Code WACK!

This time on Code WACK! April Valentine knew that Black women were more likely to die from a pregnancy or child-related cause -- and tried to beat the odds with careful research, preparation and a supportive birthing team. So why did the 31-year-old die at an L.A.- area hospital while in labor with her baby girl? To find out, we spoke to April's doula, Stanis Askew , who works with Frontline Doula...

This time on Code WACK! What exactly is a doula and how does it differ from a midwife? How can doulas support those who are most likely to die from giving birth?  To find out, we spoke to Stanis Askew , a full spectrum doula in Southern California who helps families from conception until after birth. She works with  Frontline Doulas , a perinatal health program connecting Black families with Black...

This time on Code WACK! In honor of pride month, we're examining the pivotal role the LGBTQ community has played in advocating for healthcare reform. Is it just a coincidence that most of California's single-payer bills have been introduced by lawmakers in the LGBTQ community? How can we further galvanize the community around this life-saving issue?  To find out, we spoke with Michael Lighty, pres...

In honor of Pride month, we're examining LGBTQ activism in health care. How did the HIV/AIDS crisis devastate the community and what pushed many members toward militant activism? What can the Medicare for All movement learn from AIDS activists?  To find out, we spoke with Michael Lighty , president of the Healthy California N ow Coalition, and former constituency director for Bernie 2020.   Check...

This time on Code WACK!   Why do Black women have a 5-year mortality risk from endometrial cancer that's 90 percent higher than White women? Is it about race or racism – and what can we do about it?  To find out, we spoke with Dr. Diljeet Singh, a women's health advocate and integrative gynecologic oncologist who has practiced for nearly 25 years. She's also the vice president of Physicians for a...

This time on Code WACK! Why is it that infant mortality rates in America differ by race? Why are some American babies more likely to be born premature or underweight?   And how could single-payer health care help?  To find out, we spoke with Dr. Diljeet Singh , a women's health advocate and integrative gynecologic oncologist who has practiced for nearly 25 years. She's also the vice president of P...

This time on Code WACK! What would organized labor, and the workers they represent, gain under Medicare for All? Despite these gains, why are unions still divided on the issue? What would it take for labor to speak with a unified voice on this issue?  To find out, we spoke to Ada Briceño , co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 ,  which represents more than 30,000 hotel workers in Southern California...

This time on Code WACK! Who's the powerhouse behind the Orange County Democratic Party in California? Why is she raising her voice in support of Medicare for All as a union leader representing more than 30,000 hotel workers in Southern California and Arizona? To find out, we spoke with Ada Briceño, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 ,  who has dedicated her career to uplifting marginalized voices...

This time on Code WACK!   Are hospitals and health insurers incentivized to keep costs high?  Are mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare sector helping - or hurting? How has the state of Maryland kept hospital costs in check – and how might other states do the same? To find out, we spoke with Richard Master, CEO of MCS Industries ,  founder of Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation an...

This time on Code WACK! What led a CEO to produce a series of films to change America's healthcare system?  What role do hospitals play in health care's astronomical pricing? And what options do we have to rein in costs and make hospital care affordable to everyone? To find out, we spoke with Richard Master, CEO of MCS Industries ,  founder of Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation and ex...

Winning Medicare for All in the U.S. may be at a standstill at the federal level, but it's a different story In the states. In 2021 alone, 18 single payer bills were introduced in states such as Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Oregon. Winning in California -- the most populous nation in the state -- could be a game changer. And, not one but two bills have been introduced in the California S...

This time on Code WACK!   How does diversity in politics affect the policies that impact our everyday lives? What challenges do women face when running for office and once they get there, how do their life experiences influence their political work?  To find out, we spoke to California Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo , the only Democrat to unseat a Republican incumbent in the state assembly last Novem...

This time on Code WACK!  Longtime nurse advocate, single mother, and now California Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo was the only Democrat to unseat a Republican incumbent in the California assembly last November.  What inspired her to get into politics? What are her priorities when it comes to health care, homelessness, and housing? We're highlighting Schiavo's impressive story today in honor of Women...

This time on Code WACK!   What are the latest attempts to rein in Medicare Advantage insurers and their questionable practices? What hurdles do patients face with Medicare Advantage plans when it comes to their care? Is Medicare Advantage a better deal for patients, or for insurers? Is Medicare Advantage actually fixable? To find out, we spoke to Diane Archer , founder and president of Just Care U...

This time on Code WACK!     How does running a hospital like a business run counter to providing reliable and affordable healthcare? How would having Medicare for All change the way hospitals are financed and what would it mean for patients, doctors, and the hospitals themselves?  To find out, we spoke to Dr. David Himmelstein , a distinguished professor of public health at CUNY's Hunter College a...

What's the story behind the EMTALA patient protection law of 1986, which requires hospitals to stabilize or treat patients who are in a health emergency regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay? What has this law done for patients and what does it mean for hospitals? How does the current way hospitals are paid incentivize them to pass the buck on uninsured patients? To find out, we s...

What if you don't have health insurance but need medical care to save your life? If you're drowning in bills from the hospital, what can you do? To find out, we spoke to Venus Lockett , a financial services professional who lives near Atlanta. After an ambulance ride, one night in the hospital and multiple tests, she faced over $30,000 in medical bills while she was in-between jobs, uninsured and...

This time on Code WACK!     How do people get into medical debt in the first place? Sometimes it can happen when a business reorganization turns employees with benefits into contractors with no benefits . Or maybe you live in one of the 12 states that did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act?    To find out, we spoke to Venus Lockett , a financial services professional who lives near...

This time on Code WACK!  What's the latest threat to original Medicare? What could happen if we link health outcomes to physician compensation? How is it that a whole new program affecting millions of Americans on original Medicare can be rolled out without congressional oversight?    To find out, we spoke to the new president of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), Dr. Philip Verhoef...

This time on Code WACK!   What say should doctors have in reforming America's healthcare system? Are their decades-long efforts to stop the commercialization of medicine having an impact? How can health professionals, and students in the health sciences, get involved in the movement for single-payer health care?  To find out, we spoke to the new president of Physicians for a National Health Progra...

This time on Code WACK!  At least 20 legislative bills targeting transgender medical care were pre-filed in at least nine states for 2023, according to The Hill . And last year, more than two dozen states sought to enact measures to ban or severely restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth.  To learn more about the challenges transgender individuals face when seeking suc...

This time on Code WACK! What would you do if you were faced with thousands of dollars of medical debt? Would you file for bankruptcy or let the debt go to collections? What help is out there for people facing such difficult dilemmas? Would Medicare for All protect patients from the hassles and financial burdens that face ill patients today?  To find out, we spoke with Monique Davis , a nonprofit e...

Can you count on your health insurance when you need it? What if you and your spouse are "double-covered?" What are your options when medical debt is dragging you down?   And if you can't pay, what happens after you get well and start looking for a new job? To find out, we spoke with Monique Davis , a nonprofit executive in Southern California, who, during midlife, faced an unexpected diagnosis wi...

Why does America STILL have a healthcare system with so many cracks to fall through? A routine job change, a move, or a divorce can trigger a change in health insurance eligibility, premiums, out-of-pocket costs, provider networks, etc. What's the true cost of our fragmented, bureaucratic and for-profit healthcare system? To find out, we spoke to Scott Desnoyers, an anguished New York father who s...

Was the Affordable Care Act a cure-all or a mixed bag for freelancers? Where can gig workers turn for expert insurance information and coverage? How would Medicare for All affect independent workers?  To find out, we spoke to Rafael Espinal and Jonathan Gray of the New York-based Freelancers Union . Rafael, a former New York state assemblyman and former New York City councilman , is executive dire...