New Code WACK! episode
“…to have a comprehensive health plan like that, that covers medical,
vision and dental across the nation … and include Native Americans and Alaska Natives,
I think it would be a wonderful, wonderful thing to see….”
– Elder Billie Tohei, Executive Director, National Indian Council On Aging
A Second Look at the
Indian Health Services:
A Broken Promise?
Featuring Elder Billie Tohei,
National Indian Council on Aging
Find us on Apple podcasts, our website or your favorite podcast platform.
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!
“Although doctors ultimately determine whether to cut off insurance coverage for a particular treatment, those decisions are generally not considered the practice of medicine and therefore cannot be challenged in a malpractice lawsuit.”
Insurers Continue to Rely on Doctors Whose Judgments Have Been Criticized by Courts
ProPublica | Duaa Eldeib, Maya Miller, Research: Kirsten Berg | December 30, 2024
“Younger Americans are particularly likely to see the murder as the result of a confluence of forces rather than just one person’s action.”
Most Americans Blame Insurance Profits and Denials Alongside Killer in UHC CEO Death, Poll Finds
Time | Linley Sanders, Tom Murphy, Amelia Thomson-Deveaux | December 28, 2024
“Health insurers are increasingly interfering in care, an NBC News investigation found. Doctors say the stakes are highest in cancer care, when delays can be the difference between life and death.”
‘Would He Have Lived?’ When Insurance Companies Deny Cancer Care to Patients
NBC News | Gretchen Morgenson | December 27, 2024
“It wasn’t just the colorectal cancer that was killing me — it was the crushing inefficiency, delays and gaps in care that allowed my condition to worsen unchecked.”
I Got Cancer at 35. The Health Insurance System Delayed My Treatment for Months.
Truthout | Michelle Zacarias | December 27, 2024
“On average, 1.4 million enrollees who reach the out-of-pocket cap from 2025 to 2029 are estimated to see annual savings of $1,000 or more….”
Medicare’s $2,000 Prescription Drug Cap Expected to Bring Major Relief to Cancer Patients
NBC News | Berkeley Lovelace Jr. | December 25, 2024
“Public, quality healthcare in the United States is a contentious topic provoking intense debate. … The present profit-driven structure of the healthcare system, primarily managed by private insurance companies, has come under severe criticism due to its high costs and perceived inadequacies in patient care.”
Single-Payer Healthcare System Urged to Replace U.S. Profit Model
HealthPoint | David Wainson | December 24, 2024
“…New York-based Independent Health has agreed to pay up to $98 million in violation of the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting invalid diagnosis codes to Medicare for Medicare Advantage plan enrollees to increase payment.”
Medicare Advantage Provider to Pay Up To $98M to Settle False Claims Act Suit
Healthcare Innovation | Pietje Kobus | December 23, 2024
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Shining a light on ongoing inequities in health care
and the impact they have on vulnerable individuals and communities.
Our podcast Code WACK! brings to life the failures of America’s healthcare system with stories, commentary and analysis.
Our Weekly News Roundup shares news and views about health policy, health equity and healthcare reform (from non-paywalled news sources)
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