Any Hope to Avoid Govt. Shutdown in ’24? Health Care Reporters Assess the Chances

The advice from one of Washington’s health care policy reporters is to rest up and enjoy the holidays because 2024 is going to be a very intense time. The top items on the agenda include a federal fight over the budget (including health care) that could lead to a government shutdown at the beginning of the year, a presidential campaign that will place health issues at the forefront, continuing concerns about AI and health, and a Supreme Court decision expected by June on medication abortion.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter get the health care policy prognosis for 2024 from: Joyce Frieden, who oversees MedPage Today's coverage of Washington and health policy; Caitlin Owens, a senior policy reporter for Axios; and Nathaniel Weixel. a health policy reporter for The Hill.

Holiday Blues & America’s Mental Health Crisis: Insights from NAMI’s Chief Medical Officer

This is a critically important time for Dr. Ken Duckworth as the chief medical officer for NAMI— the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It’s the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Yet the holidays often bring increased instances of depression, which is especially troubling for a country already experiencing the highest rates of suicide in over 80 years.

How Do We Get More Latinas Interested in Nursing? Ideas & Inspiration from Authors of New Book

Our guests were looking for a book that told real-life stories about Latinas in nursing, but they couldn’t find one. So they took the job upon themselves and wrote their own book, titled “Latinas in Nursing: Stories of Determination, Inspiration, and Trust.”

The book is a compilation of the beautiful stories of the challenges, growth and discovery influential Latina nurses share about their journeys, including during the COVID pandemic. Right now, Hispanics make up 19% of the total U.S. population but only about 8% of registered nurses are Latina.

Join us as Tina Loarte-Rodríguez and Zacnité Vargas-Avalos bring their book to life in conversation with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.

Environmental Leader Dr. Vanessa Kerry Delves Into Intersections of Health and Climate at COP28 Global Climate Gathering

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP28) is underway and on Dec. 3 it will feature a “Day of Health.” This is the first time the world leaders on climate change will devote an entire day to how climate change is affecting our physical, mental and emotional health.

Dr. Vanessa Kerry, the World Health Organization Director-General Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health, joined us with an overview of what to expect from the discussions, including ongoing efforts to reduce fossil fuels. In fact, new research shows using fossil fuels accounts for 5 million extra deaths a year worldwide.

Dr. Kerry also shared with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter how she helps her dad, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, understand the urgent need to protect human health as temperatures continue to rise.

Can She Solve the Mystery of Long COVID? Dr. Lisa Sanders Searches for Clues

Dr. Lisa Sanders grew up reading Sherlock Holmes. Now, she’s looking to solve health care mysteries as the medical director of the Yale New Haven Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center. She recently explained her patients are getting better through a variety of approaches and she’s hopeful the caseload will continue to decrease. Dr. Sanders, well-known for writing The New York Times “Diagnosis” column, rejects Long COVID skepticism because she says she has seen clinical evidence of the condition. Join us for this encore presentation of the interview Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter conducted with Dr. Sanders for “Conversations on Health Care.”

Is the Air We Breathe Safe? Award-Winning Scientist Linsey Marr & Green Building Council’s Peter Templeton Share Their Insights

Did you catch environmental engineer Linsey Marr, Ph.D., on “60 Minutes” explaining how she was confident she knew COVID was an airborne virus (even when the World Health Organization was saying otherwise)? Learn more about her insights and latest observations as she joins “Conversations on Health Care” this week.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also discuss air quality and energy efficiency with Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, who explains their LEED green building rating systems.

New NACHC CEO Dr. Kyu Rhee: Top 3 Goals for Community Health Centers

Experienced health care executive Dr. Kyu Rhee, recently named as the president and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, says member organizations are working on three big goals: Being the provider of choice, the employer of choice and the partner of choice.

As he and NACHC members focus on these items, they’re also nervously awaiting congressional action. In late September, Congress passed a short-term extension of funding for community health centers, National Health Services Corps and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. Without Congressional action, that money will expire on Nov. 17.

Dr. Rhee says he sees bipartisan support for community health centers on Capitol Hill but the coming days will be critical as the funding hurdles become clearer.

“Conversations on Health Care” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also discuss with Dr. Rhee workforce needs, value-based care and how centers are ready for the next pandemic, if and when it could occur.

Grantmaking During Global Turmoil: The Rockefeller Foundation’s President Dr. Rajiv Shah

Dr. Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation, served on the National Security Council and elevated the role of development as part of our nation’s foreign policy while he was USAID Administrator. Dr. Shah, our guest this week on “Conversations of Health Care,” explained that the war in Gaza requires a need to balance defense, diplomacy and development.

His new book Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens, takes readers inside past efforts to secure federal funding for humanitarian aid. These lessons are even more important as President Biden is now asking for $105 billion for international conflicts.

From COVID vaccines to climate change, Dr. Shah is at the center of it all. In 2021, The Rockefeller Foundation awarded $440 million in grants to tackle these issues and many others. Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter ask Dr. Shah to explain how he and his team make big bets during a time of global turmoil.

Preventing Veteran Suicides: VA Under Sec. Dr. Shereef Elnahal Outlines Plan

Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the Under Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, says their most important clinical care and public health issue right now is preventing veteran suicides. The data show that 17 vets a day die by suicide. Their work includes making sure vets know that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline is available for them.

He also explained that the VA has communicated to the U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that his department is ready to conduct clinical trials using marijuana when and if the substance is reclassified as a less dangerous drug.

Other topics discussed include why vets should sign up now for new benefits available through the PACT Act, how the VA performs on various metrics and the latest details about innovations they’re bringing to the entire health care sector.

Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter for this conversation as we prepare for National Veterans and Military Families Month, starting on November 1.

Flu Update from CDC Dir. Cohen: So Far, Not An Early Flu Season

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new CDC director, is facing big hurdles as she tries to explain to Americans the benefits of three vaccines now available at the same time: the updated COVID and the flu vaccine (for everyone 6 months and older) and the RSV vaccine (for eligible older adults). There's vaccine skepticism and have been some issues with insurance payments. At the same time, she’s trying to rebuild trust in the CDC when polls show that has been eroding.

Budget Woes & Health Care Policy Snarls: Latest Views from D.C

While both parties in Washington dig in for a longer fight over the budget, health care policy hangs in the balance. Ben Leonard with POLITICO and Nathaniel Weixel with The Hill both cover health care policy and join us for a reporters’ roundtable to go over the pending issues as the government faces another funding shutdown in mid-November.

Ideas for Improving Hispanic Health With Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association; Charles Barber on “Paz Y Salud” Publication

As we mark Hispanic Heritage Month, we hear from Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, which represents the interests of the nation’s 50,000 Latino physicians. This is an encore presentation from 2021 yet many of the issues we discussed then are still relevant, including Latino vaccine hesitancy and the pandemic’s mental health toll. Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter for their conversation about how to address health inequities affecting the Hispanic community.

In addition, author Charles Barber sits down with Mark Masselli to discuss the publication of "Paz y Salud," the translation of his book about Community Health Center, "Peace & Health," into Spanish.

NYT’s Diagnosis Columnist Dr. Lisa Sanders’ Views on Long COVID Affirmed by New Research

Researchers just announced they have found clear differences in the blood of Long COVID patients—this is the scientific proof that some in the health care sector want to see. Right before this news broke, we asked Dr. Lisa Sanders, the director of the new Yale New Haven Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center, about the lack of a Long COVID blood test.

She pushed back on skeptics because she has seen clinical evidence of the condition. Now, it appears Dr. Sanders and her colleagues will indeed be able to confirm Long COVID is a biological illness.

Dr. Sanders, who also writes The New York Times Diagnosis column, explained her patients are getting better through a variety of approaches and she’s hopeful the caseload will continue to decrease.

Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter for this important conversation that’s part of our continuing coverage of Long COVID.

New Ways to Solve Big Health Problems: Lola Adedokun, Aspen Global Innovators Group

Lola Adedokun is executive director of the Aspen Global Innovators Group, which advances a portfolio of programs focused on health and prosperity in the U.S. and around the world. This work includes a focus on what she calls powerful women who are redesigning health systems to better meet the needs of families. Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter as Adedokun explains how local leaders are at the forefront of designing solutions that work for local populations.

Former White House COVID Coordinator Dr. Jha: Debate About Boosters for Young People Is OK

Dr. Ashish Jha, the former White House COVID Coordinator, says he expects vaccines updated for this fall will provide a “great deal of protection” but he acknowledges there are questions about whether a young person should get the booster.

“My best read of the literature is that, yes, they should [get the COVID booster shot]. A reasonable person could read the literature and say, ‘I don’t know if that’s true and let’s have that debate.’” Dr. Jha says, unfortunately, that discussion is clouded by what he calls “nonsense and bad information” that causes confusion and ends up harming people. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to soon approve the new shots.

Dr. Jha, making his fifth appearance on the syndicated interview program “Conversations on Health Care,” also addressed the lingering mystery about COVID’s origins. “Anyone who tells you for sure they know exactly how it started probably is trying to sell you something. Early in 2020 my view was that it was more likely than not a natural origin [as opposed to a lab leak]. I still believe, and maybe I’m one the few people out there who does, that we can get to the bottom of this but we need a lot more transparency from China.”

Dr. Jha has returned to his role as dean at Brown University School of Public Health. He spoke to hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter as “Conversations on Health Care,” a production of Moses/Weitzman Health System, Inc., marked its 14th season.

Mayo Clinic Long COVID Expert Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn: Cases Down as Stigma Continues

The director of Mayo Clinic's COVID Activity Rehabilitation Program says they’re seeing a decrease in Long COVID cases, likely due to variant changes and the effectiveness of vaccines. Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn describes Long COVID as a group of symptoms that linger longer than the normal COVID recovery period. He says fatigue and physical complaints decrease but patients have lingering cognitive effects like brain fog.

Unfortunately, Dr. Vanichkachorn says patients can still face stigma for the condition and he says some clinicians also do when they deliver such a diagnosis. In order to reach everyone, clinicians are increasing efforts to inform diverse populations, including hourly workers and farmers who may be coping in silence.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also learn how olfactory retraining and cognitive behavioral therapy are encouraged for Long COVID patients.

U.S. Suicide Rates at All-Time High: American Psychiatric Association President Responds

Federal provisional data shows more people died from suicide in the United States last year than any other year on record. American Psychiatric Association President Dr. Petros Levounis is at the center of efforts to prevent suicides, with substance use addictions a key part of his focus. He and the 38,000 APA members have launched a campaign called “Confronting Addiction: From Prevention to Recovery.”

Dr. Levounis discusses vaping, opioids, alcohol and the rapidly growing addiction to tech.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also ask him about the need to hold health plans accountable to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

Community Health Legend Dr. Carl Lecce: Lessons Learned

The nation’s expanded focus on community health and family (or primary) care didn’t just occur by chance. It took the dedicated commitment of professionals across the country to make it happen. This week we present a special edition of “Conversations on Health Care” with Dr. Carl Lecce. For 45 years he’s served as a family physician with Community Health Center in Middletown, Connecticut.

Our hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter have worked closely with Dr. Lecce through the years and their reflections give us all insights into the challenges and opportunities for making health care a right and “not a privilege.”

Interview with NBC’s Dr. John Torres On Location at Aspen Ideas: Health

Millions look to NBC News Senior Medical Correspondent Dr. John Torres for advice and insights about their health. But how is he coping with surveys that show Americans lost trust in mainstream media during the pandemic and are increasingly turning to social media for health news? He gives us good advice about where to go for verified information.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also ask him about his role with NATO Special Forces on a variety of initiatives including tactical combat casualty care, combat simulations, and medical leadership. Join us for this special conversation, recorded on location at Aspen Ideas: Health.

Record Heat Wave: L.A.’s Chief Heat Officer Speaks Out

Scientists say this July was the Earth’s warmest month on record in “hundreds, if not thousands, of years.” The City of Los Angeles is taking a unique approach to help its people deal with the record-breaking temperatures through the leadership of Marta Segura, one of the few appointed chief heat officers in the world. Her work is focused on finding solutions when the weather causes physical and mental health issues and she’s keeping equity at the forefront of their efforts.

She has tough words in her interview with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter, including criticism of the Texas governor for nullifying local ordinances that had provided workers protection from devastating, triple-digit temperatures.