Breaking News in Healthcare Reform
Featured Podcast
“These companies have done an exceptionally good job of persuading our politicians, often with campaign contributions, that they need to stay in the game. They have been the reason why we’ve made so little progress toward getting to a Medicare-for-All-type of system.”
Why Insured Americans Still Need Charity Clinics
Featuring Wendell Potter, Center for Health & Democracy
Code WACK! | Podcast Episode 317 | February 16, 2026
“A shuttered Northern California hospital is getting a lifeline from Congress, but it doesn’t come with money to actually reopen and serve patients.”
A California County’s Only Hospital Cleared a Federal Hurdle, But It Still Needs Millions to Reopen
CalMatters | Ana B. Ibarra | February 14, 2026
“Insurance reduces the risk of financial catastrophe, but the way private plans are currently designed still leaves many people heavily exposed when something serious happens….”
Medical Emergencies Can Lead to Debt and Bankruptcy — Even for Insured Americans
CNBC | Annie Nova | February 12, 2026
“The [California Nurses Association] … said California residents are ready for massive changes in their health care system. It pointed to a recent poll showing that almost two-thirds of Californians support major reforms to the system. Among Democrats, 86% support a single-payer health care system proposal in the state.”
California Lawmaker Takes Second Swipe at Single-Payer Health Care Bill
Courthouse News Service | Alan Riquelmy | February 12, 2026
“The idea of bank-style regulation for health insurers isn’t as far off as it sounds. As Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR) pointed out, insurance companies take in premiums and invest that money — known as ‘float’ — before having to pay it out in claims.”
The Bank of Big Medicine
The American Prospect | Olivia Webb Kosloff, Emma Freer | February 11, 2026
“In announcing its ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ in January 2026, the Trump administration became the latest in a long history of efforts by the U.S. government to rein in the soaring cost of health care.”
Why is US Health Care Still the Most Expensive in the World After Decades of Cost-Cutting Initiatives?
The Conversation | Patrick Aguilar | February 11, 2026
“The grants, awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fund a wide swath of areas including workforce initiatives, sexually-transmitted infection prevention measures, health equity proposals, pediatric clinician training and others in California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota.”
CDC Moves to Cut $600M in Grants to Democrat-Led States
Healthcare Dive | Sydney Halleman | February 11, 2026
“Insurers have tried to use tools like prior authorization and claim denials to tamp down on health care costs — but have faced growing public blowback over it. … Now … many insurers see contract negotiations as one of the few levers they have left.”
Hospitals and Insurers are Fighting Over Money, Leaving Patients in the Lurch
NBC News | Berkeley Lovelace Jr. | February 10, 2026
“Losing the subsidies will substantially reduce coverage for Black families in particular….”
Failing to Extend the Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits is an Attack on Working-Class Black Families and Major Metro Areas
Economic Policy Institute | Kyle K. Moore, Breyon Williams | February 9, 2026
____________________________________________
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)
Our Media page connects you to doctors, advocates and experts in health economics and health policy.
Our Resources page provides a wealth of additional resources including links to legislation and studies.
Keep up with the Medicare for All movement
Subscribe to Code WACK!
Apple Google Amazon Spotify Subscribe
Podcasts Podcasts Music for emails
Or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!
And follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe for email updates.