Author

Emmarie Huetteman

Emmarie holds a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from Northwestern University where she worked on an award-winning reporting project on the national security implications of climate change. She was formerly with the The New York Times and currently covers health policy and politics for KHNews, fact-checking with PolitiFact and more.

Health

Democrats Eye Medicare Negotiations to Lower Drug Prices

Emmarie Huetteman Mar 23, 2021

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of a health and retirement subcommittee, was set to hold one of this Congress’ first hearings on drug prices, seen as a way for Sanders and his allies to highlight that drug prices in the United States…

Health

Four Vital Health Issues — Not Tied to Covid — That Congress Addressed in Massive Spending Bill

Emmarie Huetteman Jan 29, 2021

While the $900 billion that lawmakers included for urgent pandemic relief got most of the attention, some even bigger changes for health care were buried in the other parts of that huge legislative package. Editorial credit: Mark Reinstein…

Health

Even With Senate Control, Democrats Will Need Buy-In From GOP on Key Health Priorities

Emmarie Huetteman Jan 11, 2021

The victories of the Warnock and Ossoff in Georgia last week gave Democrats two more Senate seats and the upper hand in the Senate’s now 50-50 split. After Vice President-elect Kamala Harris takes the oath of office, she will serve as the…

Health

As Congress Bickers Over Pandemic Relief, Flight Attendant’s Life Is in a Holding Pattern

Emmarie Huetteman Dec 19, 2020

Flight attendant Troy Muenzer’s furlough pay from his airline employer stopped on Dec. 15, and his monthly unemployment check is not enough to cover food and rent. He has tried to find a new job, but no luck yet. Photo credit: Taylor…

Health

Longtime Health Advocate Donna Shalala of South Florida’s Miami District Loses House…

Emmarie Huetteman Nov 6, 2020

Then Representative-elect Donna Shalala (D-FL) is seen here speaking about her party’s agenda in the 116th Congress. Shalala’s loss was a notable upset for House Democrats. November 13, 2018. Photo credit: C-SPAN. MIAMI, FL…

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Health

With Senate Control at Stake, Trump and COVID Haunt Ernst’s Fight to Keep Her Seat

Emmarie Huetteman Oct 13, 2020

Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa during a confirmation hearing at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Washington, DC., January 2017. Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com, licensed. Sign, Editorial…

Health

In Fine Print, HHS Appears To Ban All Surprise Billing During The Pandemic

Emmarie Huetteman Apr 17, 2020

Top health officials first learned of the virus’s spread in China on January 3, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II said last month. Photo credit: C-SPAN. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal officials offering emergency…

Health

He Got Tested For Coronavirus, Then Came The Flood Of Medical Bills

Emmarie Huetteman Apr 1, 2020

In an isolation room, the doctors put Andrew Cencini on an IV drip, did a chest X-ray and took the swabs. Just before falling ill, he had traveled to New York City, helped with computers at a local prison and gone out on multiple calls as…

Health

Senators Who Led Pharma-Friendly Patent Reform Also Prime Targets For Pharma Cash

Emmarie Huetteman Mar 24, 2020

Less than three weeks after introducing a bill that would make it harder for generic drug-makers to compete with patent-holding drug-makers, Sen. Thom Tillis opened the subcommittee’s first meeting on Feb. 26, 2019, with his own vow. File…

Health

Democrats Sharpen Health Care Attacks During South Carolina Debate

Emmarie Huetteman Feb 26, 2020

The Democratic presidential nomination sparred over the price tag on health care reform and even revealed similarities on issues like marijuana legalization. Photo credit: PBS News Hour. SOUTH CAROLINA - The ideal began to get real on…

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Health

Scalpels Out: Democrats Make Slashing Attacks On Health Care Plans

Emmarie Huetteman Feb 20, 2020

Democratic presidential candidates (from left) Mike Bloomberg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) take the stage at the…

Business

Call For FDA To Withdraw Preterm Birth Drug, “Makena,” Divides Doctors and Insurers; In Close Vote,…

Emmarie Huetteman Jan 27, 2020

Makena has been in limbo since October, when an expert panel convened by the Food and Drug Administration reviewed the accumulated evidence and concluded that Makena is not effective in preventing preterm birth. File photo: Pixabay. …

Health

Warren and Klobuchar Say They Can Lower Drug Prices Without Congress’ Help; President Already Has…

Emmarie Huetteman Jan 15, 2020

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota who have both sponsored their own bills to control skyrocketing drug prices, stood out after Congress spent last year debating the problem. Photo credit: C-SPAN. …

Health

Democrats Debate Whether ‘Medicare For All’ Is ‘Realistic’

Emmarie Huetteman Dec 21, 2019

Democratic presidential candidates (left to right) Andrew Yang, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tom…

Health

Health Care Issues Take Backseat In Latest Democratic Debate

Emmarie Huetteman Nov 21, 2019

Just 10 candidates qualified for the two-hour debate in Atlanta as the countdown to 2020 continues. While Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., has taken a recent lead in Iowa, former Vice President Joe Biden remains at the front of…

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Finance

Voters Say Congress Needs To Curb Drug Prices, But Are Lawmakers Listening?

Emmarie Huetteman Nov 11, 2019

“The idea that Congress is going to lower prescription drug prices without reforms to Medicare is nonsensical,” said Zona, Grassley’s spokesman. He added that the CREATES Act, which Grassley originally co-sponsored, is important. “But…

Health

Health Care Stayed Front And Center At Democratic Debate

Emmarie Huetteman Oct 16, 2019

CNN/NYT Democratic Presidential Debate from Westerville, Ohio. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard…

Business

Think ‘Medicare For All’ Is The Only Democratic Health Plan? Think Again

Emmarie Huetteman Oct 15, 2019

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont who rolled out a sweeping proposal last month to overhaul medical debt collection with a headline-catching promise: to wipe clean the roughly $81 billion Americans owe in past-due medical debt. Photo: C-SPAN.…

Health

Hill Hodgepodge: Pelosi Draws From Democrats, GOP And Trump For Drug Plan Intended to Lower…

Emmarie Huetteman Sep 22, 2019

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats introduced legislation Thursday intended to lower prescription drug prices. WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders on Thursday unveiled an aggressive plan to lower…

Health

Biden-Harris Debate Rematch Highlights Health Plan Differences

Emmarie Huetteman Aug 4, 2019

For former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris of California health care became the sequel to their first fiery exchange — when Harris, peering over at Biden, movingly recalled during the first round of debates last month how…

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Health

In A Messy Democratic Presidential Debate, Facts About Medicare For All Get Tossed About

Emmarie Huetteman Jul 31, 2019

It’s been a month since Democratic presidential hopefuls last took to the debate stage, but Tuesday night in Detroit 10 candidates again faced off for the first of this two-night event. WASHINGTON - Here we go again. It’s been a…

Business

POLL: Larger Share of Democrats and Democratic-Leaning Independents Prefer Building on Affordable…

Emmarie Huetteman Jul 30, 2019

The the new tracking polls has findings which may give pause to Democratic presidential candidates preparing for the second round of primary debates, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on CNN. File photo: C-SPAN. WASHINGTON -…

Business

GOP Senators Distance Themselves From Senator Chuck Grassley And President Donald Trump’s Efforts…

Emmarie Huetteman Jul 26, 2019

After months of closed-door meetings and high-profile hearings, the Senate Finance Committee voted 19-9 to advance legislation introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to rein in drug costs in the Medicare and…

Business

Summer Setbacks: The Long Road To Lower Drug Prices Hits Some Potholes

Emmarie Huetteman Jul 26, 2019

One of the most significant proposals would cap price increases on brand-name drugs and biologic drugs covered by Medicare to ensure they do not outpace inflation, and triggering rebates when they do. File photo: Pixabay. WASHINGTON -…