Breaking News in Healthcare Reform
“Toni Daniels was not admitted to the first two hospitals that she went to. She had polio. The nurses were saying, ‘We’re not admitting a Black child if we don’t know what the problem is’ and the doctor said, ‘If we don’t admit her, then she’ll die.’ And obviously, there wasn’t a concern that she would die.”
Revisiting America’s Racist & Deadly Legacy
Featuring Dr. Barbara Berney, Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution
Code WACK! | Podcast Episode 312 | January 12, 2026
“Even if a deal materializes, there are reasons to be skeptical that voluntary cuts by insurance companies could bring significant, lasting health care savings for Americans.”
Trump’s Plan to Strong-Arm Insurers Into Lower Prices Is Met with Skepticism
Politico | Cheyenne Haslett | January 10, 2026
“What we’re seeing here is a policy choice — is, in effect, turning insurance into a luxury item and medical debt into the default….”
Some Americans Say They’ll Go Without Health Insurance as ACA Rates Spike
CBS News | Mary Cunningham | January 9, 2026
“The vote sends the bill to the Senate, where it’s expected to be dead on arrival.”
House Votes to Revive Enhanced ACA Subsidies
Healthcare Dive | Rebecca Pifer | January 8, 2026
“…the Trump administration continues to use all the levers it can to block such care.”
Three Hospitals Are Under Investigation for Providing Gender-Affirming Care to Trans Youth
The 19th* | Orion Rummler | January 7, 2026
“Denmark has 6 million people, universal health care and a national registry that tracks every patient. In contrast, the U.S. has 330 million people, 27 million uninsured and a system where millions move between providers.”
RFK Jr. Guts the US Childhood Vaccine Schedule Despite Its Decades-Long Safety Record
The Conversation | Jake Scott | January 6, 2026
“The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to formally oppose the Trump administration’s attempts to cut off all Medicare and Medicaid funding to medical providers that offer gender-affirming care to youth.”
LA County to Join Legal Fight Against Federal Rule
LAist | Kevin Tidmarsh | January 6, 2026
“Texas, Alaska and California received the most money, while New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island received the least. … More than 100 rural hospitals have closed in the past decade, and more than one-third of all rural hospitals are at risk of closing….”
CMS Distributes Rural Health Funds for 2026
Healthcare Dive | Sydney Halleman | January 5, 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.