Tradeoffs

Jails and prisons are one of the few places in the United States where health care is a right. But for many incarcerated people, that care often falls short. This is the story one of those people: Princola Shields. This episode was originally produced for the podcast Sick , a production of Side Effects Public Media . Read a full transcript and dig deeper into the issues explored in today's episode...

We explore “cascades of care” — how a clinician's desire to be thorough can snowball into a harmful spiral of unnecessary care. Guests: Meredith Niess, MD, MPH , Clinical Academic Resource Director, University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Novant Health Ishani Ganguli, MD, MPH , Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital Cheryl Damberg, PhD,...

As Peter Lee prepares to step down after a decade of running California's Obamacare exchange, he reflects on his experience, the strengths and weaknesses of the Affordable Care Act, and what the next frontier for health care should be in the U.S. Guest: Peter Lee , Executive Director, Covered California Read a full transcript and dig deeper into the issues explored in today's episode on our websit...

Every 5 years, the FDA has to renegotiate billions of dollars in user fees with the drug and medical device companies it regulates. This is one of those years, and Congress has to pass the latest user fee agreements by the end of September to keep FDA running. We break down this controversial process and what other health policies could pass in its wake. Guest: Sarah Karlin-Smith , Senior Writer,...

This week, a pharmacist and co-owner of an independent pharmacy in Iowa shares what life is like nearly two years into the pandemic. Guest: Kelly Kent, RPh, PharmD, pharmacist and chief operating officer, Towncrest Pharmacy. Read a full transcript and dig deeper into the issues explored in today's episode on our website . Support this type of journalism today by making a donation . Sign up fo...

Starting July 16, 2022, anyone in the U.S. experiencing a mental health crisis will be able to dial 988 for help. We explore what it will take for this new nationwide hotline to meet the needs of millions of people struggling with suicide, addiction and mental illness. Guests: Andrea Harrison, Helpline Specialist,  First Choice Services Madhuri Jha , LCSW, MPH, Director, Kennedy-Satcher Cente...

The overdose crisis in the U.S. is as deadly as it’s ever been. In response, the Biden administration is embracing a controversial strategy known as harm reduction, which seeks to keep drug users safe even as they continue using. We explore how harm reduction has become more mainstream and what kind of impact we can expect it to have on the overdose crisis. Guests: Ricky Bluthenthal, PhD , Associa...

Last week, Medicare took an unprecedented step to restrict patients’ access to the first new Alzheimer’s disease treatment in nearly 20 years. We talk with a doctor, a patient and a former federal official about this unusual move and its wide-ranging implications. Guests: Jay Reinstein , Alzheimer’s disease patient and advocate Sharon Sha , MD, MS, Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology and Neu...

We've got a lot to share with you in 2022! We're looking into new strategies to battle overdose deaths; the unfolding saga of the new Alzheimer's drug; and the rollout of a new national hotline for mental health emergencies. Tradeoffs is here to take you through the health care year ahead. We’ll explore the policies and programs, and we’ll introduce you to the people whose lives they shape. New ep...

A young woman living with cerebral palsy shares the struggles, fears and silver linings she’s experienced during the pandemic. Guest:  Jeiri Flores , disability rights advocate Read a full transcript and dig deeper into the issues explored in today's episode on our website . Support this type of journalism today by making a donation . Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research hea...

As gun violence surges, researchers are using new federal funding to search for solutions. Emmy Betz , MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of the  Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative , University of Colorado Jonathan Jay , DrPH, JD, Assistant Professor of Community Health Sciences, Boston University Autumn Parkin, gun owner and advocate If you or someone you know...

Health care has long lagged behind other industries when it comes to cybersecurity. But with ransomware attacks against the industry on the rise, providers are quickly trying to close the gap and protect their systems and patients. Guests: Karen Sprenger , CISSP, GCFE, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Ransomware Negotiator, LMG Security M. Eric Johnson , PhD, Ralph Owen Dean and Bruce D. Henderso...

Like Tradeoffs, An Arm and a Leg tells stories about our complicated health care system. Host Dan Weissmann tells the story of an engineer, who worked for Boeing for over 30 years. When he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, he needed surgery but his insurance denied the claim. That’s when his wife called Laurie Todd, the Insurance Warrior.  Check out more of this story . Keep up with a...

We look back on some of the best health policy podcast episodes of the year with help from a few of our podcast host friends. Guests: Dr. Bapu Jean , host, Freakonomics, MD Kimberly Seals-Allers , host, Birthright Maiken Scott , host, The Pulse, WHYY Dr. Celine Gounder , host, American Diagnosis and Epidemic For a complete transcript and more recommendations . Support this type of journalism today...

Produced weekly by Politico, the Playbook Deep Dive podcast tells the stories behind the power, from Congress and the White House to bar stools and back rooms. This episode, considers what it means to be the nation’s second Catholic president. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with senior staff writer Ruby Cramer about how Joe Biden balances a very public role with the “private matter” of his fa...

COVID opened the door to treating addiction remotely. Now policymakers have to decide whether to keep telehealth around. Guests:  Allie Grant, patient Sarah Channell , MSN, APRN, CNP; Clinical Director of Addiction Services; Lower Lights Christian Health Center Allison Lin , MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Addiction Center; Research Scientist, VA Ann Arbor Health...

Democrats are on the brink of passing a historic set of drug price reforms as part of the Build Back Better Act. How will they impact patients, insurers and the drug industry? Guest: Rachel Sachs , JD, Treiman Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis Find a full transcript of this episode and additional research and reporting on these potential drug price reforms on our website: ...

Letting private insurers offer Medicaid coverage was supposed to lower costs and improve care. We dig into the research on Medicaid managed care. Guests: Sayeh Nikpay , PhD, Tradeoffs Contributing Research Editor; Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota Kathleen Adams , PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory Uni...

It’s Medicare open enrollment — the one chance each year that all 62 million beneficiaries have to shop for better coverage. But choosing a new plan is much harder and riskier than it seems. Guests: Lilyan Grossman, Medicare beneficiary Tricia Neuman , ScD, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Program on Medicare Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation Amal Trivedi , MD, Professor of Medic...

President Biden wanted to spend $400 billion to help older and disabled Americans get health care at home, but the proposal has been cut by more than half as Democrats work to pare back their $3.5 trillion spending package. [This episode was originally published on April 8, 2021.] Guests: Howard Gleckman , Senior Fellow, Urban Institute Rachel Werner , MD, PhD, Executive Director, Leonard Davis In...

The pandemic has pushed hundreds of public health officials to leave their jobs. It's also inspired thousands to pursue a career in public health. We listen in on a conversation between two women pushed in different directions by the pandemic. Guests: Jen Miller, RN, Former Communicable Disease Nurse Consultant, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Nicole Snyder , PhD, Associate...

Congressional Democrats’ blockbuster spending bill could include some historic health reforms, but major political hurdles remain. Reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein joins us to discuss the tough health policy compromises facing Democratic lawmakers. Guest: Alice Miranda Ollstein, health care reporter, POLITICO A complete transcript of our conversation with Alice Miranda Ollstein is on our website:&n...

U.S. hospitals are facing a nursing crisis, but experts say it's not as bad as the nationwide shortage of the early 2000s. We talk with two experts about what needs to be done to prevent the current crisis from getting worse. Guests: Peter Buerhaus , PhD, RN, FAAN; Professor, Montana State University College of Nursing; Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies Karen Lasater...

America’s largest health insurance companies moonlight as obscure middlemen, managing billions in health care spending for many of the country’s biggest employers. What could go wrong? Join us for a wild, wonky journey into the world of third-party administrators. Guests: Christin Deacon , JD, Senior Vice President, 4C Health Solutions; former Assistant Director, Division of Pension & Benefits...

As President Biden ups the pressure on businesses to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for their employees, we talk with a preschool owner wrestling with the decision and a researcher with tips on how to make a mandate work. Guests: Lesia Daniel-Hollingshead , Co-owner, Funtime Clinton Ashley Ritter , APRN, PhD; Director of Clinical Care Research, NewCourtland; Adjunct Assistant Professor, NewCourtland Ce...