Code WACK!

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   How are corporate health insurers using artificial intelligence to step up their claims' denials? And what's being done to out some of the bad actors in Medicare Advantage?    To find out, we spoke to Diane Archer , founder and president of Just Care USA , an independent digital media hub covering health and financial issues facing boomers and their families. Miss Archer...

This time on Code WACK!     How do Medicare Advantage plans use pre-authorizations and claim denials to maximize their profits at the expense of senior citizen's lives? And how are health insurers getting away with this?    To find out, we spoke to Diane Archer, founder and president of  Just Care USA , an independent digital media hub covering health and financial issues facing boomers and their...

This time on Code WACK!  How does the way health insurance works discourage patients from seeking care in the first place? What other challenges do physical therapists face when dealing with a variety of insurance plans and regulations?  To find out, we spoke to Ariel Wynn e, a physical therapist and board certified pelvic health clinical specialist in Chicago. Ariel recently opened her clinic, Gr...

This time on Code WACK!   Despite the proven value of physical therapy, what health insurance hassles do physical therapists and their patients face today? Why are patient costs all over the place? To find out, we spoke to Ariel Wynne, a physical therapist and board certified pelvic health clinical specialist in Chicago. Ariel recently opened her clinic, Ground Floor Physical Therapy which special...

This time on Code WACK! How have health clinics that perform abortions been affected by the reversal of Roe vs. Wade one year ago? What kind of legal challenges have there been to individual states' limitations on abortion since then?  To find out, we spoke with Cat Duffy , a policy analyst in the National Health Law Program' s Washington DC office. She holds a doctorate and works on reproductive...

This time on Code WACK! Now that the COVID health emergency has ended and millions of Americans are losing Medicaid coverage, we're thinking about the nearly two million Americans who never got it in the first place because their state did not adopt the Medicaid expansion back in 2014. How did this affect them?  To find out, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes about radio personality and...

This time on Code WACK!   What are the most common concerns of doctors about Medicare for All? Would reforming America's broken healthcare system improve - or worsen - doctors' lives? How does the focus on corporate profits impact doctors' experience?    To find out, we spoke to  Dr. David Leibowitz , hematologist-oncologist and past chair of Physicians for a National Health Program - California ,...

This time on Code WACK! This Independence Day we're thinking about freedom to pursue our dreams. The high cost of health care makes it difficult or impossible for Americans to afford higher education, or retirement, and the impact on business is severe too, as employers  struggle to afford health care for their workers.    Thirteen years after the Affordable Care Act passed, health care in America...

This time on Code WACK! It's been one year now since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling, and reversed five decades of legal precedent. The Dobbs v Jackson decision returned the power to regulate abortion to individual states. What has that meant for abortion access in America?  To find out, we spoke to Cat Duffy , a policy analyst in the National Health Law Program 's Wa...

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...