The Universal Service Fund (USF), originally designed to increase connectivity, has evolved into an $8 billion annual expenditure, resulting in a nearly 40% increase in phone bills for American consumers.

With calls to expand USF contributions to include tech services and broadband providers, there is a growing concern that such a "tech tax" would stifle innovation in digital health therapeutics, including FDA-approved apps for conditions like hypertension and diabetes, as well as AI-powered healthcare solutions.

Critics argue that instead of seeking new revenue streams, policymakers should focus on auditing existing programs and cutting wasteful spending within the USF, especially given its questionable effectiveness in bridging the digital divide in rural areas, which technology is already addressing.

Jan Himebaugh, president and CEO of the Washington Retail Association, discusses Washington state's approach to regulating chemicals in cookware, including PFAS and lead. She shares retailers' concerns about compliance costs, product availability, and affordability, arguing for measurable standards and greater alignment with federal requirements.

Tony LoSasso, a professor of health economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses the unexpected phenomenon of silver plans costing more than gold plans in many Affordable Care Act marketplaces. He explains that this is a result of a tangled policy design, specifically the federal government ceasing direct cost-sharing subsidies in 2017. Insurers responded by inflating silver plan premiums to cover these costs, which in turn inflated premium tax credits for all enrollees, creating an expensive and distorted market. LoSasso proposes a fix: funding cost-sharing subsidies directly and restructuring premium tax credits to delink them from plan prices, thereby encouraging real competition among insurers and ensuring long-term market stability.

In this episode of the Health Policy Podcast, host Brian Hyde speaks with Peter Pitts, former FDA Associate Commissioner and President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. They discuss the growing popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs and the critical issues surrounding their use. Pitts emphasizes that while GLP-1s can be effective, they are not a "magic pill" and should be used under medical supervision, alongside diet and exercise, and not for chronic conditions without further research. The conversation highlights the serious dangers posed by counterfeit and unapproved GLP-1s sold online, stressing the lack of quality control and the potential for severe health consequences, including hospitalization and death. Pitts advocates for increased FDA enforcement against these criminal enterprises and advises consumers on how to avoid falling victim to illicit suppliers, emphasizing the importance of FDA approval and doctor consultation.

Dr. Alma Golden, pediatrician and former Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, discusses the evolution of global health strategy on the Health Policy Podcast. She highlights a shift from previous approaches—often characterized by funding tied to specific mandates through NGOs—to the "America First" strategy's emphasis on bilateral agreements, country-led priorities, and whole-person care.

Dr. Golden explains the origins and impact of the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an agreement among now 41 nations promoting national sovereignty in healthcare decisions and rejecting the idea of abortion as an international right. She elaborates on how this new approach fosters trust, supports faith-based organizations, and recognizes the pivotal role of family in health outcomes, advocating for treating nations as partners rather than projects.

In this episode of the Health Policy Podcast, host Brian Hyde speaks with Eric Maus, Director of Health and Science Policy at Citizens Against Government Waste. They delve into the complex landscape of prescription drug pricing in America, discussing how federal programs like 340B and provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have impacted costs and access. Moss reveals that despite initial projections of savings, the IRA's drug pricing controls are now estimated to cost $700 billion, driving up monthly drug costs for seniors. The conversation also explores the historical ineffectiveness of price controls and the benefits of a free-market approach for pharmaceutical innovation. Additionally, Maus highlights a bipartisan effort to modernize outdated FDA regulations for prescribing information, moving from paper-based delivery to electronic, which promises significant savings and improved efficiency for healthcare providers.

National Taxpayers Union President Pete Sepp argues that Washington State's regulation of PTFE, the coating used in nonstick cookware, goes too far by treating it the same as the broader PFAS "forever chemicals" family. Sepp points out that California Gov.

Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar cookware bill, citing affordability and lost consumer choice, and says Washington's approach would drive up costs for households.

He also makes the case against "precautionary principle" regulation, criticizes the Superfund excise tax revived in the 2021 infrastructure law as a revenue grab unrelated to environmental cleanup, and calls for science-based chemical reviews and more public input before the new rules take effect.

In this episode of the Health Policy Podcast, host Brian Hyde speaks with Jay Goldberg, North American Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center, about the GLP-1 Bridge Program. While the program aims to make weight loss drugs like GLP-1s more affordable for Medicare and Medicaid recipients, Goldberg argues it exemplifies government price fixing. He explains how artificially lowering drug prices can disincentivize medical innovation and lead to slower access to new medications, drawing parallels to healthcare systems in other countries. Goldberg advocates for free-market competition as the most effective and sustainable way to reduce drug costs and foster innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers and the healthcare system more broadly.