Josh Gottlieb, a health economics expert, discusses the burdens of insurance denials on healthcare providers. Zarek Brot-Goldberg delves into how pre-authorizations affect prescription drug choices in Medicare, highlighting the complexity patients face. Maggie Shi reveals the influence of waste-reduction programs in Medicare on both government spending and healthcare practices. Together, they unpack the bureaucratic challenges in the U.S. healthcare system, emphasizing the need for transparency and improved patient access to essential care.