KFF Health News' 'What the Health?'

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Join Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, along with top health policy reporters from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico and other media outlets to discuss the latest news and explain what the health is going on here in Washington, D.C.


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Recent Reviews
  • Chicago customer cb
    Superb
    Julie Rovner, today you referenced your forty years in this business and I have followed you through all of them. Thank you. This continues to be brilliant, insightful, vigorous coverage and analysis and is desperately needed. Please keep it up!!
  • Nate G M
    Basic political partisanship
    Uses some health stuff to thinly disguise partisanship. I was hoping for a little more insight and less politics
  • kwi747
    How about being honest that the republicans are in charge?
    When you ask “where are the dems?” Why don’t you remind listeners that 1. Republicans are in charge. Practically speaking what do you expect from “the dems”? They don’t have control of congress. 2. The public voted for republicans. The public wanted these policies. What do you expect “the dems” to do? KHN is known for being nonpartisan- why beat up on “the dems” when it’s the republicans who are enacting these draconian policies that the public voted for. Irresponsible and one sided in favor of the republicans
  • Streeter17
    Lacks understanding of impacts of Trump Adminstration
    Seem very sadly clueless about the depth and impact of what is going on in HHS. Should have done a basic google search of additional guidance memo impacting the US government.
  • Winnie1021
    Get the word out!
    If you could somehow play these episodes, especially the short individual stories (like the 2-year-old bitten by a rattlesnake in San Diego with the close to $300,000.00 bill, the tens of thousands the young family had to pay even WITH insurance) play them in elevators or waiting rooms, airport terminals or restaurant bathrooms, places where the kind of people who won’t seek out an amazing podcast like this because they don’t know about it or assume (if they are young, healthy and lucky) that they don’t “need” to hear something like this, if they just heard how insanely expensive healthcare is, how devastating the costs are, the consequences for people’s lives… If they realized this could very easily happen to them, you would see support for expanded ACA and a public option skyrocket even in ruby red states. I wish little vignettes like the ones you cover so well could be printed up and slipped into every church bulletin every Sunday, or taped on the door of bathroom stalls, things like that, because the whole country would rise up and demand fairness and transparency and stop having the people of the United States pay more for healthcare and infinitely more for prescription drugs than anyone else in the world. The special interests and the politicians in their pockets would be forced to stop bleeding Americans dry while executives take home millions of dollars in base pay and bonuses as a reward for stiffing and squeezing to death every man, woman and child in this country. Keep up the great work! You are truly an inspiration. If I could give this 5,000 stars instead of 5, I would.
  • Short-time listener
    Please reflect election stakes
    I’m a long-time listener who has appreciated the thoughtful coverage for years. I nearly lost my mind, though, when I read last week’s summary (“Trump-Harris Debate Showcases Health Policy Differences”) and then listened to the segment. To follow news for the past 8+ years is to know Trump’s only “policy” positions are self-enrichment and evasion of legal consequences. He is a deeply unserious person who doesn’t have a single value to support a stance on anything. Too many media organizations fail us when they both-sides the parties, comment as if Republicans act and speak in good faith, and tip-toe around the incoherence Trump displays every time he speaks. We deserve coverage that reflects the stakes of this election: health care will likely ultimately fall under the purview of an indifferent, calculating oligarchy should Trump win and Republicans take both houses of Congress. That is the policy difference.
  • Yobolight
    Weird and highly partisan
    Surface level on health care. Mostly about politics.
  • MRBImpact
    Get smarter
    From one podcaster who focuses on policy to another, I never miss an episode. If you consume healthcare, it’s a must listen without fail!
  • High Annointed Paaul
    Limited scope
    An overall incredible podcast but really hindered by the fact that the hosts tend to focus on cisnormative healthcare needs. Despite the escalating legislative and executive attacks on transition related healthcare, the discussions of these attacks and the medically necessary care they target, rarely even get a passing mention. At best trans peoples healthcare gets a passing mention, but our community is essentially an afterthought to the hosts and guests, which rare exception. You would never know, from listening, that half the country now banned medically necessary healthcare for thousands of adolescents.
  • Lucy HCLL
    Prof Lucy
    Excellent as always! Great info superbly delivered. I never miss an episode!
  • Lmarinac
    Love them
    I love how knowledgeable and informed they are, the tone is comversational and clear but jam packed with information. Enjoyable to Listen to yet high yield. Please keep up The excellent work!
  • sage th
    Facts don’t care about your feelings.
    Felt like writing this review cause I love love love this podcast as a PH student. Keeps me in the loop with current events and the hosts have great podcast voices. I check out the profile and people are complaining about the bias in the podcast? And one woman’s review said RFK Jr.’s opinion on vaccines is more complex than what it seems… man I cackled. Let me tell you something folks: there’s a liberal bias to reality. Facts don’t care about your feelings. Sure these ladies share their opinions… but they’re telling you what’s up and what’s going on. If you don’t like hearing about how conservative orgs and people are messing things up, vote to replace them with better ones.
  • mikey-t sessions
    Eww
    Horrible voices I can’t so annoying
  • ekacostae
    The only health policy podcast doing it!
    I’ve been listening from the start, you ladies are amazing. I’ve searched high and low for supplemental health law and policy podcasts but this is the only one and they do it right. Please give it a listen!
  • Diane zhi
    Honestly. Julie….
    I am so confused by this podcast. I love it in principle as it provides news I am interested in. But, could we please stop editorializing every single story and covering it with ironic half laughs , to what, Hide the fact that you are extremely biased on most issues? Rfk s position on vaccines is a lot more nuanced than how you portray him, starting with the title of this latest podcast. I suggest you listen to other sources such as an in depth interview on “all in podcast” to learn more about where he stands and that he does not seem to be cemented in anything as long as there is data to prove him wrong. This is just one point . Every week I listen and I am just amazed at your lack of self awareness on being entirely subjective on most issues you cover. So. Is this supposed to be a journalistic objective podcast in health policy and politics or just an editorial discussion on how you are feeling about what you are covering?
  • VJFNotAvailable
    I appreciate the podcast
    I’m not good at writing reviews but I like the podcast. Thanks for talking about health care.
  • vonsnoppenhausen
    Descending into a pseudo-intellectual sewing club
    While once a bright spot, over the past two years sorting the factual from the ideological stilt woven into the club’s delivery has become increasingly challenging to overlook.
  • khxlhdykelxlydlhydkhxkgxkhdhti
    .
    The host, Julie, is charming. The show is a good way to keep up with national healthcare news and trends. It is not a show that features much coverage of solutions to problems in U.S. healthcare. I liked having a healthcare advocate on the latest show. I think it would be good to hear more from people inside and outside of the industry who are working to make it better. I feel this is a perspective that is missing and would add a lot of value to the episodes. I also think that it would be good to have more gender diversity on the show.
  • @&$&@&$&&&
    Leaked Abortion Opinion
    Love this show. Julie and her guests clarify all the mishegas that is breaking faster than anyone can keep up with it. The health and related issues they cover so well are at the heart of the frontal assault on American democracy that is so blatantly evident now in the Alito draft.
  • hotpumpkin57
    Relevant Discussion Ridiculously Biased
    They do discuss the topics of the day, but the bias is honestly enraging. Would be great to get a new host who isn’t just a liberal mouthpiece.
  • CarolinaAKA1993
    Lack of diversity of perspective, otherwise not bad
    The title says it all; this show features a gaggle of white women sharing (albeit) well-researched observations on health policy on the Federal and occasionally state levels. I’d love to see more diversity of perspective as this show as it stands lacks an intersectional lens. I do learn something from every episode, but to the extent that you can’t discuss, well, ANY policy issue in the US without considering the impact of race, many of the discussions feel inadequate.
  • h_wils
    always look forward to it
    i love this show. it's sort of a rotating cast of characters but often familiar voices, and they're all so good! smart. plugged-in. articulate. funny. honest! knowledgeable ! they sometimes disagree, as reasonable people do about complicated issues, and then they have great discussions! at times it definitely gets wonky and technical about healthcare industry stuff, but baby, that's what i'm here for. 10/10
  • Sasquatch208
    So helpful and timely
    Love this podcast. I work in Medicaid and this helps me stay ahead of things that will affect our work and the folks we serve. I always find a few great articles from their extra credit as well. Thank you!
  • bbrewin88
    Ageism abounds
    Latest episode in regards to telehealth the statement was made “If you have seniors that can use FaceTime or other platforms, surely anyone can learn to do it!” Incredibly condescending towards the senior population. I’m a 30 something and my former 69 yo female chaplain coworker was constantly troubleshooting minor computer issues for our entire team. It seems that ageism truly is the last “ism” that is acceptable. I hope by the time I’m a senior I’m not flippantly dismissed just as women and minorities and LGBTQ persons were until recently. Otherwise, good podcast. Just embarrassing to hear a health professional speak in such an ageist manner.
  • tcox10
    Best health policy podcast!
    I’m an internal medicine resident who tries to abreast of health policy, and I’ve loved listening to your podcast. I started listening as a fourth year medical student driving and traveling to interviews and haven’t stopped. You’ve done an incredible job updating me on CMS, FDA and how politics affects health policy and not to mention COVID health policy.
  • Be the Foote
    Informative and Engaging
    This podcast is so informative and engaging. A really efficient way to keep up to date with the latest health policy news.
  • Beatrice Adler-Bolton
    Bad
    Julie has no idea what she’s talking about. She’s acted as a gatekeeper not as a journalist and the ideas casually tossed around on this podcast are harmful to patients. Clearly Rovner doesn’t really care about disabled, poor, or chronically ill people at all. Don’t listen to this show.
  • Lseaq321
    Obamacare site is easy
    I detest the notion of the Obamacare website is difficult to navigate. It absolutely is not. Shame on this podcast for speaking despairingly about a process that’s perfectly easy. The ACA’s phone line is a tremendous help also. They will walk folks through any questions. This guest is detouring folks from getting the care they need, and as a doctor, I feel that is just shameful.
  • Kwoods89
    Dr. Fauci
    Elizabeth’s interview with Dr. Fauci was VERY INFORMATIVE!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • rbgoodjoin
    Excellent podcast
    I am an MD and love this podcast. Clear and intelligent conversation regarding health and public policy. Very informative and lively discussions.
  • dougmsteele
    Thanks for your work
    I am a medical director at a large community health center in South Florida. I eagerly look forward for your insightful weekly report. You are relevant to the community I serve and have helped in informing our practice, especially now. Please keep up the good work! Douglas Steele, MSN.
  • emensch
    Best podcast there is about health policy
    Julie Rovner and team are great! I look forward to her podcast every Thursday where I can nerd out with them about health policy. I’ll even listen to shows twice to better understand the sometimes nuanced discussions!
  • Laumau46
    Just too hard 😭
    Medicare for all will never happen! They like to highlight how messed up our dysfunctional health system is but conclude with how hard it would be to change so it won’t. One of them usually has an anecdote for when they went to their doctor blah blah blah...lucky must be nice.
  • rabbithutch
    Worth the listen
    I have read many of the comments. There is always bias and this program is no different but there is a lot of factual information about health care policy presented and it’s a very accessible. It’s your obligation as a citizen of this country to find points of view. The topics are current. It’s what is politically going right now. The program leans towards the “progressive” side but there is nothing wrong with that when it comes to one’s health. Whatever your bias is, the program is worth the listen each week to stay informed and current on health care issues.
  • Peter Geppert
    Too focused on Abortion
    I used to listen to the podcast pretty regularly but I stopped listening when hardly an episode went by when abortion wasn’t on the agenda which would be fine except Julie makes no effort to discuss the issue in a balance or objective format. The biases of her panel members are clear and there is never any pro life representation from within the industry (1/6 of health services in the US are delivered at institutions that do not provide abortions or contraceptives). The podcast just devolves into the same “Republican war on women” rhetoric you hear from lib partisans and just plays into the abortion lobby’s attempt to normalize fetal homicide by cloaking it in medical legitimacy. For us healthcare professionals who consider human life sacred at the moment of conception it’s pretty off putting and frankly disappointing. When Julie and her panel get around to real healthcare news it’s very informative.
  • mfutah
    What the health
    Your podcast is terrific. Informative, balanced, and includes historical perspective. Thanks!
  • Benjamin gar
    Like
    Can they say “like” any more times in this podcast?
  • healthpolicywonk
    Overall excellent
    Best health policy podcast there is. Would love to see some male voices though. I’m sure there are male health journalists out there doing good work.
  • Multiplyd
    Incredible. Really insightful and a must for insiders
    I’ve been listening to WTH for a long time. It’s my primary source of authentic insights in what is happening from a policy perspective in healthcare. JRovner is legendary and the cast has been reporting on healthcare for decades. This podcast is a MUST for anyone interested in healthcare trends and policy meta analysis. An absolute must.
  • E-depositor
    In-depth and fast-paced
    This is THE podcast to listen to if you want to stay on top of US healthcare issues. Chock full of good information and useful insights, Julie Rovner invites DC's top healthcare reporters and always keeps the conversation moving.
  • Mohd27273)3382
    Insightful Podcast
    This is an incredible podcast, with enough depth to be of benefit to a health policy practitioner but the concepts are presented in plain language so that a lay person is able understand the concepts presented as well. I look forward to it each week.
  • Contymom
    Love this podcast
    Such amazing smart women who keep me in the known about health reform. I always learn something when I listen. My favorite segment is the Extra Credit at the end.
  • histfan
    This is a great podcast.
    The journalists are so well informed and make complex subjects accessible to somebody with no background in the field. Bravo! Keep up the excellent work and thank you so much. This is my new favorite podcast.
  • Laura L, PharmD
    Excellent policy review
    I am a pharmacist that practices in Chicago, and in a state that currently has a lot of complicated health policy issues, this podcast helps me stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the federal level. It’s also very helpful to know what’s happening and the state level and other parts of the country.
  • NikkiT704
    How I get my healthcare policy “fix”
    As a physician and professional health advocate I look forward to this weekly podcast where I am sure to get information and insight regarding the top healthcare policies. This podcast is truly the highlight of my Thursdays!
  • Flanneryone
    Excellent primer on healthcare policy
    This podcast is one of my favorites for keeping on top of changes in healthcare policy particularly at the congressional level.
  • melissa.ann.83
    A Great Listen
    As someone who is continuously learning, I enjoy listening and learning from these women. And when I was asking colleagues for recommendations, this show was one of two shared as a good podcast. Keep up the good work!
  • David 1466
    Outstanding
    These ladies are at the top of their game!
  • CI Proud!
    My primary podcast source for health news
    The team does a great job of covering what’s going on and what really matters. They do a fantastic job explaining the news without getting deep into the weedsy details making the podcast accessible to just about anyone. I recommend this podcast to all of my friends in my public health program at the University of Minnesota and to my family who ask questions about health news!
  • Oxheado
    Are there no men covering health care?
    Try diversifying your panels. If a news podcast of this caliber only had male reporters on, there would be justifiable concern of intentional exclusion.
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