The Princeton Pulse Podcast - Why Millions of Americans May Lose Their Health Insurance

Why Millions of Americans May Lose Their Health Insurance

05/12/23 • 36 min

This episode spotlights health insurance in the U.S. – and why an estimated 15 million Medicaid enrollees are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage and access to care.

In 2020, Congress enacted legislation that gave states extra Medicaid funds to help address the raging pandemic, but they attached a condition that prevented states from disenrolling individuals during the public health emergency. On March 31, 2023, the requirement expired and states began to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations. Referred to as “the Medicaid unwinding,” this represents the biggest health insurance coverage event since the Affordable Care Act.

Host Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, discusses the unprecedented transition with Kate McEvoy, Executive Director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, and Dr. Kemi Alli, a pediatrician and Chief Executive Officer of Henry J. Austin Health Center, a federally qualified health center in Trenton, New Jersey. They talk about strategies for maximizing continuity of coverage for consumers -- along with who is most likely to slip through the cracks, the role of state health officials and health care providers, and the potential impact on public health.

Read how Princeton University’s State Health & Value Strategies (SHVS) program, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is helping states navigate the transition by visiting the SHVS website.

Visit the Henry J. Austin Health Center website to learn more about its efforts to help patients “stay covered.”

Read Kate McEvoy’s discussion of Medicaid stability with Health Affairs here.

The Princeton Pulse Podcast is a production of Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing (CHW). The show is hosted by Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, produced by Aimee Bronfeld, and edited by Alex Brownstein. You can subscribe to The Princeton Pulse Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

This episode spotlights health insurance in the U.S. – and why an estimated 15 million Medicaid enrollees are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage and access to care.

Visit the Henry J. Austin Health Center website to learn more about its efforts to help patients “stay covered.”

Read Kate McEvoy’s discussion of Medicaid stability with Health Affairs here.

Previous Episode

Can We Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy and Climate Change With a Similar Playbook? Researchers Think So.

This episode takes on vaccine hesitancy and climate change. What do these seemingly diverse problems have in common? More than you might think. Although they are distinct challenges, both imperil global health, are perpetuated by social behaviors, and, according to a recent study, could be solved with a similar playbook.

Host Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, confronts these problems and potential solutions with Princeton Professor Simon Levin, who has conducted research on the topic, and Nicholas Silitch, former chief risk officer for Prudential Financial, who speaks to the role of corporations in addressing these issues. They discuss a path forward that highlights collective action based on the common good, and a plan driven by resources, effective policy, and strategies for influencing health attitudes.
Read Simon Levin's published research paper:
Vaccination-hesitancy and global warming: distinct social challenges with similar behavioral solutions

Next Episode

Which Country Will Be the First to Wipe Out Cervical Cancer? (The Answer May Surprise You.)

This episode highlights a potential win in the fight against cervical cancer – one that comes from a place that you might not expect. Rwanda, a low-income country, could become the first country in the world to eradicate the disease.

Armed with a remarkably ambitious vaccination program for human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, along with a screen-and-treat program to ensure earlier intervention, this small African country is doing a better job than most wealthy countries. How is this possible, and what can we learn from their efforts?

Host Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, dives into these questions and more with Professor Cristina Stefan, director of the Institute of Global Health Equity Research in Rwanda, and Princeton Lecturer Alyssa Sharkey, whose research interests include global health equity and immunization. They discuss why cervical cancer places a heavier burden on women in low- and middle-income countries, the importance of HPV vaccination and expedient intervention, equity considerations, policy solutions and challenges, and lessons learned.

Read this research paper by Alyssa Sharkey: Broadening the perspective on gender equity in immunization: The unique contributions of human papillomavirus vaccination.

The Princeton Pulse Podcast - Why Millions of Americans May Lose Their Health Insurance

Transcript

Episode 5: Why Millions of Americans May Lose Their Health Insurance

Heather Howard 00:00

Hi, and welcome to the Princeton Pulse Podcast. I'm Heather Howard, professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services. On campus and beyond, I've dedicated my career to advancing public health. That's why I'm excited to host this podcast and shine a light on the valuable connections between health research and