Midterm Madness

A new poll from KFF suggests that rising health costs are still a top concern for voters this November and that Democrats have a substantial edge over Republicans on the issue. In an apparent attempt to close the gap, President Donald Trump is sending checks, some billed as “refunds,” to millions of enrollees in Medicare and Affordable Care Act plans. 

Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Sun join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. 

Also this week, Rovner interviews Michelle Andrews, who wrote the latest KFF Health News “Bill of the Month,” about a patient who got a bill from a hospital emergency department after she left without receiving treatment.  

Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.

Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: 

Julie Rovner: The Atlantic’s “When Anesthesia Goes Wrong,” by Sarah Zhang.  

Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico’s “Trump Is Conditioning Foreign Aid on Deals,” by Carmen Paun.  

Paige Winfield Cunningham: The New York Times’ “Battle of Hospital A.I. vs. Insurer A.I. Is Pushing Medical Costs Higher,” by Reed Abelson and Teddy Rosenbluth. 

Anna Edney: ProPublica’s “A Girl Nearly Died After Drinking Raw Milk. The State Did Little To Punish the Unlicensed Farmer Who Sold It,” by Annie Waldman.