’s “ Texas Wedding Photographers Have Seen Some $#! ,” by Emily McCullar
Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York City Times’ “‘ Like a Hand Comprehending’: Trump Appointees Explain the Crushing of the C.D.C.,” by Noah Weiland
Mary Agnes Carey: NPR’s “ How Do We Grieve 300,000 Lives Lost?” by Will Stone
Rebecca Adams: Bloomberg News’ “ White House Official Recovers From Serious Covid-19, Buddy Says,” by Jennifer Jacobs
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