Tradeoffs

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 CenterAaron Schwartz, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy and Department of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaKathleen, CaregiverLearn 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.

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.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.

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.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring our latest reporting on health care's toughest choices.Donate to support our work. Tradeoffs is a nonprofit, powered by listeners.

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 Warasila, Real estate developer and architect, Alliance ArchitectureBo Ferguson, City Manager, DurhamLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring our latest reporting on health care's toughest choices. Donate to support our work. Tradeoffs is a nonprofit, powered by listeners.

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.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.

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.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.