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Artwork for What the Health? From KFF Health News

What the Health? From KFF Health News

KFF Health News
Affordable Care Act
Medicaid
Medicare
Public Health
Abortion Rights
Trump Administration
Congress
Abortion
Supreme Court
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Health Insurance
FDA
Mifepristone
Covid-19
Health Policy
Reproductive Health
Donald Trump
Health Care Policy
HHS
Department Of Health and Human Services

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes455Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for What the Health? From KFF Health News

Latest Episodes

As predicted, the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans is causing many people to lose coverage for failing to make premium payments. 

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded... more

Adult Medicaid enrollees with serious health conditions may not be automatically exempt from new work rules, according to a new regulation from the Trump administration — the opposite of what state officials were informally told would be the case. 

more

YouTube

When Republicans passed their big budget bill in 2025, they thought the effects of cuts to health programs wouldn’t show up until after the 2026 midterms. They were wrong. 

Meanwhile, the party is trumpeting its efforts to lower drug prices. 

Laure... more

YouTube

In just the first few days after losing his bid for reelection in Louisiana, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy has already started signaling that his loyalty to President Donald Trump has waned. But how much... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Céline Gounder
KFF Health News' editor-at-large for public health, CBS News medical correspondent, and infectious disease doctor
KFF Health News
Episode: More Kids Without Coverage
Miranda Yaver
Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Pittsburgh and author
University of Pittsburgh
Episode: Sen. Cassidy Unleashed
Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator, Democrat of Wisconsin
U.S. Senate
Episode: In Search of a New FDA Commissioner
Andrew Jones
KFF Health News reporter who writes the Bill of the Month segment
KFF Health News
Episode: Abortion Pill Politics
David Blumenthal
Physician, health policy expert, author, and former Obama administration official
Health Policy Research Organization / The Commonwealth Fund
Episode: RFK Jr. vs. Congress
Michelle Canero
Immigration attorney from Miami
Board of Immigrants List
Episode: A New CDC Nominee, Again
Lauren Weber
Reporter for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: Abortion Pills, the Budget, and RFK Jr.
Alice Miranda Ollstein
Reporter for Politico
Politico
Episode: Abortion Pills, the Budget, and RFK Jr.
Maia Goldman
Reporter for Axios
Axios
Episode: Abortion Pills, the Budget, and RFK Jr.

Host

Julie Rovner
Host of the show; chief Washington correspondent with extensive policy reporting.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 637 ratings
  • Excellent podcast

    This is a good podcast especially in the current situation we find ourselves in. It is thought provoking and makes me want to do additional reading.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    grngrl55
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent!

    This podcast is perfect length, perfect depth, perfect content, and the hosts stay on task. Can’t recommend enough for anyone in medicine and/or public health

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leigh-Lew
    United States4 months ago
  • Smug, oblivious, and incurious

    Typical legacy media outlet gaslighting people about what’s really in their best interest. Captured by big pharma, love to belittle thoughtful educated advocates for children as “anti-vaxxer”. 🤮

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    dancrash81
    United States6 months ago
  • Smart and accessible

    This podcast keeps me up to speed on health policy happenings in a really accessible way. Really admire Julie and the reporters she has on!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Accessible and informative
    United States7 months ago
  • Excellent Source of Reliable Information

    I’ve been a Board Certified Pediatrician for 34 years and care deeply about our children’s healthcare. I love this podcast. They do a wonderful job of covering both the politics of healthcare and health issues. They are accurate and reliable even while sharing their perspectives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DrDK2
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, data-driven coverage of health policy with accessible explanations.
High-quality guests and rigorous reporting that connects policy to real-world impacts.
Occasional perceived bias or partisan framing in some episodes, per listener reviews.
Trusted source for staying up-to-date on federal health policy and funding decisions.

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The DailyThe New York Times
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CandaceCandace Owens
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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

More Kids Without Coverage
Q: So how is this different from, you worked in one of the past Ebola outbreaks. This one people seem to think is more serious than the last couple that we've seen.
Céline explains that the current outbreak resembles past patterns with urban spread and cross-border movement, but emphasizes greater regional risk, ongoing transmission risk, and the complications from weakened health infrastructure and policy changes.
In Search of a New FDA Commissioner
Q: That bipartisan support for the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline seems like a bright spot in health policy; how satisfying has it been, and can that model be replicated for other issues?
Senator Baldwin frames 988 as a vindication of bipartisan collaboration, noting the measurable reduction in youth suicides and its potential to inform broader mental health strategies, while acknowledging ongoing concerns about sustaining and expanding the program, including LGBTQ+ specific provisions.
A New CDC Nominee, Again
Q: How does the MAHA coalition influence health policy and budget debates in Congress?
MAHA is portrayed as a key political constituency that pressures the administration to address health policy priorities, including food policy and environmental rules, while also pushing back when policies are perceived as too aggressive or misaligned with broader public health goals.
A New CDC Nominee, Again
Q: What does the selection of a CDC leader say about the administration's vaccine policy and public-health messaging?
The choice is framed as balancing vaccine support with political viability, aiming to secure Senate confirmation while signaling a commitment to public health and minority representation, but it remains a subject of intense scrutiny from MAHA supporters and opponents alike.
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Schedule Changes Blocked — For Now
Q: What signs indicate time is right for another major health care debate?
Drew Altman explains that health care has become both a hot issue and a voting issue due to high costs and ongoing volatility, making incremental changes more likely than sweeping reforms.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About What the Health? From KFF Health News

What is What the Health? From KFF Health News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A policy-forward show that dissects health policy developments in Washington with a roundtable of experienced reporters and policy experts. Episodes routinely cover FDA leadership, Medicaid and ACA dynamics, vaccine policy, health care costs, and the interplay between politics and health outcomes, often featuring interviews with policy insiders and subject-matter experts. The pacing is brisk, the analysis is data-informed, and the panelists frequently translate complex legislation into actionable implications for patients and providers. A standout aspect is the blend of hard-edged reporting with accessible explainers and occasional longer-form interviews that contextualize policy changes through real-world patient experiences.

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Which podcasts are similar to What the Health? From KFF Health News?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What the Health? From KFF Health News:

1. Tradeoffs
2. Public Health On Call
3. An Arm and a Leg
4. The Daily
5. Health Affairs This Week

How many episodes of What the Health? From KFF Health News are there?

What the Health? From KFF Health News launched 9 years ago and published 455 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on What the Health? From KFF Health News?

Recent guests on What the Health? From KFF Health News include:

1. Céline Gounder
2. Miranda Yaver
3. Tammy Baldwin
4. Andrew Jones
5. David Blumenthal
6. Michelle Canero
7. Lauren Weber
8. Alice Miranda Ollstein

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