Breaking News in Healthcare Reform
Featured Podcast
“Right now we have a model that prioritizes short-term investor profit over patient care. And those incentives, because they’re fundamentally not aligned, mean that they’re gonna be in conflict with each other.”
The Hidden Cost of Private Equity Hospital Buyouts
Featuring Renee Hsia, MD, MSc
Code WACK! | Podcast Episode 321 | March 16, 2026
“…a series of policy failures has created a one-way door into Medicare Advantage — trapping millions of beneficiaries in private insurance plans that no longer meet their needs.”
New CAP Report Warns Millions of Medicare Beneficiaries Are Being Locked Into Medicare Advantage by the “Medigap Trap”
Center for American Progress | Christian Unkenholz | March 13, 2026
“None of the projects expected in 2025 under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mental health ballot measure have opened … some of the state’s most vulnerable residents will have to wait longer for help.”
10 Projects from Newsom’s Mental Health Bond Were Supposed to Open in 2025. That Didn’t Happen
CalMatters | Marisa Kendall | March 12, 2026
“Tens of millions of Americans have delayed surgeries, vacation plans, career moves and other big life decisions because of the cost of health care….”
What Americans Sacrifice Due to High Health Costs
Axios | Adriel Bettelheim | March 12, 2026
“…research shows that cost sharing, including deductibles, deter all types of care: high-value and necessary care as well as extraneous or low-value care … deductibles [are] effectively a surcharge for people with pre-existing conditions within the plan.”
Abandon — Don’t Expand — High-Deductible Plans Linked to Spending Accounts
Health Affairs | Jeanne M. Lambrew | March 11, 2026
“They have no desire to do what’s in the best interest of the patient if it’s going to hurt their pockets….”
“I Was Fighting to Survive”: Patients Still Struggle with Preauthorization Despite Promise of Reform
CBS News | Lauren Sausser | March 11, 2026
“In 2025, MA plans were paid $84 billion more than it would have cost to cover the same amount of beneficiaries with TM plans, an average of 120 percent more.”
Alleged Overpayments to Medicare Advantage Plans Cost Seniors Billions: Investigation
The Hill | Joseph Choi | March 10, 2026
“AARP receives royalties from its working relationship with UnitedHealth. The lawsuit alleges the groups fraudulently solicited membership renewals and insurance policy sales while rejecting valid claims.”
UnitedHealthcare Hit with Lawsuit Over Alleged Medigap Denials
Becker’s Payers Issues | Elizabeth Casolo | March 10, 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.