Welcome to another episode of the Heartland Daily Podcast, where Ann Marie Sheber and healthcare economist Devon Herrick unpack this week’s biggest developments in health policy:

🔹 Prior Authorization Reform
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. & CMS’s Dr. Oz secured voluntary pledges from major insurers to streamline prior authorization—cutting red tape, boosting transparency, and digitizing approvals by 2026–2027. Devon shares a personal story of how prior auth actually saved his wife thousands—and why this process isn’t always the bogeyman.

🔹 Healthcare for Gig Workers
With gig roles rising, rigid benefits laws in states like California have faltered. We discuss how personal HSAs and portable coverage could replace one-size-fits-all models—and help millions working flexibly.

🔹 The Heat Wave & Health Risks
From Chicago’s 1995 heat disaster to Europe’s recent summer crisis, air conditioning isn’t a luxury—it’s lifesaving. We highlight how cooling can protect vulnerable populations and why power reliability matters.

🔹 Whole Milk Isn’t the Enemy
New research (Maha Commission) reveals full-fat milk may benefit kids more than skim—boosting nutrition and curbing junky snack cravings. Is it time to rethink “fat-free” school policies?

In this episode of the Heartland Daily Podcast, AnneMarie Schieber and economist Devon Herrick break down the latest health care debates in Washington. They discuss how promised reforms like Medicaid work requirements and health savings account expansions are being stripped from President Trump’s health care package, and what that means for patients and taxpayers. The conversation covers efforts to close costly Medicare Advantage loopholes, the push for site-neutral payments, and Minnesota’s controversial plan to incentivize Medicaid-funded home births. They also examine Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overhaul of the federal vaccine advisory committee and the growing concern about political bias in mental health counseling. Finally, Devon explains why age — more than lifestyle choices — is the biggest risk factor for cancer.

Get a clear, free-market perspective on these vital health care issues. Visit Health Care News and the Goodman Institute Health Blog for more insights.

The "Big Beautiful Act" turned into a big disappointment for Medicaid reform. Instead of adding ways to improve Medicaid benefits, like cutting non-medical spending, Republicans caved. Work requirements and eliminating provider taxes will help, but the failure to fix Medicaid spending now creates major debt headaches just a few years down the road.
AnneMarie Schieber, managing editor of Health Care News, and Devon Herrick of the Goodman Institute Health Blog discuss how this golden opportunity was lost in the U.S. House.
Also on tap: tips beyond the obvious to bring down your prescription drug bill. Plus, what happened to baby powder? Why does it now feel like chalk? Trial lawyers. Even the American Cancer Society isn't convinced talc is dangerous. And what's a realistic way to understand risk? Vox had a good read on how to consider risk. Devon and AnneMarie agree it’s time to "take a deep breath, relax, and educate yourself." We all die; the only difference is when and how.