The Brian Lehrer Show Brian Lehrer Weekend: Drug Coverage; Fire & Floods; Explaining Sugars
Aug 2, 2025
Sarah Cliff, an investigative health care reporter, discusses the alarming rise in private insurers denying drug coverage, detailing frustrations faced by patients. Radley Horton, a climate professor, highlights extreme weather trends affecting urban areas, linking them to climate change and the need for better adaptation strategies. Marion Nestle, a nutrition expert, analyzes the sugar debate, focusing on the shift from high fructose corn syrup to cane sugar due to health and political reasons, while emphasizing the broader implications for public health.
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Rise in Prescription Denials
- Private insurers are denying prescription drug claims 25% more between 2016 and 2023.
- Denials create friction between doctors' prescriptions and patients receiving medications.
Push Back on Drug Denials
- If your drug prescription is denied, push back by contacting insurers and legislators.
- Filing appeals is effective but requires persistence and can reverse many denials.
Patient Battles for Necessary Inhaler
- Joyce, a 67-year-old immunocompromised patient, faced denial for her asthma inhaler.
- After multiple calls and contacting a congressman, she obtained coverage for the generic drug.
