It’s been another packed week in health care, and PULSE CHECK — with help from a conservative health care analyst — is here to help make sense of it all.

First, POLITICO’s Jennifer Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn join Dan Diamond to talk about their reporting about the tax package that’s poised to pass the Senate (starts at the 1:45 mark), the fight over HHS Secretary-nominee Alex Azar (11:00), and the latest timing on funding for Children’s Health Insurance Program (15:00). Dan also discusses the false reports about Kellyanne Conway being appointed “opiods czar.” (19:45)

Then after the break, Chris Jacobs — the CEO of the Juniper Research Group and a prominent conservative health care analyst — explains his criticism of the tax package (starts at the 25:30 mark), his review of the GOP’s health care efforts after 10 months of controlling government (35:00), and his thoughts on the state of conservative health care analysis (37:45).

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Stories and work referenced on the podcast:

Adam and Sarah Ferris’ story on the tax package’s possible cuts to Medicare and other programs: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/30/tax-bill-spending-cuts-gop-congress-274337

Jen’s story on pro-Obamacare groups turning on Sen. Susan Collins: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/01/susan-collins-healthcare-vote-obamacare-ads-274629

Friday’s issue of PULSE, which had Jen’s scoop on CHIP funding timing: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-pulse/2017/12/01/tax-bill-could-trigger-significant-medicare-cuts-037612

Chris Jacobs’ piece arguing that the GOP would be “crazy” to repeal the mandate in their tax package: https://thefederalist.com/2017/11/09/republicans-crazy-repeal-obamacares-individual-mandate-inside-tax-reform/

Chris’ piece questioning whether ACA cost-sharing reductions would even be paid out under the tax package: https://thefederalist.com/2017/11/30/cost-sharing-reductions-subject-sequester/

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