
Tradeoffs
Tradeoffs is an award-winning nonprofit news organization on a mission to help America have smarter, more honest health policy conversations.Tradeoffs explores the toughest choices in health care, diving into issues like the cost of care, health equity, insurance, mental health and artificial intelligence. We connect policy to practice, uncovering the data and personal stories that help audiences understand the stakes — and the potential solutions.Learn more about us, find transcripts for each episode and additional reporting at https://tradeoffs.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Oct 7, 2021 • 15min
Can Democrats Reconcile Their Health Policy Differences?
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, POLITICOA complete transcript of our conversation with Alice Miranda Ollstein is on our website: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/10/07/house-reconciliation-bill-healthSign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2021 • 15min
How Do We Keep the Nursing Shortage From Getting Worse?
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 StudiesKaren Lasater, PhD, RN; Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of PennsylvaniaFind more resources on nurse shortages and a full transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/3ol0ROr Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2021 • 29min
Inside Big Health Insurers’ Side Hustle
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, New Jersey Department of TreasuryBrian Hufford, JD, Partner, Zuckerman Spaeder LLPKen Janda, JD, Founder, Wild Blue Health Solutions; Adjunct Professor, University of Houston College of Medicine Sandy Peters, retireeHave a look at more of Leslie's reporting on TPAs: https://bit.ly/3CEg6pESign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16, 2021 • 18min
Employers Grapple With Fear, Uncertainty and Vaccine Mandates
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 ClintonAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD; Director of Clinical Care Research, NewCourtland; Adjunct Assistant Professor, NewCourtland Center for Transitions in Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing; CEO, Dear PandemicFind additional resources and reporting on vaccine mandates and read a full transcript of this episode on our website: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/09/16/employers-grapple-with-fear-uncertainty-and-vaccine-mandates/ Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9, 2021 • 15min
The Next Big Challenge to Abortion Rights
The Supreme Court just declined to block a controversial abortion ban in Texas. Now an even bigger case looms on their docket, and it could dramatically alter abortion access across the U.S.Guests:Laurie Sobel, JD, Associate Director, Women’s Health Policy, Kaiser Family FoundationAlina Salganicoff, PhD, Senior Vice President and Director of Women’s Health Policy, Kaiser Family FoundationThere's more about these two laws and the imminent SCOTUS case on our website: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/09/09/the-next-big-challenge-to-abortion-rights/Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 2, 2021 • 21min
Schools Brace For Pandemic-Fueled Mental Health Needs
Kids are returning to in-person school this fall with increased rates of depression, anxiety and other pandemic-fueled mental health challenges, and schools are leaning on billions in new federal funding to meet the growing need.Guests:Kyron Harvell, Principal, Vivian Riddle Elementary School; Lansing, MichiganSharon Hoover, PhD, Co-Director, National Center for School Mental Health, University of Maryland School of MedicineLearn more about the research behind youth and school mental health on our website: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/09/02/schools-brace-for-pandemic-fueled-mental-health-needs/Read a transcript of this episode: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/09/02/schools-brace-for-pandemic-fueled-mental-health-needs-transcript/Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 26, 2021 • 27min
Catching America's Top Cancer Killer
New national guidelines say millions more Americans should get screened for lung cancer. The test can save lives, but it's inaccessible to many and harmful to some. How should we balance the promise and perils of lung cancer screening?Guests:Otis Brawley, MD, Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineLisa Carter-Harris, PhD, APRN, Behavioral Scientist and Adult Nurse Practitioner, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCherie Erkmen, MD, Professor of Thoracic Surgery and Director, Lung Cancer Screening Program, Temple UniversityElla Kazerooni, MD, Professor of Radiology, University of MichiganIda Pittman, lung cancer patient, Temple University Hospital Helena Price, Ida’s cousin and health care advocateGerard Silvestri, MD, Professor of Pulmonology, Medical University of South CarolinaDig deeper into the research and tradeoffs of lung cancer screening on our website: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/05/27/catching-americas-top-cancer-killer/Read a transcript of this episode: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/05/27/catching-americas-top-cancer-killer-transcript/Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 2021 • 23min
Calling the Shots: Should Employers Mandate COVID Vaccines?
With more employers requiring their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, we dig into the research to help employers weigh the pros and cons. [This episode was originally published on May 20, 2021.]Guests:Sayeh Nikpay, PhD; Tradeoffs Contributing Research Editor; Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, University of MinnesotaCorey White, PhD; Assistant Professor of Economics; Cal Poly, San Luis ObispoBrandyn Churchill, PhD Candidate, Vanderbilt UniversityLearn more about Corey and Brandyn's research and the pros and cons of employer mandates on our website: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/05/20/calling-the-shots-should-employers-mandate-covid-vaccines/Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 2021 • 28min
Presenting The Nocturnists: Stories from a Pandemic
One of the hardest things about being healthcare workers going through this pandemic is that we've both experienced and borne witness to moments that nobody should have to go through alone. Who do we need by our side when everything falls apart? And what do we do when they can’t be there? More information about this episode and The Nocturnists project: https://thenocturnists.com/stories-from-a-pandemic-part-2/2021/6/22/episode-3-by-my-sideKeep up with all Tradeoffs activity this month: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/08/05/august-hiatus-episodesSign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 2021 • 22min
Presenting The Pulse: The Impact of Maternity Ward Closures
Hosted by Maiken Scott and aired weekly on WHYY and other NPR member stations, The Pulse tells stories at the heart of health, science and innovation. This particular Pulse story, reported by Alan Yu and Nina Feldman, looks at a crisis of maternity ward closures that recently hit the city of Philadelphia, and the surprising alliances and unexpected outcomes that it catalyzed.Dig deeper into The Pulse team's research: https://whyy.org/segments/how-philadelphia-escaped-disaster-in-the-face-of-a-dozen-shuttered-maternity-wards/Keep up with all Tradeoffs activity this month: https://tradeoffs.org/2021/08/05/august-hiatus-episodesSign up for our weekly newsletter to see what research health policy experts are reading right now, plus recommendations from our staff: bit.ly/tradeoffsnewsletterSupport this type of journalism today, with a gift: https://tradeoffs.org/donateFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.