POLITICO's Pulse Check

Molina Healthcare, which manages Medicaid for states, gave $1 million to the Republican Governors Association in the first half of 2023, far exceeding past contributions. Host Evan Peng talks with Robert King about the backdrop for this spike: A reassessment of Medicaid rolls that threatens insurers’ bottom lines.

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Covid-19 hospitalizations have risen for the first time since early 2023. But public health experts and the White House remain confident treatments and vaccines can manage a potential fall outbreak. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with David Lim about the recent increase in cases and what it may signal.

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Maternal health care continues to disappear across many parts of the nation as more OBGYNs move or shutter their practices and more birthing hospitals shut down, negatively affecting millions of pregnant individuals, according to new data from the March of Dimes. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Alice Miranda Ollstein about factors fueling obstetric unit closures — maternal care costs, traveling distance to deliver and state abortion bans.

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The House and Senate have only a few more working weeks left to pass key legislation before funding for crucial health programs runs out on September 30. Host Megan Messerly talks with Megan R. Wilson and David Lim about the status of major health policy bills and the challenges Congress faces in addressing them.

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Millions of Americans risk losing Medicaid coverage as pandemic protections expire, sparking fear among public health experts of more opioid overdoses. Host Ben Leonard talks with Daniel Payne about the impacts of redetermination on the crisis.

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Industry leaders and patient advocates are preparing to oppose a forthcoming Biden administration regulation that would set minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, with the former worried about costs and the latter concerned standards won’t be high enough. Host Kelly Hooper talks with Daniel Payne about the criticism of the pending nursing home rules.

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The CDC has identified three more tuberculosis infections linked to recalled bone graft materials from Aziyo Biologics, bringing the total cases to 5, with one death. At least 36 more patients are being preemptively treated. Host Alice Miranda Ollstein talks with Lauren Gardner about the latest contamination concerns.

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Mississippi’s new medical marijuana market is struggling to find its footing, with more than 280 licensed businesses but fewer than 20,000 enrolled patients. Host Katherine Ellen Foley talks with Paul Demko about how the market is trying to balance robust competition with attracting enough patients to sustain all the new businesses.

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The Biden administration has proposed a rule designed to force health insurers to comply with a 2008 mental health parity law. Host Megan Messerly talks with Ben Leonard about the White House’s push to equalize mental and physical health benefits and what it would mean for patient access and costs.

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House Republicans’ health care hopes are riding on the must-pass legislation. Host Ben Leonard talks to Alice Miranda Ollstein about how the culture wars are more prominently featuring into this year’s appropriations process.

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