New Code WACK! episode
“The average benefit on Social Security is $1,900 a month.
It accounts for above 90% of some people’s income.
So where’s the cut going to come from? Food? Rent? Prescription drugs?”
— Alex Lawson, Social Security Works
Billionaires vs. Our Benefits:
Who Really Wins With
Social Security Cuts?
Featuring Alex Lawson
Social Security Works
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!
“GOP lawmakers expected to vote soon on slashing the insurance program for low-income people represent tens of millions reliant on it.”
These Republicans Have a Lot to Lose If Congress Cuts Medicaid
Politico | Kelly Hooper | February 24, 2025
“Trump last month ordered an end to all federal programs that mandate or invoke accessibility, alongside diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Americans With Disabilities Warn Protections Are Vanishing in Trump’s DEI Rollback
Axios | April Rubin, Maya Goldman | February 23, 2025
“The first month of the Trump administration has brought chaos to federal health agencies through mass firings, funding interruptions and communications freezes….”
‘Deadly Consequences’: Health Agencies Reel from Thousands of Job Cuts While Critical Research Grants Remain on Hold
CNN | Meg Tirrell | February 23, 2025
“…KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy, published a January study showing that 73 million of 392 million in-network claims were denied in the U.S. in 2023.”
How Rising Health Care Claim Denials Are Hurting Americans
CNBC | Anuz Thapa | February 22, 2025
“The rate of sepsis shot up more than 50% for women hospitalized when they lost their pregnancies in the second trimester. … The surge in this life-threatening condition, caused by infection, was most pronounced for patients whose fetus may still have had a heartbeat when they arrived at the hospital.”
Texas Banned Abortion. Then Sepsis Rates Soared.
ProPublica | Lizzie Presser, Andrea Suozzo, Sophie Chou, Kavitha Surana | February 20, 2025
“More than 79 million people receive services from Medicaid or the closely related Children’s Health Insurance Program. That represents about 20% of the total population of the United States.”
Republicans Are Eyeing Cuts to Medicaid. What’s Medicaid, Again?
California Healthcare | Renuka Rayasam, Sam Whitehead | February 19, 2025
“But about 92% of Medicaid enrollees are already working, attending school or caregiving, according to an analysis by KFF, a health policy research firm.”
Republicans Consider Cuts and Work Requirements for Medicaid, Jeopardizing Care for Millions
Associated Press | Amanda Seitz, Andrew DeMillo, Kevin Freking | February 18, 2025
“75% of rural hospital leaders say Medicare Advantage is their most challenging insurance payer….”
New Report: Medicare Advantage is Devastating Rural Hospitals
Healthcare Dive | Press Release from Write Off Warrior | February 17, 2025
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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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