John Wilkerson

Arlington

Washington Correspondent at STAT

STAT Washington correspondent covering whatever Congress is up to on healthcare. [email protected]

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Articles

D.C Diagnosis: RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisers meet, CDC nominee grilled

1 day ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. After making a brief visit to the hospital due to feeling lightheaded, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) gave this sage advice: drink some water and stay out of the heat.
GOP tax bill faces major setback as Senate parliamentarian strikes down key Medicaid measures

1 day ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson |Daniel Payne

The Senate parliamentarian struck down several major health care measures in Republicans’ tax bill, including Medicaid changes that the GOP was counting on to help pay for President Trump’s tax cuts. The parliamentarian’s decision is a major challenge to Republicans’ plans to reap savings from the Medicaid program and could lead lawmakers to look for new savings across federal programs. It may make it more difficult for them to pass the bill ahead of Trump’s July 4 deadline.
Radical transparency at the FDA, and a pivotal moment for vaccines

3 days ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Health, faith-based, and anti-hunger organizations are undertaking a “relay fast” to protest Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill. That’s an interesting tactic in a town that runs on campaign donations and attack ads. As always, send tips to [email protected] or via Signal at John_Wilkerson.07.
Senate Republicans debate Medicaid options as hospitals move to shape legislation

1 week ago | statnews.com | Daniel Payne |John Wilkerson

WASHINGTON — The Senate returns next week with critical choices on Medicaid policies that could cost hospitals billions of dollars and lead to millions losing coverage. Hospitals are scrambling to control the damage. Last month, the House passed its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which would help pay for President Trump’s tax cuts with reductions in federal spending on Medicaid. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee unveiled its version, which includes steeper Medicaid cuts.
Medicaid cuts in Trump's tax bill, RFK Jr.'s new advisers

1 week ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s a short, busy week on Capitol Hill. I hope you have Juneteenth off, but I don’t, so send tips to [email protected] or via Signal at John_Wilkerson.07.
Senate GOP proposes to rein in states’ tools to boost Medicaid funding

1 week ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

WASHINGTON — To help pay for President Trump’s tax cuts, the Senate is clamping down on tactics that states use to boost federal Medicaid funding, according to legislation released by the Senate Finance Committee on Monday. The text includes harsher restrictions on Medicaid provider taxes than a version of the bill recently passed by the House. It also places stricter limits on programs that states use to boost Medicaid funding to health care providers, known as state directed payments.
Hospitals would be hit hardest by Medicaid cuts in GOP tax bill, report finds

1 week ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

WASHINGTON — Hospitals would bear the brunt of federal health care funding cuts in the Republicans’ tax bill, and they’d be hurt hard in states with both predominantly Democratic- and Republican-led governments, according to an analysis by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Republicans are using federal Medicaid funding cuts to pay for part of the cost of cutting taxes in budget reconciliation, a process that avoids the need for Democratic support.
D.C. Diagnosis: new ACIP members, GOP interest in most-favored nation

2 weeks ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The spelling of STAT-newcomer Chelsea Cirruzzo’s last name was tricky for me at first, but I have it down after reading her name on four stories yesterday. Tip jar: [email protected] or via Signal at John_Wilkerson.07.
Cassidy is circulating a proposed law to push down U.S. drug prices, backing a key Trump ambition

2 weeks ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

WASHINGTON — Senate health committee Chair Bill Cassidy (La.) is the latest Republican to take an interest in legislation that would tie U.S. brand drug prices to lower prices in other wealthy countries, according to seven people following the issue. Republicans historically have opposed using so-called most-favored nation policy to lower drug prices, but that appears to be changing as President Trump backs the approach.
RFK Jr. fires CDC vaccine advisers, Senators zero in on Medicaid changes

2 weeks ago | statnews.com | John Wilkerson

You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Medicaid funding is in jeopardy. ACA marketplaces could be revamped. Health Secretary RFK Jr. just fired all of the CDC’s most important vaccine advisers. STAT is offering half off an annual subscription to help you keep up with the news.