New Code WACK! episode
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What’s at Stake in 2024?
Your Health Care
Featuring Assemblymember
Ash Kalra, Lead Author AB 2200
Guaranteed Health Care for All Act
Breaking News in Healthcare Reform
Snippets of news & commentary with a special focus on
health policy, Medicare for All & California
Like Weekly News Roundup? Then you’ll love our popular podcast Code WACK! where we shine a light on the outrageous hassles patients face when dealing with America’s callous healthcare system. Subscribe below!
“We hope insurance plans will recognize that they have taken this entirely too far and will recognize that they are harming patients and preventing people from getting evidence-based appropriate care….” —Dr. Jack Resneck
States Want to Make It Harder for Health Insurers to Deny Care, But Firms Might Evade Enforcement
Stateline | Shalina Chatlani | April 8, 2024
“Federal and state regulators aren’t doing enough to stop the growing problem of rogue health insurance brokers making unauthorized policy switches for Affordable Care Act policyholders….”
Rising Complaints of Unauthorized Obamacare Plan-Switching and Sign-Ups Trigger Concern
KFF Health News | Julie Appleby | April 8, 2024
“’My patients shouldn’t have to have a bake sale or an online fundraiser to pay for their insulin, charges related to the delivery of a child or emergency trauma surgery,’ said A. Mark Fendrick, director of the UM Center for Value-Based Insurance Design.”
Michigan Health Care System Aims to Ease Burden of Medical Debt
The Detroit News | Patricia Anstett | April 7, 2024
“Some providers have already taken the extraordinary step of terminating their contracts with [Medicare Advantage] plans, and … many more are considering doing so….”
Hospital and Insurer Battles Over Medicare Advantage Set to Grow
Axios | Caitlin Owens | April 4, 2024
“…despite all of the incredible wealth and political power of the pharmaceutical industry … despite all of that, the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress are beginning to make some progress….” —Senator Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders, Biden Share Plan to Cut ‘Outrageous’ Health Care Costs
ABC News | Alexandra Hutzler | April 3, 2024
“…the industry claims that Medicare Advantage plans reduce costs. But this is simply not true….” —Representative Pramila Jayapal & Wendell Potter
Campaigners Beat ‘Greedy’ Insurance Giants Exploiting Medicare Advantage
Common Dreams | Jessica Corbett | April 2, 2024
“Using Medicare claims data, the researchers found that concierge medicine enrollment corresponded with a 30% to 50% increase in total healthcare spending by patients….”
Hospitals Cash In on a Private Equity-Backed Trend: Concierge Physician Care
Fierce Healthcare | Phil Galewitz | April 1, 2024
“To finance their health care takeovers, private-equity owners typically burden the companies they buy with debt, then slash company costs to increase earnings and appeal to new buyers in a few years.”
Senate Investigating Whether ER Care Has Been Harmed By Growing Role of Private-Equity Firms
NBC News | Gretchen Morgenson | April 1, 2024
“Brokers say the ease with which rogue agents can get into policyholder accounts in the 32 states served by the federal marketplace plays a major role in the problem….”
ACA Health Insurance Plans Are Being Switched Without Enrollees’ OK
KFF Health News | Julie Appleby | April 1, 2024
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Shining a light on ongoing inequities in health care
and the impact they have on vulnerable individuals and communities.
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