Tradeoffs

As states struggle to meet the needs of people with serious mental illness, some are signing on to a federal pilot project that’s funneling new funding into institutional care.Guests:Alex Barnard, Assistant Professor of Sociology, New York UniversityDanny Pasquini, patientTeresa Pasquini, AdvocateTyler Sadwith, Medicaid Director, California Department of Health Care ServicesMorgan Shields, Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. LouisRuth Shim, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, UC DavisLearn more on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Worrying about deportation can literally make people sick. Health care providers are scrambling to cut through their undocumented patients’ panic about President Trump’s new immigration policies.Guests:MariaSteph Willding, CEO, CommunityHealthEmily Hendel, Director of Clinical Services, CommunityHealthSamantha Artiga, Vice President and Director for Racial Equity Health Policy Program, KFFLearn more on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A mandate to make health care prices public was one of President Trump’s signature health policies in his first term. But forcing hospitals to publish prices hasn’t yet helped patients shop around for medical care.Guest:Melanie Evans, Producer, TradeoffsLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift.Follow us on Twitter.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, Alex Olgen, a reporter for TradeOffs, delves into how a Maryland company transformed health insurance decision-making using gamification. He highlights innovative strategies like the Benefit Builder game, where employees voice their healthcare priorities, leading to ethical debates over benefits allocation. Topics include the challenges of negotiating high-cost medications and the importance of empathy in fostering collaborative dialogue. This approach not only addresses employee needs but also reshapes the future of health benefits.

Ryan Levy, a producer at Tradeoffs focused on Medicaid policies, leads a riveting discussion on the bipartisan push to extend Medicaid coverage to individuals transitioning out of incarceration. The conversation highlights the significant health challenges former inmates face and the legislative reforms aimed at improving their reintegration. With insights from experts across various states, the dialogue underscores the critical importance of healthcare access post-release and shares compelling personal stories that illuminate the systemic barriers these individuals encounter.

A leading addiction expert explains how he’s driven by the memory of a friend who died, and why he believes giving data on the drug supply to people on the street is more important than using it to inform national drug policy.Guest:Nabarun Dasgupta, Epidemiologist, University of North Carolina Street Drug Analysis Lab and Opioid Data LabLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Asher, Chief Strategy Officer at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana, Kentucky, shares insights on the urgent challenges facing rural healthcare amid impending Medicaid cuts. He discusses the financial hurdles confronting his hospital and others in the region, particularly for low-income patients. Asher highlights the emotional toll on healthcare providers and communities while stressing the importance of planning for future funding losses. The conversation touches on the potential impacts of significant legislative changes and the role of federal support in sustaining essential health services.

Harleigh Walker is a transgender teen from Alabama, who shares her poignant experiences growing up in a politically charged environment. She discusses the impact of recent federal healthcare restrictions on transgender individuals, exposing the emotional toll these policies take. Harleigh highlights her family's struggles against bullying and fear while seeking acceptance. The conversation emphasizes resilience within the transgender community and the need for understanding during challenging times, painting a vivid picture of navigating life as a transgender youth in today's America.

Kody Kinsley, Senior Policy Advisor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and former North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services, dives into the challenges states are facing with new health reforms. He discusses the daunting task of implementing Medicaid work requirements and the technological hurdles ahead. Budget cuts loom large, threatening healthcare coverage, while the rollout of the Big Beautiful Bill raises concerns about its complexity and the varied responses from different states. Kinsley highlights the critical importance of these reforms for communities.

Health law expert Katie Keith helps us break down what a pair of big court decisions mean for RFK Jr.’s power and for people's access to abortion, cancer screening and many other kinds of care.Guest:Katie Keith, Director, Health Policy and the Law Initiative at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health LawLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.