Julie Rovner

@julierovner.bsky.social

9.2K followers 720 following 260 posts

Chief Washington Correspondent KFF Health News, Host "What the Health?" podcast/horseperson/corgimomx2/unapologetic Michigan fan.

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Julie Rovner is an American journalist and author. Currently the Chief Washington Correspondent for Kaiser Health News (KHN) and host of its podcast, "What the Health", Rovner previously reported for National Public Radio, National Journal's Congress Daily, Congressional Quarterly, and The Lancet. .. more

Public Health 35%

Economics 33%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Christian E. Weller, Eric M. Patashnik , and 1 more Anne Applebaum, Christian E. Weller, Eric M. Patashnik, Julie Rovner

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 16h

New at Can We Still Govern? New Medicaid work requirements will see an estimated 5 million lose coverage.
Small investments in in-house tech capacity could allow states to start preparing now to expand automatic renewal of clients. Here is the evidence 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...

Lessons from Pandemic Era Medicaid Automation for Work Requirements

Small tech capacity investments offer big returns

donmoynihan.substack.com

Reposted by Julie Rovner

KFF Health News @kffhealthnews.org · 3d

In this special episode of “What the Health?” from KFF Health News and WAMU, host @julierovner.bsky.social talks to @cynthiaccox.bsky.social of @kff.org about the state of the Affordable Care Act. https://bit.ly/4813Bad

The State of the Affordable Care Act - KFF Health News

Nov. 1 marked the start of open enrollment for 2026 health plans bought from Affordable Care Act marketplaces in most states. But this sign-up season is like no other in the health law’s 15-year histo...

kffhealthnews.org

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 4d

Hello from Paris, where I am taking a break from the ACA and shutdown mess.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 5d

This really hasn’t gotten enough attention this week.

@wired.com #ICE
www.wired.com/story/fbi-wa...

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Laia Balcells, Alan Richardson , and 2 more Brendan Nyhan, Laia Balcells, Alan Richardson, Ann Bartow, Julie Rovner

James Downie @jamescdownie.bsky.social · 6d

A moment of silence, please, for the "young men are all MAGA now" narrative.

(Source: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...)

Spanberger v. Earle-Sears exit poll

Men 18-29: Spanberger 56%; Earle-Sears 42%

Reposted by Julie Rovner

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 6d

TIL the Post has added, inline in their articles, an AI chatbot pop-up that invites you to ask questions of the gibberish machine that makes up facts.

Thanks, I hate it.

Reposted by Will Jennings, Fabián Muniesa, Daniel W. Drezner , and 2 more Will Jennings, Fabián Muniesa, Daniel W. Drezner, Alan Richardson, Julie Rovner

Molly Roberts @mollyroberts.bsky.social · 6d

The officer Sandwich Guy is charged with assaulting testifies that he could feel the impact of the sandwich through his ballistic vest, and it “exploded all over my uniform.” He says he could “smell the onions and the mustard.”

Reposted by Julie Rovner

Jamie Gangel @jamiegangel.bsky.social · 6d

New: Liz Cheney on her father, “Country over Party”

www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/p...

‘Country over party’: How Dick Cheney helped Liz Cheney stand up to Donald Trump | CNN Politics

One year after Donald Trump’s supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, former Vice President Dick Cheney joined his daughter Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney on the floor of the House to take a l...

www.cnn.com

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 7d

i do not. there have been lots of differences between state officials and CMS (formerly HCFA) leaders, but not on this level, at least not since I've been covering (from the end of the Reagan era)

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 7d

Fact check: true!

Reposted by Julie Rovner

Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 7d

ICYMI, Trump posted that he wanted to fund SNAP "as soon as possible . . . [i]f we are given the appropriate legal direction."

So a federal judge said "here's the legal direction" and ordered either full payment by today or partial by Wednesday.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Also, the President of the United States stated Friday evening
that:
I do not want Americans to go hungry . . . [I] ask the Court to clarify how
we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. . . . If we are given the
appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to
provide the funding . . .
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social (Oct. 31, 2025, at 6:10 PM).1
So, here’s the ORDER and here’s the legal direction from the Court.2 Having
reviewed the Complaint, Motion, Memorandum of Law, Declarations, and evidence
in support of the Motion, as well as the papers filed in opposition to this Motion, and
1 The Court greatly appreciates the President’s quick and definitive response
to this Court’s Order and his desire to provide the necessary SNAP funding.

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 11d

first #WTHealth podcast with our new distribution partner @wamu.org! Find us now on the NPR app, or wherever you get your podcasts!
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Happy Open Enrollment Eve! - KFF Health News

A standoff in Congress is keeping much of the government shut down as open enrollment begins in most states for Affordable Care Act plans. Democrats are demanding Republicans agree to extend ACA tax c...

kffhealthnews.org

Reposted by David L. Anderson, Julie Rovner

Citizen Cohn / Jonathan Cohn @citizencohn.bsky.social · 12d

I see we’ve entered the “don’t worry, we have a magical Obamacare alternative” stage of the debate www.thebulwark.com/p/the-republ...

The Republican Health Care Trap, Episode 78

As the shutdown drags on, the GOP croons its old tune: replacing Obamacare.

www.thebulwark.com

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 18d

new #WTHealth podcast up! @shefali.bsky.social, @alicemiranda.bsky.social, and @rachelroubein.bsky.social on the latest shutdown news, Trump's IVF policy, and immigration and health care. Plus the latest "bill of the month."
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Nutrition Programs Face Their Own Shutdown - KFF Health News

Two major nutrition programs — SNAP and WIC — are likely to exhaust their funding in November, and the furloughs and firings at the CDC have left the agency unable to perform some of its major functio...

kffhealthnews.org

Reposted by Julie Rovner

11thhourmsnbc.bsky.social @11thhourmsnbc.bsky.social · 24d

"That's the big irony here - Democrats are fighting hard to basically save health insurance for a pretty Republican group of people."

@julierovner.bsky.social and @crampell.bsky.social discuss who relies on the Affordable Care Act as the shutdown stalemate over its subsidies drags on.

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 24d

apparently we are having the entire ACA debate over again. Sigh.

Steven T. Dennis @steventdennis.bsky.social · 24d

On X, Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for changing the Essential Health Benefits part of the Affordable Care Act, deleting requirements to cover maternity, pregnancy, mental illness and children etc

Reposted by Julie Rovner

Steven T. Dennis @steventdennis.bsky.social · 24d

On X, Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for changing the Essential Health Benefits part of the Affordable Care Act, deleting requirements to cover maternity, pregnancy, mental illness and children etc

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 25d

new #WTHealth up! @laurenweberhp.bsky.social, @annaedney.bsky.social, @joannekenen.bsky.social and I on shutdown latest, another Rx deal for Trump, and layoffs at HHS. Plus @louisenorris.bsky.social on Medicare Open Enrollment for 2026.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Schrödinger’s Government Shutdown - KFF Health News

Democrats and Republicans remain stalled over funding the federal government as Republicans launch a new attack on the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is taking advantage of t...

kffhealthnews.org

Reposted by Julie Rovner

Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · Oct 11

Deep cuts made to CDC’s flagship MMWR publication, a cornerstone of public health www.statnews.com/2025/10/11/c...

Deep cuts made to CDC's flagship MMWR publication, a cornerstone of public health

CDC staff behind the agency’s flagship publication have been fired amid drastic cuts to the HHS promised by the White House due to the government shutdown, according to five people familiar with the s...

www.statnews.com

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · Oct 11

Gorgeous day at the wharf for a festival celebrating the first amendment! Here with my peeps from @wamu885

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · Oct 9

on this week's #WTHealth: shutdown fallout, vaccine changes, a new generic abortion pill and more; with @alicemiranda.bsky.social, @sarahkarlin-smith.bsky.social and CNN's Tami Luhby. Plus Sarah Grusin of @nhelp.bsky.social on immigrants and federal health programs:
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Starting To Feel the Shutdown’s Bite - KFF Health News

The government shutdown continues with no end in sight, and while it theoretically should not affect entitlement programs, the lapse of some related authorizations — like for Medicare telehealth progr...

kffhealthnews.org

Reposted by David S. Cohen, Julie Rovner

Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · Oct 9

NEW: 51 Senators urge RFK Jr. and Marty Makary to end telemedicine prescriptions of the abortion drug mifepristone— and to suspend its distribution as an "imminent hazard" under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Collins and Murkowski only GOP members not to sign
justthenews.com/sites/defaul...

screenshot of letter dated 10/9/25
Today, your agencies have all the information they need to bring an end to previous Democrat-administrations’ abortion drug regulations while a comprehensive review is conducted. As a starting point,
we recommend the following:
1. Suspend the approval of any new generic versions of mifepristone pending the outcome of the REMS safety review;
2. Commit to ensuring that all generic versions of mifepristone are included in the ongoing reevaluation of prior REMS approvals;
3. Reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone and all its generic versions;
4. Suspend the distribution of mifepristone and all generic versions as an “imminent hazard” under Section 505(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); and
5. Withdraw FDA guidance permitting pharmacy distribution of mifepristone and all its generic versions.

We are committed to continuing to work together to give a voice to the voiceless and protect women from the dangerous effects of unregulated access to chemical abortion drugs. The life, safety, freedom, and health of millions of Americans, born and unborn, depend on it.

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · Oct 7

Sir, you signed the law guaranteeing back pay for furloughed workers in 2018...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Oct 7

Q: Is it the White House's position that furloughed workers should get backpay?

TRUMP: I would say it depends on who we're talking about

Reposted by Julie Rovner

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Oct 7

Q: Is it the White House's position that furloughed workers should get backpay?

TRUMP: I would say it depends on who we're talking about

Reposted by Julie Rovner

David A. Weinberg @davidaweinberg.bsky.social · Oct 6

"Court judge Diane Goodstein... had reportedly received death threats for weeks related to her work". "[A]t least three members of her family, including her husband... and their son, have been hospitalized with serious injuries." time.com/7323442/sout...

House of South Carolina Judge Criticized by Trump Administration Burns Down

Authorities are investigating a fire at the home of a South Carolina judge who had reportedly received death threats in what could be the latest incident of political violence across the country.

time.com

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · Oct 4

Rally. He’s working on his masters title. Leg 6 of 10.

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · Oct 4

Wally says “Aspen isn’t the only one in this family who can win blue ribbons!”

Reposted by Ken Caldeira, Lesley A. Hall, Julie Rovner

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · Oct 2

brand new #WTHealth podcast up! @shefali.bsky.social, @laurenweberhp.bsky.social, and @rachelcohrs.bsky.social on the shutdown, the Rx announcement, and the latest vaccine news. Plus, a "bill of the month" with Cara Anthony.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Democrats Make This Shutdown About the ACA - KFF Health News

The foreshadowed federal shutdown came after Congress failed to pass required spending bills, with Democrats demanding Republicans renew the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies in exchange for thei...

kffhealthnews.org

Reposted by James Goodwin, Julie Rovner

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Oct 2

Your occasional reminder that Russ Vought, who is claiming the right to fire civil servants for whatever reason he sees it, once refused to quit a political appointment position even after Trump had lost.

russ vought saying "no, its a three year term" when Biden asks for his resignation on the naval academy visitors board

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