
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

Mar 16, 2020 • 12min
Coronavirus Conversations: The Social Distance Social
Dan joins a group of neighbors for their “social distance” stoop party and hears how they are experiencing this outbreak so far.Guest: Alison Buttenheim, Associate Professor of Nursing and Health Policy at the University of PennsylvaniaSee all of our coronavirus coverage: https://tradeoffs.org/coronavirus/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 12, 2020 • 10min
Coronavirus Conversations: Alison Buttenheim
Even public health experts are struggling to make the right decisions on whether to cancel plans in the midst of the coronavirus.Guests: Alison Buttenheim, Associate Professor of Nursing and Health Policy at the University of PennsylvaniaRead the transcript: https://tradeoffs.org/2020/03/12/cc-buttenheim/See all of our coronavirus coverage: https://tradeoffs.org/coronavirus/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 4, 2020 • 26min
Medicarried Away? (LIVE)
As the country debates the best way to reform our health care system, we explore a blueprint for universal coverage that looks a lot different from the Medicare for All proposals we’ve heard most about. (Recorded in front of a live audience at the University of Pennsylvania on Feb. 21, 2020.)Guests: Kate Baicker, PhD, University of Chicago Harris School of Public PolicyAmitabh Chandra, PhD, Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business SchoolJulia Lynch, PhD, University of PennsylvaniaLearn more about the proposal and see photos from the live taping on our website: http://bit.ly/tradeoffsep11Read the transcript of this episode: http://bit.ly/ep11-transcriptAs they say in health care, there’s no such thing as a free podcast. Support our show: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 19, 2020 • 23min
In Short Supply
Shortages of basic medical supplies have become a familiar pattern for hospitals around the U.S. What causes them? And how can we prevent them?Guests: Dr. Eric Haas, Chief of Colorectal Surgery, Houston MethodistMatt Grennan, Assistant Professor of Health Care Management, Wharton School at the University of PennsylvaniaOzlem Ergun, Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern UniversityLearn more about medical device and supplies shortages on our website: http://bit.ly/tradeoffsep10Read the transcript of this episode: http://bit.ly/ep10-transcriptAs they say in health care, there’s no such thing as a free podcast. Support our show: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 5, 2020 • 23min
Primary Concerns
The Iowa caucuses were a mess. But one thing is clear: Health care is a top issue for Democratic voters in 2020. We dive into the polls and talk with voters to understand how and why health care is shaping this year's election.Guests:Ashley Kirzinger, Associate Director of Public Opinion and Survey Research, Kaiser Family FoundationRyan Levi, Producer, TradeoffsDig deeper into the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2020 polling and see pictures of the voters on our website: http://bit.ly/tradeoffsep9Read the transcript of this episode: http://bit.ly/ep9-transcript As they say in health care, there’s no such thing as a free podcast. Support our show: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 22, 2020 • 19min
The Price of Innovation
Every time the U.S. tries to rein in rising drug prices, we hear the same thing from pharma: Stymie our profits, and you’ll get less innovation and fewer breakthrough treatments. Does the evidence back up this constant refrain?Guests:Chaitan Khosla, Director of Stanford ChEM-HCraig Garthwaite, Associate Professor of Strategy, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern UniversityStacie Dusetzina, Associate Professor of Health Policy, Vanderbilt UniversityCheck out the research for yourself and learn more on our website: http://bit.ly/tradeoffsep8 As they say in health care, there’s no such thing as a free podcast. Support our show: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 14, 2020 • 9min
The Sidebar: A Deeper Dive Into RCTs
In this debut edition of The Sidebar, your home for bonus Tradeoffs content, cohosts Dan and Sayeh take a closer look at the randomized controlled trial (RCT), a popular method for evaluating health interventions. Learn more about the tradeoffs of RCTs on our website: http://bit.ly/the-sidebar1 Listen to our story on the widely discussed new “hot spotting” RCT here: https://apple.co/2t4T1yrAnd tell us what you think about the episode @tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 8, 2020 • 29min
'Hot Spotters' on Trial
Nearly two decades ago, Dr. Jeff Brenner hypothesized that nurses and social workers could guide the country's most complicated patients toward better health ... and cut expensive hospital admissions along the way. Was he right?Jeff Brenner, Camden Coalition of Health Care ProvidersAmy Finkelstein, Economist, MITKathleen Noonan, Camden Coalition of Health Care ProvidersAllison Hamblin, Center for Health Care StrategiesJensen Skinner, Nurse, Camden Coalition of Health Care ProvidersLarry Moore, PatientCheck out the research for yourself and learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/tradeoffsep7 As they say in health care, there’s no such thing as a free podcast. Support our show: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 2, 2020 • 19min
Leap of Faith
As the opioid crisis continues to ravage the country, some states are turning to controversial laws that force people into treatment. Are they part of the solution or could they make things worse? (Note: This episode has been corrected to include the most updated number of states with compelled treatment laws.)Guests:Dr. Abhishek Jain, forensic psychiatristRep. Lauren Davis, Washington stateMerredith Cunniff, nurse, advocate and former civil commitment patientCheck out the research for yourself and learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/tradeoffsep6 As they say in health care, there’s no such thing as a free podcast. Support our show: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 11, 2019 • 27min
The Good Stuff
Two friends have spent 20 years trying to redesign insurance around one simple but elusive goal: make the good stuff more accessible than the bad stuff. Check out the research for yourself and learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/tradeoffsep5 As they say in health care, there’s no such thing as a free podcast. Support our show: https://tradeoffs.org/donate Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradeoffspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.