POLITICO's Pulse Check

The Trump administration is sending mixed signals to health insurers, pushing controversial changes to the ACA markets while giving big pay bumps in Medicare Advantage. Meanwhile, companies like UnitedHealth, Walmart and even Amazon are circling deals that could shake up the industry. To make sense of this moment, this week’s PULSE CHECK features John Gorman, the head of the Gorman Health Group — one of Washington’s most thoughtful experts on the health care industry and government health programs. John sits down with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to discuss why he left government to open his own consulting firm (starts at the 1:25 mark), the growth of Medicare Advantage (5:30), the state of private insurers and the rise of UnitedHealth (8:30), the CVS-Aetna deal (15:45), Walmart-Humana’s possible deal and Amazon’s looming presence (20:00), the Trump administration’s impact on insurers (22:20), and a quiet change to Medicare Advantage that could let health plans tackle social determinants of health (28:15). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Referenced on the podcast: Zach Tracer’s Bloomberg story on UnitedHealth’s physician acquisitions: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-09/30-000-strong-and-counting-unitedhealth-gathers-a-doctor-army POLITICO’s Darius Tahir and Paul Demko reported on the CVS-Aetna deal: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/04/aetna-cvs-merger-drugs-205514 Dan’s look at Walmart’s potential purchase of Humana: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-pulse/2018/03/30/walmart-might-buy-humana-what-it-means-154555 Incoming AHIP leader Matt Eyles’s PULSE CHECK interview on the insurance industry and the Trump administration: https://simplecast.com/s/4e376b02 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has discarded or reworked a number of Obama-era programs. But this week's Health Datapalooza — an annual conference launched by Obama officials and hosted by Academy Health — has received the current administration's full support, a reminder that the desire to improve data can trump partisan politics. On the podcast, Academy Health CEO Lisa Simpson joined POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to discuss the Datapalooza conference (starts at the 1:25 mark), why the Trump administration continues to supports the event and how the White House has shaped the current climate for researchers (3:20), why Academy Health focuses on "health services research" and how Lisa would like academic research to change (8:15) and the state of data, particularly as Silicon Valley firms eye health care (13:30). After the break, POLITICO’s Mohana Ravindranath discusses her reporting on the Trump administration's data-access initiatives. (Starts at the 18:45 mark.) Dan also remembers POLITICO’s Brett Norman, who died last week at age 43. (Starts at the 29:35 mark.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In six weeks, Matt Eyles will become the CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, taking over for Marilyn Tavenner — one of the most prominent seats in health policy. But before that, Eyles sat down with POLITICO to preview his agenda, critique the Trump administration’s changes to the insurance markets and rebuff concerns that AHIP has lost influence in Washington. On the podcast, Eyles discussed what it’s like to be a lobbyist in the Trump era and how he arrived at AHIP (starts at the 1:30 mark); how his leadership will differ from Tavenner’s (6:05); his thoughts on UnitedHealthcare and other top insurers choosing to leave AHIP, and whether his organization has lost juice on Capitol Hill (9:00); his views on Medicaid and why AHIP is touting the public program's benefits (16:40); the Trump administration’s changes to Obamacare and the insurance markets (19:40); the employer insurance market (26:30); and insurers seeking mergers with players like CVS Health (27:30). After the break, POLITICO insurance reporter Paul Demko joins Dan Diamond to analyze Eyles’ comments, discuss the future of AHIP and review the Trump administration’s insurance market changes. (Starts at the 30:00 mark). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Referenced on the podcast: The 2016 episode of PULSE CHECK with Marilyn Tavenner: https://simplecast.com/s/7e1c82f7 Paul’s story on Obamacare insurers having their best year yet — despite Trump: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/17/obamacare-insurers-2017-profit-analysis-422559 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Affordable Care Act was first signed into law, the state of Virginia led the fight against it. Eight years later, Virginia — with state Democrats on the upswing — is on the verge of expanding Medicaid, and more than 300,000 state residents could get covered as a result. First, POLITICO reviews the windy road that led to 32 states saying yes to Medicaid expansion. Then Del. Alfonso Lopez, the whip for Virginia House Democrats, explains what's ahead as he and his colleagues work to finalize a Medicaid expansion deal. (Starts at the 8:20 mark.) We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback — especially on an episode like this one, where we tried something a little different? Email [email protected]. Referenced on the podcast: Virginia Republicans said the backlash to Medicaid expansion has been milder than expected: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/republican-medicaid-expanders-in-va-say-backlash-is-milder-than-expected/2018/03/29/dde9e0fc-329d-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis is arguing the benefits of Medicaid expansion in Virginia: http://thehalfsheet.org/post/172599067503/evidence-shows-medicaid-expansion-is-not-a-budget Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has ushered in a new wave of conservative policies and personnel. But it’s also led to the rise of watchdog groups dedicated to investigating Trump and his agencies. And on this episode of PULSE CHECK, leaders of two new watchdogs discuss why they launched and what they’ve learned. First, Mary Alice Carter of Equity Forward joined POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to discuss her organization’s focus on the HHS officials overseeing reproductive health, and why she thinks Trump’s health policy moves are especially dangerous. (Starts at the 1:50 mark.) Then, Toly Rinberg and Rachel Bergman of the Sunlight Foundation’s Web Integrity Project discuss how their fledgling effort to track changes to federal webpages led them to Washington, D.C., and what they’ve uncovered at HHS and beyond. (Starts at the 17:10 mark.) We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Referenced on the podcast: HHS’ move to remove lesbian and bisexual health content from its women’s health website, uncovered by the Web Integrity Project: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/21/hhs-strips-lesbian-bisexual-health-content-from-womens-health-website-430123 Equity Forward's focus on Scott Lloyd, the director of the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement: https://www.equityfwd.org/research/personnel-policy-meet-anti-abortion-crusader-scott-lloyd/ Dan’s podcast with Seattle public health director Patty Hayes, who’s suing HHS over its move to cancel the teen pregnancy prevention program: https://simplecast.com/s/46ec2019 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico nearly 200 days ago. For many residents — still dealing with power outages and no access to clean water — the disaster never ended. And while the national spotlight has largely moved on, Puerto Rico remains one of the worst public health crises unfolding in the United States. This week’s episode of PULSE CHECK tries to unpack the structural problems with the nation's disaster response and what it means for residents’ health. First, POLITICO’s Danny Vinik sits down with Dan Diamond to discuss his reporting on how the Trump administration favored Texas over Puerto Rico after devastating hurricanes struck. (Starts at the 1:15 mark.) Then Dr. Oxiris Barbot, First Deputy Commissioner of New York City’s health department, joins PULSE CHECK to explain why she’s so concerned about Puerto Rico’s ongoing health challenges and what she’s learned on her trips to the island. (Starts at the 13:40 mark.) We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Referenced on the podcast: Danny’s story on how Trump favored Texas over Puerto Rico in hurricane response: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/27/donald-trump-fema-hurricane-maria-response-480557 Reuters looked at Puerto Rico’s Medicaid shortfall: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-puertorico-medicaid/puerto-rico-seeks-help-as-medicaid-crisis-deepens-after-maria-idUSKBN1D158Y Quartz reports on the spike in suicide rates on the island: https://qz.com/1239417/after-hurricane-maria-suicide-rates-rose-by-almost-a-third-in-puerto-rico/ As mentioned on the show, PULSE CHECK listener AZ-CPA praised this recent episode on religious freedom in health care: https://simplecast.com/s/4ed0877f Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Winfree spent a year as one of the Trump administration’s key policy leaders, with a bunch of big titles — he was Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and the Director of Budget Policy. Now Paul’s back at the Heritage Foundation, and he caught up with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to share his view into Washington’s policy battles and what he learned from working in the White House. On the podcast, Paul explains why he took the job amid all the scrutiny of Trump (starts at the 1:26 mark), what it was like inside the administration during the ACA repeal-and-replace debate (5:30), what the White House should’ve done differently on health care (14:10), how Paul thinks about the ACA now (22:00), his thoughts on entitlement reforms (27:20) and what he learned from his time in the administration (30:40). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Wisconsin governor, Tommy Thompson instituted welfare reform that became a national model. As HHS secretary, he created Medicare's Part D program. And as a boss, he played a pivotal role in the career of Alex Azar — who recently took over as the latest HHS secretary. Thompson sat down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss lessons from his four years running HHS under the George W. Bush administration (starts at the 1:45 mark), how he views the current HHS and what he's told Secretary Alex Azar (12:45), why he supports FDA reform and Medicaid work requirements (15:20), his post-government career in the private sector (18:10) and how he sees the current political environment (20:45). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HHS Secretary Alex Azar laid out an ambitious plan to promote value-based care this week, pledging that there's "no turning back" when it comes to reforming how hospitals and doctors get paid. What does it all mean? Karen Murphy's in position to know: She's the Chief Innovation Officer at Geisinger Health System, but she also previously worked in the Obama administration, helping to oversee value-based care efforts, and served as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health too. Karen discussed how value-based care is playing out at the provider level, what she makes of Azar's comments on value-based care and medical marijuana, what Geisinger is doing on the biggest public health challenges and why she thinks every health care worker needs to do a stint in government. (Starts at the 18:20 mark.) But first: POLITICO's Sarah Karlin-Smith and Rachana Pradhan joined Dan Diamond to discuss the latest Trump administration changes to Medicaid, the most recent developments related to the opioid crisis and HHS' evolving communication strategy (Starts at the 1:50 mark). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Referenced on the podcast: Sarah's story on Donald Trump's suggestion of using the death penalty to stop the opioid epidemic: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/01/donald-trump-death-penalty-suggestion-opioid-crisis-376176 HHS Secretary Alex Azar's remarks on value-based care: https://www.hhs.gov/about/leadership/secretary/speeches/2018-speeches/remarks-on-value-based-transformation-to-the-federation-of-american-hospitals.html Penn professors Lawton Burns and Mark Pauly's article on value-based care: https://www.milbank.org/quarterly/articles/transformation-health-care-industry-curb-enthusiasm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HHS last summer made a move that shocked public health leaders: The Trump administration abruptly canceled $200 million-plus in funding for dozens of teen pregnancy prevention projects around the country. HHS said the projects weren't working, but public health advocates argue that HHS' decision was politically motivated - just the latest round in Republicans' war on Planned Parenthood. One leader who's thrown herself into the fight: Patty Hayes, who oversees public health for 2 million people in Seattle and the surrounding King County - and sued HHS to try to get the money back. Patty joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how moves in Washington, D.C., have affected her work in Washington State (starts at the 1:30 mark), how she views the Trump administration and why she's suing HHS (11:00), her local perspective on the opioid fight (19:55), the public health challenges that get overshadowed (26:00), and her own career as nurse-turned-public health leader and why she joined Twitter as @PurpleHayesRN (33:00). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories and audio referenced on the podcast: DD's story on the conservative leaders on the rise at HHS: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/22/trump-religious-activists-hhs-351735 Last week's Pulse Check with Rachel Lazer of Americans United for Separation of Church and State: https://simplecast.com/s/4ed0877f Last summer's Pulse Check with NYC health commissioner Mary Bassett and Chicago health commissioner Julie Morita: https://simplecast.com/s/ab9b9df6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a candidate, Donald Trump promised religious conservatives that their voices would be heard - and as president, he's repeatedly delivered through executive orders and agency moves that have been hailed by Christian conservatives. Rachel Laser, the new head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, joins the podcast to review how Christian conservatives came to support Trump (starts at the 31:30 mark), how the Trump administration and specifically HHS have pushed policies for religious liberty (36:30), the appropriate role of religion in the public space (44:20), and the role of religious conservatives among HHS leadership (51:25). But first: POLITICO's Jennifer Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn join Dan to review Congress' latest changes to Obamacare (starts at the 1:45 mark), how new HHS Secretary Alex Azar is leading the agency (10:45), Mayo Clinic CEO John Noseworthy's retirement and hospitals' role in Washington (22:45), and which state is arguably most "important" in the current policy debate (27:25). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Jen's story on Congress removing the ACA's cost checks: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/19/obamacare-cost-checks-spending-deal-352346 Jen and Paul Demko's story on the IRS issuing millions of dollars in ACA employer mandate fines: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/20/trump-irs-obamacare-fines-tax-penalties-353614 Adam's story on Azar's priorities at HHS: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/24/alex-azar-secretary-health-confirmed-trump-nominee-365471 DD's story on HHS dismantling LGBT-friendly protections: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/19/trump-lgbt-rights-discrimination-353774 Jen's story on HHS working with a conservative group on an anti-Planned Parenthood policy: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/12/trump-hhs-planned-parenthood-policy-338084 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Quinones is the author of "Dreamland" — an award-winning book about the rise of the opioid crisis, which shows no signs of slowing. There were more than 64,000 deaths last year from drug overdoses, including opioids. Sam last month sat down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how the opioid crisis got started, how he discovered the story and what he thinks health leaders and politicians should do next. Note: The audio quality on Sam's end is a little rough, but we wanted to bring you this conversation given the. And since Sam sat down for an interview, there have been a few developments — chiefly, the Trump administration this week proposed adding $13 billion in new funding to the opioid fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As CDC director, Brenda Fitzgerald should've been one of the nation's loudest voices on opioids and public health issues. Instead, she'd been remarkably quiet - recusing herself repeatedly from congressional hearings and other initiatives because of financial conflicts - and on Wednesday, she resigned after seven months in the job and one day after POLITICO revealed that she had bought tobacco stocks while running the CDC. Three of the POLITICO reporters who broke the Fitzgerald news - Brianna Ehley, Jennifer Haberkorn and Sarah Karlin-Smith - join PULSE CHECK to reveal details of their reporting (starts at the 1:45 mark), why Fitzgerald had lost confidence of lawmakers (7:30), what the Fitzgerald and Tom Price scandals say about the administration (10:30), and what this says about what's next for HHS under Alex Azar and the CDC (15:15). Then after the break, the Advisory Board Company's Rob Lazerow (starts at the 18:20 mark) sits down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss a much hyped story this week: Amazon, JP Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway's announcement that they're moving into health care. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Brianna and Sarah's story on Fitzgerald's resignation: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/31/cdc-director-resigns-over-financial-conflicts-380206 Sarah and Brianna's story on Fitzgerald's tobacco stock holdings: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/30/cdc-director-tobacco-stocks-after-appointment-316245 Jen and Brianna's original story on Fitzgerald's conflicts: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/cdc-director-avoids-congressional-testimony-297284 Paul Demko's story on Amazon, J.P. Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway's health care venture: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/30/amazon-health-care-business-316314 Rob's Advisory Board analysis of the Amazon et al deal: https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2018/01/30/3-companies#ABCtake Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Azar was confirmed as the 24th Secretary of the Health and Human Services on Wednesday, about four months after Tom Price's abrupt departure. In a news roundup, POLITICO's Adam Cancryn, Paul Demko and Dan Diamond discuss Azar's confirmation, what his priorities are and what's next for the agency (starts at 2:20). Then after the break, listen to Dan's interview with Rod Hochman, CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, one of the nation's largest hospital systems, where they discuss care delivery, health care venture capital and the hospital business model (starts at 21:45). The conversation was recorded at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference earlier this month. We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Adam's story on Alex Azar's confirmation: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/24/alex-azar-secretary-health-confirmed-trump-nominee-365471 Dan's story on the religious activists on the rise at HHS: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/22/trump-religious-activists-hhs-351735 Paul's Pro story on the latest ACA enrollment figures: https://www.politicopro.com/health-care/article/2018/01/stagnant-enrollment-in-state-exchanges-masks-shake-up-in-marketplace-behavior-292657 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karen DeSalvo was a top HHS official in the Obama administration, where she spent months simultaneously running the Office of National Coordinator for Health IT and serving as the acting assistant secretary for health. She also will be a familiar voice for longtime PULSE CHECK listeners: Karen appeared on an early episode of PULSE CHECK, where she talked about her work and her life story. (You can find a link to that earlier episode in the show notes below.) Karen and POLITICO's Dan Diamond caught up at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference to discuss what she's been up to in the year since leaving HHS (starts at the 1:35 mark), how her old departments are performing under the Trump administration (starts at 7:15), whether the focus on social determinants of health is overblown (starts at 14:00), and her latest gig at the new Dell Medical School (starts at 22:00). Then after the break, Dan runs through some of last week's big health care stories that got overshadowed by Congress' fight over a government shutdown (starts at the 23:45 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Karen DeSalvo's first appearance on PULSE CHECK in June 2016, where she talked at length about her work and career path: https://simplecast.com/s/14426be4 A summary of Karen's comments on health IT on that earlier episode: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/desalvo-we-are-seeing-the-returns-on-ehr-investments-224064 Jennifer Haberkorn and Brianna Ehley's story on the CDC director's financial conflicts of interest: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/cdc-director-avoids-congressional-testimony-297284 Sarah Karlin-Smith and Brianna's story on the Trump administration targeting the drug policy office: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/trump-targets-drug-policy-office-297422 Dan and Jen's story on HHS' push to institute new protections for health workers with religious objections: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/16/conscience-abortion-transgender-patients-health-care-289542 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The health care business world gathered at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference this week, with thousands of attendees haggling over deals and gossiping over drinks in San Francisco. One of the standouts at the conference: venture capitalist Bob Kocher, a doctor and Obama administration alumnus known for his provocative thinking and Silicon Valley influence. At Venrock, Bob focuses on health IT and services, with investments in companies like Aledade, Castlight, Stride Health and Zenefits. Speaking with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond, Bob discussed his approach to investing in health care (Starts at the 1:20 mark), how he got into venture capital (8:15), the difference between innovating in government and the private sector (13:45), the sector’s never-ending job growth (17:15), how the current administration is affecting the health care market (21:15) and his 2018 predictions (28:00). There’s also a quick lightning round at 30:15. Then after the break, Dan caught up with Victoria Colliver, POLITICO’s California correspondent for health care, on how the JPM conference went and the biggest health policy stories coming out of the state this year. (Starts at the 32:15 mark.) Note: This podcast was recorded on location, and that’s why the audio sounds rougher than usual. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Dan’s story, with Bob’s quotes, on the ACA’s failure to cut wasteful jobs: https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/07/what-is-the-effect-of-obamacare-economy-000164 Bob’s predictions for health care in 2018: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/27/venrocks-health-investors-make-predictions-for-2018.html Victoria’s story on California’s effort to shore up the ACA: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/01/obamacare-california-new-york-coastal-244386 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FDA’s influence can be summed up in a simple statistic: About 20 cents of every dollar that Americans spend is on a product — whether food, drug or tobacco — that’s regulated by the agency. But that enormous responsibility has also exposed the FDA to a broad array of critics, including President Donald Trump, who last year bashed the agency’s reviews as “slow and burdensome.” Trump’s pick to reform the agency? Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who’s steered FDA since last May to the praise of conservatives — and, surprisingly in this political moment, some progressives who think he’s successfully balanced political pressures with public health priorities. Gottlieb joined POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to reflect on the agency’s 2017 achievements and why he joined the Trump administration (Starts at the 1:30 mark), the FDA’s nutrition policy and its role in keeping food safe (9:30), whether FDA is approving too many drugs (13:15), his to-do list for 2018 and looming policy priorities (19:00), the ongoing crisis in Puerto Rico and the effect on medical product development (22:10), how his role as a sometime-critic of FDA has squared with running the agency (25:45), FDA’s tobacco strategy (27:15), and a quick lightning round on Gottlieb’s infamous skinny jeans and other not-so-pressing questions (28:15). Then after the break, POLITICO senior food and agriculture reporter Helena Bottemiller Evich and pharma reporter Sarah Karlin-Smith analyze Gottlieb’s comments and discuss the looming challenges for the agency. (Starts at the 30:00 mark.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Matthew Herper’s review of Gottlieb’s top articles for Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2017/03/10/the-best-stories-scott-gottlieb-the-next-fda-commissioner-wrote-for-forbes/#5e1234d1c523 Gottlieb’s January 2016 article on the need for FDA to change its regulation of novel technologies: https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottgottlieb/2016/01/12/fda-needs-to-change-how-it-regulates-novel-technologies/#45a8b372191e Sarah’s look at what’s ahead for pharma in 2018: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/prescription-pulse/2018/01/03/pharma-weathers-storm-over-drug-prices-may-shift-tactics-062669 Helena’s article, “The Great Nutrient Collapse,” one of POLITICO’s most-read stories in 2017: https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/09/13/food-nutrients-carbon-dioxide-000511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's PULSE CHECK, we’re bringing you a bonus conversation that captures this moment in politics and one of the key voices shaping the debate — a discussion with activist Ady Barkan. A Yale-trained lawyer, Ady worked with the Center for Popular Democracy to push progressive economic policies and reform the Federal Reserve, high-profile battles that led POLITICO to name Ady to our list of 50 leaders and influencers in 2016. But Ady's life radically changed after a diagnosis of ALS last year. Now he's fighting to stop Republicans' tax bill and avoid possible cuts to Medicare — an argument that Ady made in a viral video where he confronted Sen. Jeff Flake aboard an airplane over Flake's support for the tax bill On today's episode, Ady discusses his life, his advocacy work and what average Americans can do to shape the policy debate. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Too often, there's too much media focus on Obamacare. But with a surprise Senate upset throwing a wrench into Republican repeal plans, and with HealthCare.gov sign-ups poised to end on Friday, this was a week to go a little deeper on the ACA. First, POLITICO’s Paul Demko discusses his reporting on the ACA enrollment period and insurers’ profitability (starts at the 2:25 mark), as well as the health care ramifications of the shifts in the Senate (16:00), with Alabama's Doug Jones and Minnesota's Tina Smith poised to join the Democratic caucus. Then after the break, Sarah Gollust — a University of Minnesota professor who studies health care and the media and has closely tracked advertising around the Affordable Care Act — joins PULSE CHECK to discuss her latest findings (starts at the 24:20 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Paul's story on insurers finally turning a profit on the ACA: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/07/obamacare-profits-health-care-285258 Paul's story on ACA enrollment lagging behind last year: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/12/obamacare-sign-ups-enrollment-numbers-218764 Dan's story on Mayo Clinic's rural consolidation, a regional controversy that drew in Tina Smith: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/16/mayo-clinic-rural-health-care-244955 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress continues to try and hammer out a year-end spending bill, while outside of Washington, health care organizations dramatically ramped up their deal-making this week. First, POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris and Adriel Bettelheim join PULSE CHECK to parse what’s happened with the spending negotiations and what’s next. (Starts at the 1:30 mark.) After the break, Craig Garthwaite, a health economist with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, discusses why there were so many eye-catching health care mergers this week and what he likes about CVS’s $69 billion deal to buy Aetna. (Starts at the 16:00 mark.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the year winds down, PULSE CHECK is casting an eye outside of Washington and on what’s coming next for health care. And that's why this week's conversation is with one of the industry's big thinkers — Jeff Goldsmith, who grapples with these questions as a health care futurist and Navigant advisor. Jeff sat down with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to discuss what a futurist does and how his predictions have panned out (starts at the 1:20 mark), the trend toward hospital consolidation and what providers are doing right and wrong (9:00), where the health care industry stands and the signals being sent by Washington, D.C. (17:45), and a lightning round on what’s next for major sectors (28:00). At the end of the episode, listen to a special excerpt from POLITICO MONEY, Ben White’s new podcast on politics, finance and economics, with this week’s episode focused on Republicans' tax bill fight. (Starts at the 31:10 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories and book referenced on the podcast: Dan's story on 'McHospitals': https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/11/08/hospital-chains-dominate-health-care-000574 Jeff's 1981 book, "Can Hospitals Survive": https://www.amazon.com/Can-Hospitals-Survive-Jeff-Goldsmith/dp/0870942484 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a busy week in health care, and PULSE CHECK is here to help make sense of it all. First, POLITICO’s Paul Demko and Sarah Karlin-Smith join Dan Diamond to discuss Republicans’ tax reform plans, Alex Azar’s nomination as HHS secretary, the state of ACA enrollment and Dan’s reporting on the Mayo Clinic. (Starts at the 2:00 mark.) Then, Dartmouth professor Brendan Nyhan sits down with Dan to discuss his research into myths and lies about the ACA, vaccines and other health care issues, and how to change a person’s mind. (Starts at the 27:15 mark.) Finally, Dan reflects on Uwe Reinhardt, the giant of health policy who passed away this week. (Starts at the 45:35 mark.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories and work referenced on the podcast: Sarah and Adam Cancryn's story on Alex Azar, the nominee to lead HHS: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/13/alex-azar-hhs-secretary-trump-244837 Paul's story on the early ACA enrollment numbers: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/15/obamacare-enrollment-surges-trump-244930 Dan's story on Mayo Clinic's growth and rural patients' anger: www.politico.com/story/2017/11/16/mayo-clinic-rural-health-care-244955 Brendan Nyhan's work on death panel myths: http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2013/01/new-study-on-difficulty-of-correcting-death-panel-myth.html The New York Times' obituary of Uwe Reinhardt: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/obituaries/uwe-reinhardt-a-listened-to-voice-on-health-care-policy-dies-at-80.html?_r=0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I don't know why people in rural America should have to settle for insurance that no one else in the industrialized world has to settle for... Just because you live in a rural place, why should you have to pay for insurance that's of no use to you?" Sen. Michael Bennet is an intriguing figure in the national health care debate. The Colorado Democrat sits on the Senate’s two key health care committees, he’s been pragmatic about the Affordable Care Act, and with Sen. Tim Kaine, he’s the author of Medicare-X, a new plan to expand coverage. The senator sat down with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to share his reaction to Democrats’ victories in Tuesday’s election (starts at the 15:45 mark), his Medicare-X bill and his exhaustion with the ACA debate (19:40), Democrats’ desire for universal coverage and why Colorado’s single-payer bill failed (28:45), his role on the Senate Finance and HELP committees overseeing HHS and CMS (34:10) and his thoughts on the state of media (43:00). But first, Josh Peck — the former Chief Marketing Officer of HealthCare.gov and co-founder of Get America Covered — joins PULSE CHECK to discuss the state of ACA open enrollment and what his group is doing to boost coverage. (Starts at the 2:00 mark.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Maine voters supported Medicaid expansion, on the same day that CMS’s Seema Verma announced new support for Medicaid work requirements: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/07/maine-voters-medicaid-obamacare-244675 Lamar Alexander, Patty Murray had been inching toward a deal to stabilize Obamacare: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/28/alexander-murray-obamacare-plan-243258 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atul Gawande doesn't really need an introduction — but if PULSE CHECK were to provide one, it would highlight his work as a New Yorker writer, researcher, best-selling author, surgeon and founder of two non-profits. (Among other responsibilities.) Atul sat down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how he manages his schedule (starts at the 2:05 mark), his book "Being Mortal" and how he thinks its lessons have resonated (5:50), his perspective on politics and public health (11:20), his early career as a Hill staffer and Clinton-era appointee at HHS (18:00), whether he'd ever take a job in D.C. again (26:00) and his writing process (28:00). Plus, stick around to hear Atul answer PULSE CHECK listener questions, which starts at the 40:20 mark. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories and book referenced on the podcast: Atul's 2015 book, "Being Mortal": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JCW0BCY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Atul's 2009 story, "The Cost Conundrum": https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/06/01/the-cost-conundrum Atul's 2009 story, "Hellhole": https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/03/30/hellhole Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Carroll is making a play to be America’s doctor, or at least the physician we need to bust medical myths. The pediatrician from Indianapolis is a best-selling author of medical advice books, a featured writer in the New York Times, and even a YouTube celebrity, with more than 250,000 subscribers to his channel. So how did he do it? In a bonus episode of PULSE CHECK, Aaron joins POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to discuss his path from blogger to New York Times contributor (Starts at the 1:35 mark), his critical analysis of Medicare-for-all proposals (11:20), his view as an Indiana-based doctor of that state’s health reforms, led by Mike Pence and Seema Verma (15:50), why Congress is failing on CHIP and what policies they should pursue (20:35), Aaron’s mythbusting on what you should, and shouldn’t eat(23:00) and more. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Stories and podcasts referenced on the podcast: PULSE CHECK’s interview with Austin Frakt, Aaron’s writing partner: https://soundcloud.com/politico-pulsecheck/news-roundup-and-austin-frakt Aaron and Austin’s New York Times interactive tournament of the best health care systems in the world: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/18/upshot/best-health-care-system-country-bracket.html?_r=0 Aaron discussing his new book, THE BAD FOOD BIBLE: HOW AND WHY TO EAT SINFULLY: https://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/healthcare-triage-the-bad-food-bible/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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The Washington conversation has been focused on the fate of the ACA and whether insurers are planning to stick around. So for this episode of PULSE CHECK, we took the conversation outside the Beltway to hear from Mario Schlosser, CEO of Oscar Health — the insurance startup that’s gotten a lot of buzz and is heading into more Obamacare markets this year. Mario caught up with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond last month to discuss Oscar's evolving strategy (starts at the 2:00 mark), why Oscar is moving into new Obamacare markets (8:05), the company's much-hyped founding story (16:00) and some of the unwanted attention on Oscar, including the insurer's ties to Jared Kushner (26:10). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every shortlist of health care power players includes Bernard J. Tyson, head of Kaiser Permanente. (Modern Healthcare this summer ranked him the fourth most influential person, after Sens. Collins, McCain and Murkowski.) So how does this prominent figure see the industry, and what's he telling Congress? Bernard caught up with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond last week to discuss the whirlwind around ACA repeal and what he wants to see fixed (starts at the 1:50 mark), whether insurers can come back to Obamacare markets (9:00), his own career path and whether it's replicable today (23:30), KP's role as an employer and community anchor (29:00), and the future of his organization (33:30). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The political fights over U.S. health policy often pale next to the world's health care challenges — and Sue Desmond-Hellmann would know. The doctor-turned-CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is on the front lines of the global public health battle, as her organization tackles challenges like eradicating polio and preventing maternal and newborn deaths. Sue caught up with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond last week to discuss if the Trump administration’s putting global progress at risk (starts at the 2:45 mark), the Gates Foundation’s work around the globe, the public health priorities that are being overlooked, and the role of philanthropy in solving the world’s crises. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here’s how fast things are moving in health care: Mike Leavitt, who ran HHS under President George W. Bush, came to Washington 10 days ago to testify about the need for bipartisan health reforms — and since that day, when he sat down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond, the Senate’s bipartisan health push has collapsed and the GOP’s latest Obamacare repeal bill is on life support. Although the conversation is slightly dated, the former HHS secretary is a must-listen voice on health care issues, and he shares his perspective on possible health reforms (starts at the 16:30 mark), his pessimism on Medicare-for-all (22:00), his concerns about the Affordable Care Act (25:15) and his post-government work as head of Leavitt Partners (32:30). But first, POLITICO’s Rachana Pradhan and Jennifer Haberkorn join PULSE CHECK to break down the wild week in health care (starts at the 2:15 mark) and Rachana and Dan’s reporting about HHS Secretary Tom Price’s charter jets — an investigation that made this podcast so delayed (starts at 8:55 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Stories referenced on the podcast: Jen's story with colleagues on Sen. John McCain's decision to oppose ACA repeal again: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/22/mccain-to-oppose-graham-cassidy-likely-sinking-obamacare-repeal-243028?lo=ap_a1 Dan and Rachana’s investigation into Tom Price's use of charter planes: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/19/tom-price-chartered-planes-flights-242908 Rachana and Dan's follow-up on Price's 24 charter flights since May: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/21/tom-price-private-charter-plane-flights-242989 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Progressives have spent 2017 rethinking, regrouping and — in some cases — re-litigating what it means to be a Democrat after last year's shocking presidential loss. And two health care issues, abortion rights and single-payer, have been at the center of this year's party debates. One person leading those conversations is Ilyse Hogue, head of NARAL Pro-Choice America, who joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to explain the mission of her pro-abortion advocacy organization (starts at the 2:00 mark), whether Donald Trump has actually been a boon to progressives (7:20), how anti-abortion Republicans are targeting the judiciary (14:20), whether Democrats should only vote for candidates who support abortion rights and Medicare-for-all (17:20), her own career path (25:00) and why she talked about her own abortion on national TV at the Democratic National Convention (29:25). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PULSE CHECK is back from August recess with a closer look at how health care politics and policy can influence spending — and sometimes not for the better. But first, Jen Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn rejoin PULSE CHECK to discuss the competing approaches to Obamacare in the Senate, whether either plan has a chance at succeeding, and if the GOP still wants to fight to repeal the law (starts at the 1:23 mark). After the break, Yale economist Zack Cooper discusses his team's first-of-its-kind work into the connection between politics, hospital behavior and health care spending, and how one last-minute addition to a major piece of Medicare legislation boosted hospital payments — and politicians' campaign contributions (starts at the 22:30 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathleen Sebelius, the former HHS secretary who oversaw the rollout of Obamacare, is worried that HHS’s current leaders are steering the ACA the wrong direction. "They have done a lot to sabotage the health care law," Sebelius told POLITICO’s Dan Diamond. The former HHS secretary shares her thoughts on the current administration’s strategy, what she thinks HHS should be prioritizing and what’s been overlooked because of the intense focus on the ACA. (Starts at 22:00) But first, POLITICO’s Rachana Pradhan and Paul Demko join PULSE CHECK to discuss the emerging bipartisan efforts in the Senate to stabilize the ACA, the disconnect between President Trump’s comments and the Trump administration’s actions on health care and what’s on tap when Congress returns in September (starts at 1:35 mark) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Stories referenced on the podcast: Rachana’s story on how the Trump administration is spending millions to prop up Obamacare: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/13/trump-millions-save-obamacare-241549 Paul’s story on how the ACA survived the threat of “bare counties”: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/20/obamacare-insurers-county-health-plans-241803 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Slavitt has been busy: Since leaving office in January, the man who ran Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA has mounted a whirlwind defense of Obamacare, holding town halls coast to coast and being ever-present on social media. And in a repeat podcast appearance, Slavitt rejoins POLITICO's Dan Diamond to explain his strategy — and what this year has been like as his profile exploded. Andy discusses how he morphed from Obama administration official to the ACA's most visible advocate (starts at the 3:00 mark), the bipartisan solutions he thinks are necessary in health care (6:30), what he thinks HHS will do and why he thinks his criticism of the GOP is fair (12:00), whether he'd ever run for office (25:00), if he still needs the media as someone with 100,000-plus Twitter followers (34:30), and what he's learned about communications strategy since leaving office (42:20). Note: This conversation was recorded in late July, a few days before the Senate GOP health bill failed on the floor. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The central fight over the ACA has (for now) moved from Congress to the White House, where President Donald Trump is debating whether to yank key payments for insurers. But some senators are hinting that a bipartisan compromise on Obamacare is coming — as long as Trump doesn’t blow up their efforts, that is. First, POLITICO’s Jennifer Haberkorn and Paul Demko join Dan Diamond to talk about what's next in the Senate, the legal case that gives Trump the power to nix the payments, and what it was like to watch the dramatic vote early Friday morning. (Starts at 1:30.) Then after the break, Nicholas Bagley, a University of Michigan law professor who’s a leading voice on the ACA's legal issues, explains the theory behind the current case, what happens in the courts if Trump yanks the payments, and the series of legal attacks on Obamacare over the years. (Starts at the 22:45 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Stories referenced on the podcast: Jen’s story on how the GOP got stuck on repeal: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/31/republicans-obamacare-repeal-241152 Paul’s story on Trump’s looming decision on ACA payments: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/31/obamacare-payments-insurers-trump-decision-241171 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate GOP is pushing forward with plans to roll back all or part of the Affordable Care Act, threatening insurance coverage for millions of Americans. A devastating moment for progressives? Not at all, says Ben Wikler, the Washington director for MoveOn.org, who argues that the drawn-out fight to repeal the ACA has turned into a major win. Wikler joined PULSE CHECK to talk about activism in the Trump era, how “the Resistance” in 2017 compares to the Tea Party in 2009 and how he’s thinking about the health care fight and what lies ahead. (Starts at the 9:25 mark.) But first: POLITICO deputy health care editor Jason Millman joined Dan Diamond to talk about the latest developments in the Senate and the “skinny repeal” plan now under consideration. (Starts at the 2:00 mark.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. NOTE: Dan will be at Politicon.com in California this weekend for a live-taping of POLITICO’s Nerdcast podcast and to moderate a panel on health care. Stories referenced on the podcast: The Senate’s push to repeal the ACA: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/26/obamacare-repeal-republicans-minimum-240982 John McCain’s attack on the GOP: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/25/john-mccain-obamacare-repeal-240946 The so-called "skinny repeal": http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/25/mitch-mcconnell-skinny-obamacare-repeal-240943 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The nation heard from President Donald Trump on Wednesday, who again urged Republicans to repeal the ACA. Congress continues to loudly battle over the law, and governors have spoken out too. But one voice that’s been largely ignored: Local health leaders. And on this episode of PULSE CHECK, two big city health commissioners — New York City commissioner Mary Bassett and Chicago commissioner Julie Morita — join POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to explain how Republicans’ plan would hit their cities, why they prioritize "health" over "health care" and how they're addressing persistent social inequality. They also walk through what it’s like to be a city health commissioner — a role that both describe as their dream job. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. NOTE: Dan will be at Politicon.com next week for a live-taping of POLITICO’s Nerdcast podcast and to moderate a panel on health care. Stories referenced on the podcast: How the Cleveland Clinic gets healthier while its neighborhood stays sick: http://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obamacare-cleveland-clinic-non-profit-hospital-taxes/ How hospitals got richer off Obamacare: http://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obamacare-non-profit-hospital-taxes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet the new bill — mostly the same as the old bill. Senate Republicans released their revised health care legislation this week, and while Sen. Ted Cruz is now firmly onboard, many moderate senators remain publicly uncommitted. And it's possible the bill could fail — again — next week. A team of POLITICO reporters break down what happened and what's next. First, Jen Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn rejoin PULSE CHECK to discuss what's in the new bill, the frenzied push to win over enough holdouts to simply bring it to the floor and their reporting on which senators to watch (starts at the 1:50 mark). Then after the break, Paul Demko and Sarah Karlin-Smith drill down on implications for the health care industry and recap the mostly overlooked developments for the fate of Obamacare's insurance markets and changes to drug payments (starts at the 23:30 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even Republican senators say their health care bill is "dead." But their effort to repeal and replace the ACA is far from over — and the GOP is preparing to unveil a revised bill and sprint to pass it across July. POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn and Jennifer Haberkorn join Dan Diamond to discuss where Republicans stand after their rough recess (starts at the 1:30 mark), Adam’s reporting trip to cover holdout Sen. Shelley Moore Capito in West Virginia (10:30), the role of Donald Trump in selling the bill (13:40), how the next few weeks could shake out (18:30) and a few stories that are flying below the radar (26:15). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Read Adam's story on Capito: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/09/capito-gop-senator-opposes-health-bill-240311 Read Jen's story on recess: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/07/gop-health-plan-home-districts-misgivings-240306 Read DD's PULSE on what's next: http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/politico-pulse/2017/07/10/with-original-bill-dead-gop-begins-sprint-to-sell-new-one-221235 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans' health care push continues to grip the Capitol and keep the industry on high alert. On this episode of PULSE CHECK, we review how that effort is unfolding in D.C. but also in Ohio, in a sit-down interview with one of America's most powerful health care leaders. First, POLITICO's Jen Haberkorn joins Dan Diamond to discuss her reporting on the latest twists and turns in the GOP health care push (starts at the 1:45 mark). Then Dr. Toby Cosgrove, the heart surgeon who runs the Cleveland Clinic, talks about why he turned down both the Obama and Trump administration's overtures about being VA Secretary, what he's telling Ohio Sen. Rob Portman about Republicans' health bill and his view on the health care industry's challenges (starts at the 12:45 mark). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a big week in health care, and POLITICO's reporters are here to help you sort through it. In a bonus episode of PULSE CHECK, senior reporter Jennifer Haberkorn joined Dan Diamond to discuss what to expect this week (starts at the 1:40 mark), the procedural hurdles that Republicans need to jump through (3:30), other possible turning points (14:30), a rundown of where key GOP senators stand (16:30), and media coverage of the health care debate (23:30). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate health bill is here, and Neera Tanden is furious. Neera's a major figure in Democratic politics: She's the head of the liberal Center for American Progress, a former Obama administration staffer — and someone who was heavily favored to be HHS Secretary in a prospective Clinton administration. Neera joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss Republicans' health care process (starts at the 1:40 mark), their proposed changes to Medicaid (6:00), how she thinks it will play in upcoming elections (12:30), what the Clinton administration would've done on health care (19:40), what it was like having her email hacked (22:45), what it's like to run an organization like CAP today (27:00), her advice to young activists (30:00), and if it's a setback for progressives if the bill passes (36:30). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump reportedly bashed the House health bill as “mean, mean, mean." But will the Senate's version be any better? And what do experts want senators to know as they finalize their bill? On this episode of PULSE CHECK, Dan Diamond talks with two people with very different perspectives — and significant concerns — as changes to the health system loom in Congress. First, Diane Rowland of the Kaiser Family Foundation sits down (starts at the 2:25 mark) to talk about Kaiser’s latest polling on Republicans’ health care efforts and how possible Medicaid cuts could hurt Trump's voters. Then after the break, John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple and Pepsi and now a health care investor and executive, talks about his own meetings with Republicans on the Hill this week and his thoughts on how dramatic changes could complicate the business of health care. (Starts at 30:46.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate is driving forward on its health care bill, with a vote looming as soon as late June — even though it's still not clear what's in the bill or if they'll have the votes. How should you think about the Senate's push? Rodney Whitlock — who was health care adviser to Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley — joins POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss the dynamics of the Senate and what's at stake in the health care fight. Meanwhile: there’s a lot more to health care than the ACA and AHCA. And after the break, Niall Brennan — the former chief data officer for Medicare and Medicaid and the new head of the Health Care Cost Institute — discusses the biggest spending problems in health care and whether we can trust the data that the Trump administration is publishing. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected] or tweet him @ddiamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There aren’t many health care executives like Jonathan Bush — the outspoken CEO of Athenahealth, a health IT company. (Frankly, there aren’t many executives like Bush anywhere; he seems to ruffle feathers with every interview.) Bush sat down with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to discuss the health IT landscape, what Washington gets wrong about the industry and why — despite his famous political family — he chose to focus on health care and feels free to say basically anything. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans’ health care legislation continues to lurch forward, with the Congressional Budget Office this week again predicting the bill will lead to 20-million-plus more uninsured in a decade. On this episode of PULSE CHECK, we discuss how the CBO score is playing in Washington and what’s ahead for the unpopular bill. First, POLITICO’s Jen Haberkorn and Paul Demko discuss their reporting from Capitol Hill, address the latest reports about the health of Obamacare and share how the Senate is approaching its efforts. (Starts at 1:45.) Then, Matt Fiedler of the Brookings Institution — and the former chief economist of the Obama administration’s Council of Economic Advisers — shares his analysis of the GOP bill and why he thinks the most recent changes made it worse. (Starts at 27:10.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does a major media outlet decide how much to cover Republicans’ health bill when Russia’s the talk of the town? Carrie Budoff Brown would know — she’s the editor of POLITICO and was one of the top reporters covering the health care debate in 2009-2010. Carrie joined Dan Diamond on PULSE CHECK to discuss how the current health care fight compares to Democrats’ battles eight years ago, where Republicans’ health bill ranks as a media priority, what it’s like leading a newsroom in the Trump era, and what she’s learned from hosting her own podcast, WOMEN RULE. We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! (And check out WOMEN RULE, too!) Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Affordable Care Act has polled poorly for years — but Republicans’ health bill is polling even worse. What does it mean for the GOP to have such an unpopular bill, and how can progressives take advantage of it? On this PULSE CHECK, you’ll hear from two experts in political messaging and strategy. First, Jon Favreau, who was the chief speechwriter for President Obama and is a cofounder of Crooked Media, a new liberal political media network, sits down with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to talk about setting Affordable Care Act strategy, Republicans’ struggles to craft a health bill of their own, and how his views on media have changed since starting a media company. (Starts at the 1:50 mark.) Then after the break, Rick Wilson, a Republican strategist who helped attack the Affordable Care Act, explains why Obamacare’s pre-existing conditions protections are the “nuclear bomb” against critics of the law, why he's no fan of Republicans' current health care strategy, and how the GOP is risking the party’s political future by pushing a bad bill. (Starts at the 38:50 mark.) We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican plan to repeal Obamacare has made it through the House. What are its chances in the Senate, and what's the ripple effect for the industry? That's the focus of this week's PULSE CHECK, with a mix of news analysis and a guest who may have lost his job because of his pro-Obamacare advocacy. First, POLITICO's Jen Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn join Dan Diamond to discuss their reporting about the American Health Care Act and what lies ahead in the Senate (Starts at the 1:30 mark.) Then Mario Molina, the former head of Molina Healthcare who was fired this week, joins PULSE CHECK to discuss his surprising exit, his view on the Republican health bill and why he doesn't regret speaking out in support of Obamacare (Starts at 35:30). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices