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Shefali Luthra

Correspondent

Shefali Luthra, a Kaiser Health News correspondent, covers consumer issues in health care. Her work has appeared in news outlets such as The Washington Post, CNN Health and NPR.org. Previously, she was KHN’s Peggy Girshman Web Reporting Fellow. She also interned at The Texas Tribune, covering the rollout of the 2010 health law, women’s health issues and state politics. She graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.

The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Shefali Luthra

Mostly False

‘On very shaky ground.’

Pharmaceutical Research and Manfacturers of America
Pharmaceutical Research and Manfacturers of America

"Speaker Pelosi's drug pricing plan would siphon $1 trillion or more from biopharmaceutical innovators over the next 10 years. CBO's preliminary estimate found this bill ‘would result in lower spending on research and development and thus reduce the introduction of new drugs.’" 

— PolitiFact Health Check on Thursday, December 5th, 2019

Half-True

Some of the numbers she cites appear high.

Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar

"Over 70% of the people support Roe v. Wade. Over 90% of the people support funding for Planned Parenthood and making sure women can get the health care they need." 

— PolitiFact Health Check on Thursday, November 21st, 2019

Half-True

Context really matters

Biden
Joe Biden

 "160 million people like their private insurance."

— PolitiFact Health Check on Wednesday, November 20th, 2019

True

Big picture remains hazy, but these numbers add up.

Warren
Elizabeth Warren

"If we make no changes over the next 10 years, Americans will reach into their pockets and pay out about $11 trillion on insurance premiums, copays, deductibles and uncovered medical expenses." 

— PolitiFact Health Check on Tuesday, November 12th, 2019

Half-True

Surgeon general’s marijuana warning omits crucial context

Adams
Jerome Adams

"Marijuana has a unique impact on the developing brain. It can prime your brain for addiction to other substances."

— PolitiFact Health Check on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

Mostly False

Misleading methodology

Biden
Joe Biden

"For people making between $50,000 and $75,000 a year, their taxes are going up about $5,000 because the fact is, they will pay more in new taxes" for Medicare for All. 

— PolitiFact Health Check on Wednesday, October 16th, 2019

Mostly True

Narrow claim holds up

Warren
Elizabeth Warren

 "Back when I was studying it, two out of three families that ended up in bankruptcy after a serious medical problem had health insurance."

— PolitiFact Health Check on Tuesday, October 15th, 2019

Mostly False

Too broad a brush

Americans For Tax Reform
Americans For Tax Reform

"The Department of Health and Human Services is considering a plan to adopt socialist price controls from foreign countries." 

— PolitiFact Health Check on Friday, July 19th, 2019

Mostly True

True on paper, but not always in practice.

Biden
Joe Biden

"We made parity between mental health and physical health. It was a fundamental breakthrough in how we thought about how things should work."

— PolitiFact Health Check on Thursday, July 11th, 2019

False

Not that simple

Delaney
John Delaney

"If you go to every hospital in this country and you ask them one question, which is, ‘How would it have been for you last year if every one of your bills were paid at the Medicare rate?’ Every single hospital administrator said they would close." 

— PolitiFact Health Check on Thursday, June 27th, 2019

Recent stories from Shefali Luthra

Fact-checking the fifth Democratic presidential debate in Atlanta

The impeachment inquiry and voter suppression were center stage during the fifth Democratic presidential debate.
By PolitiFact Staff . Published on

What do GOP efforts to undo Affordable Care Act mean for pre-existing conditions?

At a Tampa Bay Times forum, Florida Democratic Party chair Terrie Rizzo said that coverage for pre-existing conditions is in danger if Republicans get their way. We explain the litigation. 
By Amy Sherman. Published on

Fact-checking the Ohio Democratic presidential debate

Twelve presidential candidates assembled in Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, on Oct. 15 for the fourth and largest Democratic primary debate so far.
By Daniel Funke, John Kruzel. Published on

Fact-checking Trump's claims about Medicare at The Villages in Florida

As part of the president’s outline of key health policy concerns, his wide-ranging speech touched on a variety of hot-button issues.
By Shefali Luthra. Published on

Health care gets heated on night 2 of the Democratic presidential debate

Though the candidates tended to agree on the end goal of universal coverage, differences emerged over how to get there.
By Shefali Luthra. Published on

‘Medicare for All' emerges as early divide in first Democratic presidential primary debate

Only two candidates went all-in for single-payer. 
By Jon Greenberg, Shefali Luthra. Published on

Curing cancer: easy politics, difficult science

As the 2020 campaign season kicks off, both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden say they’ll cure cancer. If only it were that simple.
By Shefali Luthra. Published on

Fact-checking Donald Trump's 2020 campaign kick-off in Florida

President Donald Trump launched his re-election bid in the key state of Florida. We fact-checked his claims about the economy, the wall with Mexico and abortion.
By Jon Greenberg. Published on

How Obamacare, Medicare and ‘Medicare for All’ muddy the campaign trail

Talking points can lead to public misperceptions
By Shefali Luthra. Published on