Breaking News in Healthcare Reform
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Labor unions have spent decades fighting to win good health benefits for their members. … The ‘union advantage’ has been documented. What might happen if organized labor began fighting not just for … their union members, but for everyone? Could organized labor help lead America to a system where healthcare isn’t tied to a job at all?
Labor Day: Why Every Union Negotiation Is Really About Health Care
Featuring Mark Dudzic, Co-Founder, Labor Campaign for Single Payer
Code WACK! | Podcast Episode 347 | September 14, 2026
“California has decided to play hardball with health care costs, adding steep penalties to enforce state-directed caps on per capita spending increases.”
California Attempts to Crack Down on Health Spending
Axios | Caitlin Owens | September 14, 2026
“The Marsh survey found about two-thirds of large employers — those with 500 or more employees — said they expected to increase how much employees contribute toward their premiums in 2027.”
Your Health Insurance Bills Are About to Go Up
NBC News | Berkeley Lovelace Jr. | September 12, 2026
“Walt Disney, Bloomberg, Starbucks, Deloitte, and the City of Dallas are among those taking actions next year to rein in health care spending, from restricting spousal coverage to eliminating plan options or cutting drug benefits to deal with soaring costs.”
Major Companies to Cut Back on 2027 Health Benefits in Blow to Workers
USA Today | Medora Lee | September 12, 2026
“A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis published in July found that federal spending per Medicare Advantage enrollee ‘is projected to be 7% higher, on average,’ than spending on traditional Medicare over the next 10 years.”
Advocates Say Benefit Cuts by Medicare Advantage Giants Highlight ‘Dysfunction’ of For-Profit System
Common Dreams | Jake Johnson | September 11, 2026
“‘An array of forces across the healthcare industry, from soaring hospital and drug costs to the rapid innovation of specialized treatments and unintended impacts from federal health policy changes, have contributed to a considerable unpredictability in cost,’ said Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of Business Group on Health.”
GLP-1s Aren’t the Only Cost Concerns Employers Should Worry About
Managed Healthcare Executive | Lauren Gordon, Fact Check: Rose McNulty | September 11, 2026
“Most health systems and health plans know their provider data is unreliable, but most cannot fix it.”
Provider Data Errors are Putting Health Plan AI Investments at Risk
Insurance Business | Mark Rosanes | September 11, 2026
“…the Associated Press was unable to get a determination on who was receiving the $500 and why, as there is no evidence the payments correspond to individuals who actually overpaid premiums, as the number would likely be much higher than 1 million.”
Trump to Send $500 Payments to 1M ACA Enrollees — But Why?
Health Exec | Chad Van Alstin | September 10, 2026
“Californians on Obamacare are left without affordable options and forced to shape their budgets around healthcare after tax credits expired this year.”
Catch 22: Californians Can’t Afford Health Insurance But Face Fines If They Drop It
NBC 4 Los Angeles | Annetta Stogniew, Katharine Lee | September 8, 2026
“Many California countertop workers diagnosed with silicosis from engineered stone are struggling to obtain workers’ compensation benefits as insurers deny claims.”
Countertop Workers With Silicosis Struggle to Get Benefits Meant to Help Them
NPR | Farida Romero | September 7, 2026
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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)
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.
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