RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Schedule Changes Blocked — For Now

A federal judge in Massachusetts this week sided with public health groups to block changes to the federally recommended schedule of childhood vaccines, dealing at least a temporary setback to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to remake the schedule. Meanwhile, Congress has put its debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act on the back burner, but the issue of rising health care costs is still front and center for the voting public.  Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF President and CEO Drew Altman to kick off a new series looking at health care solutions, called “How Would You Fix It?”   Visit our website for a transcript of this episode. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:  Julie Rovner: The New York Times’ “Trump Promised the ‘World’s Lowest’ Drug Prices. We Checked the Numbers,” by Rebecca Robbins.   Lauren Weber: The Atlantic’s “Sucker: My Year as a Degenerate Gambler,” by McKay Coppins.  Margot Sanger-Katz: Stat’s “How a Texas Couple Is Getting Rich Off Out-of-Network Medical Bills,” by Tara Bannow.   Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times’ “U.S. Considers Withholding H.I.V. Aid Unless Zambia Expands Minerals Access,” by Stephanie Nolen.