Tradeoffs
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.
How Democrats’ Big Win Could Reshape Health Care
Democrats scored huge margins in Congress and made big gains at the state level. What does it mean for health policy in the final two years of the Trump administration and beyond?
Guest:
Katie Keith, Director, Center for Health Policy and Law at Georgetown Law; Contributing Editor, Health Affairs
Learn more: Read a full transcript and explore additional resources on our website.
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States Race to Get the Word Out About New Medicaid Work Requirements
City and state officials, health insurers and advocates are ramping up efforts to reach millions of low-income people at risk of losing their health insurance.
Guests:
Marisol Caban, Associate Director of Community Engagement, Camden CoalitionJason Carey, Chief Marketing Officer, NY State of HealthErek Dyskant, Partner, InroadsAdrianna McIntyre, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Politics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthKathleen Noonan, CEO, Camden CoalitionKinda Serafi, Partner, Manatt HealthAaron Truchil, Senior Director of Data and Quality, Camden CoalitionToya Walker, Community Ambassador, Camden CoalitionLeslie Walker, Senior Reporter, TradeoffsLearn more: Read...
Medicare Plans Keep Disappearing
Our friends at An Arm and a Leg dig into why Medicare Advantage plans that cover millions of seniors are disappearing from the market.
Learn more and read a transcript of the episode on our website. Click here for updates to the story and tips on how to navigate Medicare open enrollment.
This story was produced for An Arm and a Leg by Emily Pisacreta, with help from Lynn Barbera and Dan Weissmann. It was edited by Ellen Weiss and mixed by Adam Raymonda. Izabella Kulkarni provided additional production help. Music by Dave...
Reimagining the Future of Health Research After Sweeping Cuts
The Trump administration’s decimation of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has many academics deeply concerned.
Guests:
Aaron Carroll, President and CEO, Academy HealthSebastian Tong, Family Physician and Associate Professor, University of Washington School of MedicineLearn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our website.
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Tradeoffs helps you cut through the noise with clear, deeply re...
Hidden Help: What Happened When Oregon Forced Hospitals to Boost Financial Aid?
In the second episode of our special series on medical debt, we explore lessons from Oregon’s aggressive legislation to push hospitals to prevent patients from falling into medical debt.
Guests:
Sara R. Collins, Senior Scholar, Commonwealth Fund
Lawrence J. Furnstahl, Former Chief Financial Officer, Oregon Health & Science University
Sean Kolmer, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, Hospital Association of Oregon
Rob Nosse, Oregon House of Representatives
Lisa Reynolds, Oregon Senate
Adam Zarrin, Director, State Government Affairs; Blood Cancer United
This episode was repo...
Hidden Help: A New Push for Hospitals to Prevent Medical Debt
Hospitals can automatically wipe out the cost of care for low-income patients. A Tradeoffs analysis finds that hospitals in Texas could be doing more to protect people from unaffordable bills.
See the full series at tradeoffs.org/hiddenhelp.
Guests:
Erin Fuse Brown, professor of health services, policy and practice, director of the health policy and law lab, Brown UniversityAimee Carlock, Grapevine, Texas, resident, patientJill Horwitz, Trobman Innovation professor of law,professor of emergency medicine, Northwestern UniversityNeale Mahoney, professor of economics, Trione Director of Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford UniversityDr. Tom...With Millions Expected to Lose Coverage, States Look for New Ways to Prevent Medical Debt
As millions of Americans are expected to lose health insurance coverage following federal cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, states are searching for new ways to prevent medical debt before it starts.
In this episode of Tradeoffs, economist Neale Mahoney explains the research into strategies for relief from high healthcare costs and evaluates policy fixes to protect consumers.
Guest:
Neale Mahoney, professor of economics, Trione Director of Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford University.Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our...
States Weigh In on Medicaid Fraud
A live conversation with a bipartisan group of state Medicaid leaders on the impact of the Trump administration’s aggressive anti-fraud push.
Guests:
Amir Bassiri, Medicaid Director, New York State Department of HealthPaula Chatterjee, Director of Innovation, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Perelman School of MedicineDrew Gonshorowski, Former Medicaid Director, State of NebraskaKevin Lownds, Division Chief, Medicaid Fraud Division, Massachusetts Attorney General’s OfficeLearn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our website.
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911 Fails People in Mental Health Crises. Here's a Plan to Fix It.
911 calls related to mental health are the most likely to involve police use of force. A new book offers a blueprint for a 911 redesign that could save lives.
Guests:
Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our website.
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As SNAP Shrinks, What's the Future of Food Aid in America?
Cash-strapped states and struggling families are wrestling with the consequences of major reforms to the SNAP program passed as part of Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill.
Guests:
Romina Boccia, Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy, Cato InstituteChloe East, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Colorado BoulderJoël McClurg, former SNAP compliance officerLeslie Walker, senior reporter, TradeoffsJohn Waxler, SNAP applicantLori Ventura, operations director, Free Senior Health Clinic
This episode was reported and produced by Leslie Walker, edited by Ryan Levi and Dan Gorenstein, and mixed by Andrew Parrella.
The Tradeoffs theme song...
Beyond Finger Pointing: The Fight to Lower Health Care Costs
In a live conversation recorded at Aspen Ideas: Health, executives from a hospital, insurer and pharmacy join a top Trump administration official and leading health economist to discuss how to collectively bring down health care costs.
Guests:
Watch a video of this conversation at Aspen Ideas: Health, along with another conversation about...
The Cost of Cutting NIH Research: Voices from the Frontlines
A candid conversation between a professor and a Ph.D. candidate about potential funding cuts from the National Institutes of Health and their impact on the future of medical research.
Guests:
Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, Associate Professor, Associate Dean of Research, Johns Hopkins School of NursingLaura Mata López, PhD Candidate, Johns Hopkins School of NursingThis episode was produced by Ryan Levi, edited by Dan Gorenstein and mixed by Andrew Parrella and Cedric Wilson.
The Tradeoffs theme song was composed by Ty Citerman. Additional music this episode from Blue D...
Trump's Pick to Quiet HHS Chaos Heads to the Senate
President Trump has nominated former health care executive Chris Klomp to help RFK Jr. get his health agenda back on track.
Guest:
This episode was produced by Ryan Levi, edited by Dan Gorenstein and Leslie Walker, and mixed by Andrew Parrella and Cedric Wilson.
The Tradeoffs theme song was composed by Ty Citerman. Additional music this episode from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound.
Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on...
‘I Feel Unsafe Almost Everywhere’: How Trump Has Changed Life for One Transgender Teen
A conversation with an 18-year-old and her dad about how anti-trans policies have impacted their lives during the second Trump administration.
Guests:
Harleigh Walker
Jeff Walker
Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our website.
This episode was produced by Ryan Levi, edited by Dan Gorenstein and mixed by Cedric Wilson and Andrew Parrella.
The Tradeoffs theme song was composed by Ty Citerman. Additional music this episode from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound.
Want more...
Should I Trust AI to Diagnose Me?
Physician and New Yorker writer Dhruv Khullar says artificial intelligence is a powerful tool to get quicker and more accurate diagnoses. But it can also be dangerous.
Guest:
Dhruv Khullar, Physician, Weill Cornell Medical College; Contributing Writer, The New Yorker
Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our website.
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Meet the Man Launching Trump's Medicaid Work Requirements Months Early
Nebraska Medicaid Director Drew Gonshorowski says the state’s data capabilities put it in a strong position to quickly implement the historic changes. Advocates and researchers warn that eligible people may still fall through the cracks.
Guest(s):
Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on...
A Wyoming Doctor’s Fight to Keep Abortion Legal in Her Deep Red State
Four years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the fight over abortion access continues to rage. In Wyoming, where abortion is still legal but under constant legal challenge, OB-GYN and abortion provider Giovannina Anthony is helping lead the fight to keep it that way.
In this episode of Tradeoffs, Dr. Anthony shares what it's like to provide abortion care in a time of so much legal uncertainty, and how the ongoing battles over abortion laws, reproductive health and medication abortion are affecting physicians and patients in one of the nation's most conservative states.
<...Call to Mind: Immigration and the Challenge to Belong
A deep dive on the unique mental health challenges faced by immigrants in America, produced by Call to Mind from American Public Media.
Learn more and read a full transcript on our website.
This episode was produced by Call to Mind, American Public Media's initiative to foster new conversations about mental health. The program was produced and written by senior producer Jessica Bari, edited by Stephen Smith and hosted by Angela Davis. It featured reporting by Jessica Bari, Cari Spencer and Kristi Marohn. The technical director is Josh Savageau, and Hans Buetow scored...
As Drama at Trump's FDA Subsides, Doubts and Damage Linger
We talk with STAT News reporter Lizzy Lawrence about the agency’s recent turmoil and its hunt for a new leader.
Guest:
Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our website.
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Tradeoffs helps you cut through the noise with clear, deeply reported journalism on the forces driving health ca...
Making Medical Decisions with Uncertain Science
Two physicians and an ethicist discuss how to make the best decisions in areas like artificial intelligence and gender-affirming care when there is limited evidence in a live conversation recorded at Aspen Ideas: Health.
Guests:
Watch a video of this conversation at Aspen Ideas: Health, along with another conversation about health care cos...
With Millions Expected to Lose Coverage, States Look for New Ways to Prevent Medical Debt
As millions of Americans are expected to lose health insurance coverage following federal cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, states are searching for new ways to prevent medical debt before it starts.
In this episode of Tradeoffs, economist Neale Mahoney explains the research into strategies for relief from high healthcare costs and evaluates policy fixes to protect consumers.
Guest(s):
Learn more: Read the full reporting a...
Medicaid Overhaul Complicates States’ Plans to Bring Care Into Jails and Prisons
Washington is one of 19 states that have received federal approval to enroll people in Medicaid before they leave jail or prison — a radical change in Medicaid policy that health care and law enforcement leaders believe will save lives.
But this experiment in bringing Medicaid behind bars is now colliding with H.R. 1, the sweeping federal law that is forcing states to make major changes to Medicaid.
Guest(s):
Where Did the No Surprises Act Go Wrong? And Can It Be Fixed?
The No Surprises Act was designed to protect patients from unexpected medical bills, but nearly four years after the law took effect, many experts say parts of its implementation aren't working as intended. Insurers, hospitals, physician groups and federal regulators continue to battle over the law's payment dispute process, raising questions about whether one of the nation's most significant health care consumer protection laws is achieving its goals.
In this special live episode of Tradeoffs, host Dan Gorenstein moderates a conversation with three leading experts on surprise medical billing, health insurance regulation and federal health policy...
Mental Health Courts Offer People Facing Prison an Imperfect Alternative
Hundreds of U.S. courts offer treatment over prison for some defendants with mental illness. But critics say mental health courts have outpaced research on their effectiveness.
Guest(s):
Grace Hauck, Investigative reporter, Illinois Answers Project Debra Pinals, Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School and Law SchoolLearn more on our website.
Check out our 2025 Impact Report: https://tradeoffs.org/2025-impact-report/.
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A Closer Look at a Widely Despised Health Insurance Policy
Every year, millions of people’s medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization, which requires an insurer to sign off before chemotherapy, surgery or countless other services can proceed. Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could it work better for everyone?
Guests:
Tom Roberts, Oncologist, Mass General Cancer Center
Aaron Schwartz, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy and Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Kathleen, Caregiver
Learn more on our website.
Wa...
Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
President Trump and other leading conservatives are pushing policies they hope will empower patients to shop more wisely for the health care they need.
Guests:
Brian Blase, President, Paragon Health InstituteSherry Glied, Professor of Public Service, New York UniversityAdam Leive, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, UC BerkeleyJason Levitis, Senior Fellow, Urban InstituteTony Lo Sasso, Professor of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–MadisonAvik Roy , Co-founder and Chairman, Foundation for Research on Equal OpportunityLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It?
New research from leading health economist David Cutler explores what’s behind a historic slowdown in health spending, even as millions of Americans struggle to afford their care.
Guest:
David M. Cutler, Dean of Social Science, Professor of Economics, Harvard UniversityLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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Call to Mind: The Fifth Branch
A collaboration with American Public Media’s Call to Mind, highlighting how Durham, North Carolina, has reimagined its mental health crisis response system — and what it has learned.
Find more reporting on mental health from Call to Mind on their website, on your local public radio station, or by subscribing to the Call to Mind podcast.
Guests:
Patrice Andrews, Police Chief, Durham Police DepartmentRyan Smith, Director, Durham Community Safety DepartmentSgt. Dan Leeder, Durham Police DepartmentAbena Bediako, Clinical Manager, Durham Community Safety DepartmentDavid Prater, Peer Support Specialist, Durham Community Safety DepartmentYolanda, Durham residentJohn Wara...Doctors Hated the No Surprises Act. Now Some Are Getting Rich Off of It.
Doctors are flocking to arbitration under the 2020 consumer protection law to settle pricing disputes with insurers. They’re winning, often securing high prices.
Guest:
Margot Sanger-Katz, reporter, The New York TimesLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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New York Braces for Trump's Big Medicaid Shakeup
The state’s Medicaid director Amir Bassiri shares his plans for blunting the effects of Republican health reforms — starting with work requirements.
Guest:
Amir Bassiri, Medicaid Director, New York State Department of HealthLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Should People Who Want GLP-1s Have to Work for Them?
As demand for new weight loss drugs soars, some employers are making workers track their diet and exercise in hopes of limiting use and keeping costs down.
Guests:
Nick MillerAnn Lewandowski, founder, Healthcare Rebel AllianceSean Scanlon, Connecticut ComptrollerDr. Katherine Saunders, executive vice president and cofounder, Flyte HealthChristopher Whaley, associate director of the Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research, Brown UniversityLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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High Health Care Costs Are Fueling a New Fight Over Old Laws
The White House wants states to drop certificate of need laws in hopes of lowering health care costs. Researchers and state leaders are split.
Guests:
Nate Adler, founder, GertieMatthew Mitchell, senior fellow, Fraser Institute; senior affiliated scholar, Mercatus Center at George Mason UniversityJill Horwitz, professor, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and Feinberg School of MedicineBo Watson, Tennessee state senatorAlyssa Black, Vermont state representativeAmy Cooper, founder, board president Green Mountain Surgery CenterLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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Trump's Pick to Quiet the Chaos at HHS
The administration is looking to former health care executive Chris Klomp to help RFK Jr. get Trump’s health agenda back on track.
Guest:
Dan Diamond, White House Reporter, Washington Post
Learn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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Generic Drugs Head to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is set to hear Hikma v. Amarin, a battle over drug patents that could raise costs for patients and change the way generic companies do business.
Guests:
Hans Sauer, adjunct professor, Georgetown Law; former vice president of intellectual property, Biotechnology Innovation OrganizationSean Tu, professor of law, University of AlabamaDennies Varughese, partner; Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein and FoxLeslie Walker, senior reporter, TradeoffsLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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Inside the Urgent Care Boom
Our friends at The Pulse from WHYY explore the economics behind the rise of urgent care and how it’s changing American medicine.
Learn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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‘It Sucks’: Spiking Health Insurance Costs Hit Small Businesses
An employer in Chicago describes how another year of rising premiums forced her to consider dropping her workers’ insurance.
Guest:
Rachel Bernier-Green, Founder and CEO, EJ Consortium
Learn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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'We Can’t Afford All These Humans’: A Doctor's Take on AI in Health Care
We talk with physician and writer Bob Wachter about why he’s cautiously optimistic that artificial intelligence will usher in a ‘golden age’ of medicine — and the questions he still has about these powerful new tools.
Guest:
Bob Wachter, Chair, Department of Medicine, UC San Francisco; Author, A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our FutureLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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Immigration Enforcement’s Twin Threats to Health Care
Patients are afraid to show up to medical appointments, while workers are being detained, deported or losing their visa statuses.
Guests:
Sahida Martinez, promotora, EnlaceJadhira Sanchez, director of community health, EnlaceSteph Willding, CEO, CommunityHealthJordan Herring, Postdoctoral scholar, Emergency medicine, StanfordHannah Janeway, Emergency medicine physician, Los AngelesLaura Messineo, CNO, WorldWide HealthStaff SolutionsLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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As States and CDC Split on Vaccines, What's Next?
Half of states have rejected federal vaccine guidance on childhood vaccines after controversial changes by the CDC. Public health experts say the split is sowing confusion and increasing the risk of outbreaks.
Guests:
Michelle Fiscus, physician, chief medical officer, Association of Immunization ManagersJen Kates, senior vice president; director, global and public health policy, KFF Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, physician, health officer, Washington Department of HealthPhilip Landrigan, physician and director, program for global public health and the common good, Boston College Dorit Reiss, law professor, University of California, San FranciscoLearn more and re...
A Better Way to Care for Older Adults with Opioid Addiction
How one addiction clinic in Baltimore has found success combining addiction care with support for the many other health problems older Americans often face.
Guests:
Malik Burnett, Medical Director, REACH Health ServicesLisa Clemans-Cope, Senior Research Fellow, Urban InstituteRenee Gray, Patient, REACH Health ServicesPhyllis Lindsay, Peer Recovery Specialist, REACH Health ServicesMaggie Lowenstein, Assistant Professor, Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicineVickie Walters, Executive Director, REACH Health ServicesLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.
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