Congress has passed, and President Trump has signed, a major government funding bill that includes a wide range of health care policies, from telehealth extensions and hospital-at-home programs to long-sought reforms targeting pharmacy benefit managers. But alongside those wins, the legislation also raises serious questions about the future direction of federal health policy.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down what the new spending package actually does for patients, what it leaves unresolved, and why some lawmakers and advocates are uneasy about increasing funding for federal health agencies under current leadership. The conversation explores how these decisions affect access to care, drug costs, public health programs, and trust in health institutions.

Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, clinician, or advocate, this episode offers a clear, practical look at how congressional budget decisions shape health care on the ground, and why continued engagement and oversight matter more than ever.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

Congress has passed, and President Trump has signed, a major government funding bill that includes a wide range of health care policies, from telehealth extensions and hospital-at-home programs to long-sought reforms targeting pharmacy benefit managers. But alongside those wins, the legislation also raises serious questions about the future direction of federal health policy.
In this episode of&nbsp;The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down what the new spending package actually does for patients, what it leaves unresolved, and why some lawmakers and advocates are uneasy about increasing funding for federal health agencies under current leadership. The conversation explores how these decisions affect access to care, drug costs, public health programs, and trust in health institutions.
Whether you&rsquo;re a patient, caregiver, clinician, or advocate, this episode offers a clear, practical look at how congressional budget decisions shape health care on the ground, and why continued engagement and oversight matter more than ever.
Contact Our Host Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:snewmark@ghlf.org">snewmark@ghlf.org</a> A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to <a href="mailto:podcasts@ghlf.org">podcasts@ghlf.org</a> Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our <a href="https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates">website</a> or on your favorite podcast channel.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what&rsquo;s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life.

The Health Advocates

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life. The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, and Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life. The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, and Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF.