Podcasts about KFF

A.M. Edition for Sept. 1. Apple has a new CEO in the form of John Ternus. WSJ reporter Rolfe Winkler explains how Ternus not only has to follow iconic leader Tim Cook, but also come up with an industry-winning plan for AI. Plus, the SEC asks whether firms promising pre-IPO shares in hot companies actually hold those positions. And President Trump backs the film and TV industry in the hopes that a federal tax credit can save Hollywood. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. The AI Therapist: A WSJ Podcast Series Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“The machines today are like toddlers learning how to walk. They stumble. They're not very good. They make mistakes.” — Anmol Madan One in three American adults are already using AI for health information — with or without their doctors' permission. The machines, in other words, are already seeing us. This will chill some Americans in our summer of luddite discontent. For others, however, like the San Francisco-based medical tech entrepreneur Anmol Madan, the appearance of doctor AI in our lives is mostly good news. In his new book, The Machines Will See You Now, Madan lays out what he calls a “human roadmap” to “autonomous health care.” I'm not entirely sure what he means by “human” in a Blade Runner-style world where machine and man are quickly merging. But by “autonomous,” which I suspect is a euphemism, Madan means artificial intelligence. What worries Madan about our current moment is the broken dialogue over AI. On the one hand, we have tech utopians promising a totally automated healthcare industry. Then we have an anxious establishment struggling to change America's archaic and often dysfunctional medical system. And, of course, American consumers (if that's the right word) who are already using ChatGPT or, more troublingly, TikTok, as their doctor. America spends $4.7 trillion on a healthcare industry which compares poorly with the medical systems of other wealthy countries. Madan's “parallel universe,” he promises, would cost half as much and double access. The machines will see you now. Like it or not, Dr AI is our all-too-human future. Five Takeaways •       One in Three Already Ask the Machines. The KFF poll behind the episode: a third of American adults already use AI for health information, with or without their doctors' blessing — and if they're not asking ChatGPT, they're asking TikTok. Madan's frustration is the broken dialogue between AI exuberance (“we're going to automate healthcare”) and medical anxiety, when the right answer is in between: new technology is no excuse for throwing out the guardrails of medical devices and clinical safety. The stakes are the brutal arithmetic of American medicine — $4.7 trillion spent for the worst outcomes among peer nations — and his “parallel universe”: half the cost, twice the access, delivered by AI systems that are tested, safe, and rigorous. Consumer appetite is already there; the safeguards are not.•       The Waymo Scale for Medicine. The book's organizing framework applies the self-driving industry's levels of autonomy to healthcare. Level zero is today: 99 percent of decisions — diagnosis, treatment, prescription — made by humans. Level one is doctor assistance, already deployed: radiologists who once hauled backpacks of reports now guided by machines to where to focus. Levels two and three ease machines into the lowest-stakes treatment and diagnostic decisions with human review — and the fully autonomous end state, Madan concedes, may never arrive. To Andrew's objection that Waymo's scale ended with the drivers removed, Madan offers the transatlantic pilot: autopilot flies ninety percent of the route, and nobody thinks the pilot doesn't matter. The structure, he argues, is what lets regulators, doctors, and builders finally talk about the same thing.•       Toddlers Learning to Walk. Madan's metaphor for today's medical AI: toddlers — stumbling, error-prone, needing layers of protection, and badly underestimated at their peril and ours. The mistake, he argues, is concluding that because the systems aren't perfect we shouldn't try them at all, when a constrained system is starving for capacity. Pressed by Andrew on what the machines will never do (“toddlers grow up”), his list is candid: human perception — reading body language, assessing the person who walks into the clinic — improves far more slowly than diagnostic reasoning and may never reach human capacity; and the relationships people form with chatbots, loneliness epidemic notwithstanding, have no literature yet showing they produce clinical outcomes like a human therapist's thirty minutes. Plus one asterisk on the machines' famous exam results: we grade them on human benchmarks, and machines fail differently than humans do.•       The Behavior-Change Trillion. Of America's $4.7 trillion, a full trillion is the behavior-change problem — the eating, drinking, smoking, and sitting that no pamphlet has ever fixed. Andrew's objection: nobody needs an MIT degree to know they should exercise, so why would a machine's nagging beat a doctor's? Madan's answer is the space between visits: patients leave the office motivated and fall off within days, and personalized systems — like those he built for tens of millions at his previous companies — learn what actually moves each individual: this one walks more but won't change diet, that one needs the stress addressed first, another needs the language and cultural register matched. Not one-size-fits-all “eat healthy,” but friction removed person by person, programmatically, at a scale no human workforce could staff. Andrew's rejoinder: in an age of ubiquitous AI slop, the exercise reminder may be deleted as exactly that.•       Priceless. On trust, Andrew invoked the neighbors: Slippery Sam Altman, the mistrusted AI giants, and entrepreneurs — RadiantGraph included — getting rich while asking for our bloodwork. Madan's counsel is unexpected caution: in the AI era all data matters, healthcare data most of all, and it belongs on healthcare-specific, HIPAA-bound platforms — not pasted into general chatbots. He concedes San Francisco's mansions-and-homelessness inequity (he advises New York City's Department of Public Health and wants to help at home), but defends the Bay Area as the place where the PC, the iPhone, the web, and now AI actually happened — Jeff Dean announced his next act the morning they recorded. And the bot test: how would he prove he's human? “I'm quite flawed, and I'm often wrong. An AI avatar of Anmol probably wouldn't be as wrong as I sometimes am.” Fittingly priceless — which is what Anmol means in Sanskrit. About the Guest Anmol Madan is a healthcare entrepreneur and computer scientist, and the founder and CEO of RadiantGraph, an AI platform helping health plans and healthcare organizations deliver proactive care. An MIT Media Lab PhD who worked on the first generation of wearables, he founded Ginger, the pioneering AI tele-psychiatry company later acquired by Headspace, and served as Chief Data Scientist at Livongo and as a data and AI executive at Teladoc Health. He advises the New York City Department of Public Health and lives in San Francisco. The Machines Will See You Now: A Human Roadmap to Autonomous Health Care (Johns Hopkins University Press, September 1, 2026) is his first book. References: •       The Machines Will See You Now: A Human Roadmap to Autonomous Health Care by Anmol Madan (Johns Hopkins University Press, September 1, 2026). Alex Pentland, MIT: “A critical read about AI in he...

American Red Cross declares blood crisis The American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis, only the second time in its history it has taken that step. The first was in January 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, and demand remains elevated. The shortage is especially urgent for type O blood, as supplies of O positive fell below a one-day supply in late July. Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas" hosted by Stephanie Haney, we'll look at what's driving this shortage, how it's affecting hospitals and patients, and how you can help rebuild the nation's blood supply. Guest:- Christina Peters, Northern Ohio Regional Communications Director, American Red Cross Global HIV/AIDS research continues despite cuts to U.S. funding Later in the hour, a conversation about HIV/AIDS funding and the latest in research and treatment options. In 2019, during his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called for the elimination of HIV transmission in the U.S. by 2030. Two years later, the United Nations adopted a similar declaration globally. But in 2026, those goals are facing significant challenges. In March 2025, the Trump administration terminated a federal advisory committee on HIV prevention and treatment. By the end of the year, global government funding to low and middle-income countries fell 25% compared with 2024, according to KFF. This February, the administration rescinded $600 million in Centers for Disease Control grants supporting HIV prevention and surveillance programs. Then in April, Trump announced plans to remove all members of the HIV/AIDS Presidential Advisory Council. Those changes came shortly after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services laid off more than 10,000 federal health employees, including staff working on infectious disease and HIV/AIDS. The U.S. set out to reduce new HIV infections by 75% by 2025, which would have brought the number of new cases down to about 9,300. But the latest CDC data from 2024 puts the number of cases closer to 39,000. So, is the 2030 goal line still within reach? The future is uncertain. Guest:- Asia Russell, Executive Director, Health GAP (Global Access Project) Ideastream's Summer Interns Last week, we said goodbye to our 2026 cohort of interns here at Ideastream Public Media. Throughout the summer, our nine Cleveland interns learned about their respective fields and honed their crafts throughout our multiple departments – including news, marketing and radio broadcast. To learn more about these interns– what they accomplished here, their career aspirations and what they took away from this experience – we brought them on the show. We heard from four interns last week, and on Wednesday we will hear from the remaining five. Guests:- Grace Claxon, News Intern, Ideastream Public Media- Benjamin Giesen, WCLV Intern, Ideastream Public Media- Kiera McGuire, Sound of Ideas Intern, Ideastream Public Media- Sonya Suri, Digital Content Intern, Ideastream Public Media- TJ Thomas, Intern from University School, Ideastream Public Media

Part 1:We talk with Julie Rovner, Chief Washington Correspondent who hosts KFF health News and Policy News broadcast.We discuss how Medicare for all would help Americans. We discuss the history of private health care, and how is is not working for Americans.Part 2:We talk with James M. Thomas, Professor of Sociology at the University of Mississippi.We discuss racism, and how the idea the "race doesn't matter" is actually false, since all aspects of American life are suffused with racism. Resegregation of schools demonstrates it, as do other aspects of American life. We all need to do the 'talk' with children. WNHNFM.ORG  production

Part of "Proverbs: How to Build a Life," Grant Clark opens the first of a two-part look at wise counsellors, asking why we need trusted voices speaking into our lives at all. The argument is simple: to build the kind of life Jesus has for us, we need other people. Next week's message turns to how to choose those voices.Grant opens with a scene from the BBC comedy "Amanda Land," in which a mother turns to ChatGPT for help talking to her teenage son, and ends the night asking the chatbot whether she is a good mother. He notes that in April 2025 OpenAI described one of its own updates as "overly supportive but disingenuous," excessively flattering and sycophantic, and rolled it back.The cultural data he cites: a 2026 Pew finding that 10 percent of American adults had used an AI chatbot for emotional support or advice; KFF finding 16 percent had sought mental health advice from AI in the previous year, rising to 28 percent among 18 to 29 year olds; and an ABC report that roughly one in five young people aged 12 to 21 in the United States have used AI chatbots for mental health support. Research from OpenAI and MIT associates heavier use with greater loneliness, emotional dependence, and reduced real world social interaction.The whole book of Proverbs is itself a conversation between a wise counsellor and someone who needs wisdom, a father speaking to his son. Not all voices carry equal weight. Proverbs presents a cast of characters, some to seek out and some to avoid:The Wise (Proverbs 1:5; 3:13-18; 9:8-9)The Simple / Naive (Proverbs 1:22; 7:7; 9:4; 14:15)The Fool (Proverbs 1:7; 12:15; 15:5; 26:1-12)The Scoffer / Mocker (Proverbs 3:34; 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12; 22:10)The Wicked (Proverbs 4:14-19; 10:6-7, 24-32; 12:5-7)The Righteous (Proverbs 10:3, 6-7, 24-32; 11:5-8; 24:15-16)Lady Wisdom (Proverbs 1:20-33; 8:1-36; 9:1-6)The Forbidden Woman (Proverbs 2:16-19; 5:1-23; 7:1-27; 9:13-18)The Friend (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 27:5-6, 17)The Parent / Instructor (Proverbs 1:8-9; 2:1-22; 4:1-27; 6:20-23; 23:22-25)A wise counsellor is someone whose life we know and want to imitate, not simply someone with a confident voice who always knows the right thing to say. They fear God, they are humble and teachable, they listen carefully and speak honestly, and they want our good more than our approval.## We all have blind spots.Proverbs 12:15 and Proverbs 21:2 set the problem: the fool's way is right in his own eyes, and all a person's ways seem right to him. A wise person accounts for their own biases and preferences and goes to others for clarity. Grant tells of a friend who returned from a conference having learned that the average person has 2.8 blind spots and asked his wife to name them, and of his own weekend at the beach where everyone but him could see he was covered in a rash. The point of both stories is the same: other people saw what he could not see himself.Christians have more reason than anyone to expect to find sin and blind spots, and more reason than anyone to be secure when they hear it."The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope". - Tim KellerMany people will tell you what you want to hear. Wisdom is choosing on purpose to be told what we need to hear.Independence makes us Foolish. Community makes us Wise.## Three cultural forces that keep us from asking."I Know Best""I Know Myself""God Told Me"The first is the pull of individualism, which hears asking for help as weakness. Proverbs 18:1 answers it: one who isolates himself pursues selfish desires and rebels against all sound wisdom. The second leans on self-knowledge, the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, DISC, StrengthsFinder, family of origin work, attachment styles, Keller's "Counterfeit Gods," all good gifts that can still tip into "I am the expert on me." The third is a privatized faith that cannot be questioned. Ephesians 3:12 is true, in him and through faith in him we can approach God with freedom and confidence, and we do hear from God ourselves. But underneath all three sits the same assumption, that I can discern God's wisdom without needing God's people.## Many and sound.Proverbs 15:22 says plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 20:18 says finalize plans with counsel and wage war with sound guidance. The words to notice are "many" and "sound." Many, because going to a single voice makes us codependent on it. Sound, because the voice should be helpful, godly, thoughtful, unbiased, honest, and pointed toward Jesus and his Word. Proverbs 13:20 adds that the one who walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.Reflection Questions:1) What are the loudest and most influential voices in your life, at the moment?2) What content are you consuming, that could be shaping how you think about, see, and respond to the world?We do not go to many counsellors for permission or for consensus. We go for clarity. Grant recounts the decision to move his family from South Africa to San Diego, and a Zoom call in which Chris Winant heard his worry that the move might be a pandemic era overreaction and answered that the decision was not Covid caused but Covid inspired.## Give wise people permission to speak.Identify them: people who know you, who fear God, whose lives you would want to emulate, and who will tell you the truth. Invite them, because no one knows you are wrestling with something unless you say so. Give them permission to ask any question. If what they say is hard to hear, you do not have to accept it in the moment, but go away and pray and process it. Test the counsel against Scripture, in prayer, and against the character of Jesus. Then take your next step.## Start with Jesus.Through the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 to 7, Jesus repeats "you have heard it said, but I say to you," which means following him involves unlearning as much as learning. In John 14:6 he says he is the way and the truth and the life. Matthew 7:24-27 closes it out: both builders hear the words of Jesus, both build a house, both face the same storm, and the difference is that one acts on what he heard. Jesus is not only our wise counsellor. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and he asks us to hear his words and do them.Two closing questions. Who has permission in your life to tell you something you do not want to hear? And is there a decision you are currently making alone that you should bring other people into, not for consensus or permission, but for clarity?Verses referenced:Proverbs 12:15Proverbs 21:2Proverbs 18:1Proverbs 15:22Proverbs 20:18Proverbs 13:20Ephesians 3:12Matthew 5-7John 14:6Matthew 7:24-27

The Friday Five for August 7, 2026: ACA 2027 Certification Updates CY2027 ACA Premium Rate Filings So Far CMS 2027 Medicare Part D Bid Information 2027 Medicare Part B Cost Projections 2027 COLA Estimate   Get Connected:

If you're thinking about becoming an insurance agent, you may be thinking about what can come along with the career change? What are some of the perks you might discover, and what downsides could sneak up on you? in this episode of The Agent Survival Guide Podcast, we help you weigh the good of becoming an insurance agent against the bad.    Read the text version    Get Connected:

HCAHPS produces 11 publicly reported measures of patient experience. Not one of them asks about a bill. The financial/billing experience sits outside most ways this industry uses to define patient experience. And it arrives with your logo on it. Chris Boyer and Reed Smith discuss what that gap costs. The financial experience decides whether the next clinical experience happens at all. In most health systems, brand standards govern the digital experience, website, campaigns, and the call center. But the statement, the denial letter and the financial assistance page are managed separately. They also discuss the requirements to reach the people in the community most likely to need financial help but describe how these efforts read like a marketing campaign, but marketing never got this memo.  Then Cassandra Skinner from Xsolis makes the case for collecting correctly rather than collecting less, arguing that compassion and accountability were never opposites. She also describes how patient advocacy acts as quiet work that lives in questioning one authorization or catching one coordination of benefits error. On automation she draws the line at can versus should. And she lands somewhere worth sitting with, that patients do not lose trust because a machine was involved, they lose trust when nobody will own the decision. Why the instrument that defines patient experience has no question about cost, and what that does to budgets and attention What marketing gave up when the billing statement became somebody else's document The financial assistance requirements already written into federal law, and why satisfying them has not made patients aware Why a decade of mandated price disclosure produced more published data and not more patient understanding What revenue cycle sees about a patient that marketing never does Where accountability has to sit when part of the decision is automated If your health system's financial assistance page would fail the standard you apply to any campaign you would sign your name to, you just found work that has been yours the whole time. Mentions from the Show: IRS, Financial Assistance Policy and Emergency Medical Care Policy, Section 501(r)(4): https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/financial-assistance-policy-and-emergency-medical-care-policy-section-501r4 AHRQ, CAHPS Adult Hospital Survey (11 measures effective January 1, 2025): https://www.ahrq.gov/cahps/surveys-guidance/hospital/about/adult_hp_survey.html CMS, HCAHPS Patients' Perspectives of Care Survey (administered 48 hours to six weeks after discharge): https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/initiatives/hospital-quality-initiative/hcahps-patients-perspectives-care-survey KFF, Americans' Challenges with Health Care Costs, updated April 2026 (about half of adults could not pay an unexpected $500 medical bill): https://www.kff.org/health-costs/americans-challenges-with-health-care-costs/ KFF Health Care Debt Survey (41% with health care debt, 51% of those with debt skipped recommended care): https://www.kff.org/health-costs/kff-health-care-debt-survey/ KFF, Hospital Charity Care, How It Works and Why It Matters: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/hospital-charity-care-how-it-works-and-why-it-matters/ Dollar For, Fixing Hospital Financial Assistance Programs (52% never informed, 65% unaware it existed). Patient advocacy nonprofit, labeled as such on air: https://dollarfor.org/fixing-hospital-finaid/ AHA, Hospital Price Transparency, Current Landscape and a Better Path Forward, June 5 2026: https://www.aha.org/fact-sheets/2026-06-05-fact-sheet-hospital-price-transparency-current-landscape-and-better-path-forward AHA, Improving the Patient Billing Experience issue brief, October 2021: https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/10/Improving-Patient-Billing-Experience_IB_Final_10-22-21.pdf CMS, CY 2026 OPPS and ASC Final Rule, Hospital Price Transparency Policy Changes: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cy-2026-opps-ambulatory-surgical-center-final-rule-hospital-price-transparency-policy-changes HFMA, CMS's latest transparency rule aims to make price estimates more exact, November 2025 (named executive on the machine-readable file): https://www.hfma.org/price-transparency/cmss-latest-transparency-rule-aims-to-make-price-estimates-more-exact/ Ways and Means Committee, H.R. 9504 Tax Exempt Hospital Transparency Act reporting elements, July 2026: https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2026/07/20/what-they-are-saying-ways-and-means-committee-bringing-transparency-to-americas-nonprofit-hospital-sector/ Cassandra Skinner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cskinner-health/  XSOLIS website: https://www.xsolis.com/  Reed Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reedtsmith/ Chris Boyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisboyer/ Chris Boyer website: http://www.christopherboyer.com/ Chris Boyer on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chrisboyer.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. 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Nothing sucks you in quite like the internet. It seems to have a way of figuring out what you're currently obsessed with and serving you more and more of it, whether that's cat videos, cookie recipes, or information about your most pervasive and seemingly unshakeable anxiety. (At this point, anyone who's never spent a late night Googling their worries should be studied by science for their willpower.) But with the rise of artificial intelligence, the internet may be fueling a different kind of engagement.  Elias Aboujaoude, a psychiatrist at Stanford University, and Ashleigh Golden, a psychologist at Stanford, recently wrote a paper arguing that the design of AI chatbots appears to encourage anxious behavior and keep people stuck in obsessive loops. One in six adults have turned to chatbots for mental-health information and advice, according to a KFF poll, and Golden cautions that “we may be encountering the perfect storm of avoidant coping behaviors and this tech that reinforces those tendencies and disorders.”  In this episode of How to Touch Grass, hosts Julie Beck and Natalie Brennan hear from Golden and Aboujaoude about how people who use AI looking for reassurance may instead find their symptoms getting worse, and what that means for an anxious nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Juliette Cubanski, Vice President and Director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, joins Lisa Dent to assure listeners that Medicare Part D isn’t ending and explain what changes have actually happened. She clarifies that what ended was extra subsidies, received by certain Part D plans, that helped people with Medicare pay for […]

Photo by Hakan Nural on Unsplash The misinformation and disinformation about vaccines has been on the rise, particularly since the COVID pandemic and, more recently, since Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. assumed the position of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump Administration. KFF is a nonprofit health policy research, polling and news organization that recently conducted a national poll to look at whether the public has embraced myths about vaccines that are based on this misinformation. HealthCetera producer and host Diana J. Mason, PhD, RN, discusses the poll and its findings with Alex Montero, PhD, Senior Survey Analyst for Public Opinion and Survey Research at KFF. This interview first aired on HealthCetera in the Catskills on WIOX radio on July 15, 2026. The post Misinformation & Disinformation About Vaccines appeared first on HealthCetera.

Ohio's governor race just got a new label. Cook Political Report moved Ramaswamy vs. Acton from Lean Republican to Toss Up, and Ohio's largest police union broke decades of habit to endorse a full Republican statewide ticket for the first time in recent memory. This episode covers both, plus the ten Ohio House seats that could decide whether Republicans keep veto proof control of Columbus. In this episode: the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio endorses Vivek Ramaswamy, Jon Husted, and Keith Faber for Attorney General, its first Republican AG endorsement in twenty years. Statehouse Watch covers the Ohio EPA's reversal on data center wastewater permits and the ten House Republican seats Democrats are targeting to break the sixty seat supermajority. District Watch breaks down Ohio's 14th (David Joyce vs. Maria Jukic) and 15th (Mike Carey vs. Don Leonard) congressional districts. County of the Week looks at Summit County's House Districts 31 and 35. Research on a Dime digs into a new KFF poll on who Americans actually think is committing Medicaid fraud, and how it lines up against Republican Attorney General messaging in Ohio's race between Keith Faber and John Kulewicz. Plus: the billionaire money behind Ramaswamy's super PAC, Victors Not Victims, which has raised thirty seven million dollars from a small group of billionaire donors, more than eighty eight percent of its total funding. Political solutions without political bias. Building a better Ohio on the way to a better America. PODCAST NETWORK ALIVE Podcast Network. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly '30 For US' conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION OtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ r/PolicySolutions - A subreddit where people can post and discuss political solutions. Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/ GET DAILY NEWS Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code 'purple' to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com Subscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown/p/welcome-to-the-purple-political-breakdown?r=3z2cmw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: 'Political solutions without political bias.' Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be a part of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Studio Allsvenskan är sponsrade av Snabbare – det okrångliga spelbolaget!Köp en andel till vårt andelsspel på SnabbTipset hos Snabbare.https://www.snabbare.com/snabbtipset-studioallsvenskan18+ | Stödlinjen.se | Spela AnsvarsfulltStudio Allsvenskan sponsras av Cancerfonden. Var med och bidra till vår poddbössa här: https://www.cancerfonden.se/insamlingar/studio-allsvenskans-bossaÅrets bästa sportdeal är här! TV4 Play och Studio Allsvenskan har ett samarbete där du kan se Allsvenskan, Superettan, La Liga och Serie A plus massa mer med ett galet vasst erbjudande – för enbart 349 kronor i månaden i sex månader.Det är tisdag och Studio Allsvenskan befinner sig mitt i den allsvenska hetluften. Två matcher har spelats och mängder av silly-nyheter har slagit ned.Vi börjar i Kalmar där mötet mellan KFF och MFF slutade 2-2. Rättvist och rimligt enligt studion. Håller ni med?Vi tar oss sedan till Göteborg och mötet mellan ÖIS och Djurgården där vi kan krita ned ytterligare ett kryss i protokollet. Visst förväntar man sig mer av DIF?Innan vi dundrar på med Silly gör vi ett nedstamp i omgångens lag, vilka missade vi?När det kommer till Silly Season lägger vi såklart stort fokus på Charles Sagoe Jr och Amin Boudri, men självklart även andra stora transfernyheter.Studio Allsvenskan finns även på Patreon, där du får ALLA våra avsnitt reklamfritt direkt efter inspelning. Dessutom får du tillgång till våra exklusiva poddserier där vi släpper avsnitt tisdag till fredag varje vecka. Bli medlem här!Följ Studio Allsvenskan på sociala medier:Twitter!Facebook!Instagram!Youtube!TikTok! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Friday Five for July 17, 2026: A New Way to Read Classic Books, Speeches, & Essays What We've Been Reading Meta Pulls Instagram Muse Image Feature The Bipartisan Social Security Commission Act of 2026 (H.R. 9187) ACA Preliminary Rate Filings & What Agents Can Do in the Meantime   Get Connected:

Got questions? Send Ericka a Text!Less than 1% of denied dental claims ever get appealed and insurance companies are counting on you to be in the other 99%. I walk you through the denial management mindset shift that changes everything: stop treating the third appeal like the edge of the map and start using the tools that actually hold payers accountable, including your state insurance commissioner for fully insured plans. We get practical and specific about what makes a denial “unreasonable” or “bad faith” and how to spot the pattern: benefits are active, eligibility is confirmed, documentation supports dental necessity, and the claim still comes back denied. I also explain why we start with state and federal laws before we obsess over codes, because language like prompt pay, network leasing, and silent PPO issues gives your conversations more weight. Then we clean up common risk areas by separating an honest mistake, a contract violation, and fraud, because mixing those up can put a practice in real trouble. From there, we talk tactics: why copy-and-paste appeal templates can work against you in a world where insurers use AI to review claims, and what to use instead. Think ICD-10 diagnosis codes, strong narratives, and patient-specific clinical details that make your claim defensible. Finally, I share documented enforcement examples, including a major fine tied to undisclosed “phantom” frequency limits, and why complaints to regulators compound over time. If you want a denial process that protects patients and stops leaving money on the table, listen all the way through, then subscribe, share this with your office team, and leave a review so more billers learn how to escalate the right way.Sources referenced in this episode:Appeal rate / upheld rate: KFF analysis of CMS data — fewer than 1% of denied ACA marketplace claims are appealed; insurers uphold ~56% of appeals (2023 data), 66% (2024 data). Medicare Advantage: ~57% of appealed denials overturned. (On air we used these instead of the "59% upheld because nobody appealed" framing, which conflated the appeal rate with the uphold-on-appeal rate.)Delta Dental of Washington: Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner fined Delta Dental + its health care benefits manager (Wyssta) $130,000 (Oct/Nov 2024) for, among other things, denying claims based on time/frequency limits not filed with or approved by the state; 7 service types and 50 billing codes had undisclosed limits. Triggered by consumer complaints. This is an actual regulatory fine.Self-funded vs. fully insured (the "federal path" mention): The commissioner regulates fully insured plans. Self-funded employer plans fall under federal ERISA law and route to the U.S. Department of Labor (EBSA) instead, not the state commissioner. This is covered in depth in the full denial management talk, not this episode. (Government and church plans are a further exception.)Cigna PxDx: 2023 class action (E.D. Cal.), citing ProPublica reporting — ~300,000 denials in two months, avg. 1.2 seconds per claim, "we literally click and submit." Court allowed the case to proceed March 2025 (abuse of discretion). This is litigation, not a fine — described on air as a lawsuit/court ruling.UnitedHealth nH Predict: Class action (D. Minn.) alleging a 90% error rate on the AI tool and that ~0.2% of policyholders appeal. Court ordered algorithm disclosure in 2026. Allegations in active litigation — stated as such on air.The "0.2% will appeal" motive appears in both the Cigna and UnitedHealth complaints as an allegation of intent. Interested in a Demo of Dentiq - The Billing Command Center? Get on the interest list here:https://4063-dentiq.systeme.io/waitlistGet your Dental Billing Toolkit Here:https://www.dentalbillingdoneright.com/the-dental-billing-toolkitDownload "The Most Underused Codes in Dentistry - And How to Get Them Paid" checklist here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxnnfSlNd0NPhMoBWq-1D_xU5R8LS4xPhHNKIjfLQwStOUag/viewform?usp=headerSchedule a billing chat with Ericka:https://calendly.com/ericka-dentalbillingdoneright/30minEmail Ericka:ericka@dentalbillingdoneright.comEmail Jen:jen@dentalbillingdoneright.com

President Trump's H.R. 1 policy bill made deep cuts to Medi-Cal, the state's version of Medicaid. After weeks of debate in Sacramento over how to fund the program, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a budget with a tax plan that could raise premiums by $100 a year for privately insured Californians. KQED's Lesley McClurg and Guy Marzorati discuss why this has become such a political battleground.  Then, Lesley talks with KFF's chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner about the state of scientific research. The Trump administration is moving to give political appointees more power over who receives federal science and health grants, blocking funding for research that doesn't align with the president's policy priorities. Plus, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has escalated his fight with medical journals, calling them “corrupt” and threatening to prosecute them.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown's weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allsvenska nykomlingen Kalmar FF har tagit sig en bit över strecket i allsvenskan. Klubbens nye sportchef Mats Winblad är en del av arbetet att åter etablera klubben i allsvenskan. När jag poddintervjuade Winblad i december i fjol talade han om vad som krävs för att Kalmar ska hänga kvar i allsvenskan, om att det krävdes nyförvärv till KFF, om egenskaperna som är viktigast i spelare, om den sportsliga strategin i Kalmar, om anklagelserna kring eventuellt jäv när KFF anställde honom och om att ha olika syn på vad KFF behöver jämfört med Toni Koskela. Dessutom berättade Winblad om arbetet som lade grunden till Oddevolds snabba klättring i seriesystemet, om lärdomarna från fem år som sportchef i Uddevalla-klubben, om hur han navigerar agentbranschen, om hur det var att byta från Oddevold till serierivalen Kalmar mitt under säsongen, om varför han undviker att ta del av medier och om hur man hanterar ett utsatt jobb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amateur Radio News and Information in the Greater Cincinnati, Tri-State, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Areas for the Week of July 10, 2026.This weeks topics include:NKARC 2026 Field Day SpecialARRL America 250 Event2026 KY Amateur of the Year NominationsWWFF-KFF Celebrates America 250 EventBrunch BunchOhio Packet Zoom CallMeshcore Presentation at NKARC MeetingSTEM Day Camp2026 Youngs Jersey Dairy Charity Bike TourRepeater ListQCEN 442.700 Repeater off the airWW4KY DSTAR RepeaterHamfestsExams

Have you ever had a client mistake Medicare and Medicaid (or have you mixed the two up)? In this episode of the Agent Survival Guide podcast, we're comparing, contrasting, and clarifying how these two government-funded programs differ and how they work together!   Read the text version   Get Connected:

Gas prices have fallen for five straight weeks, and if you run a fleet, you'll feel it. In this month's Genie Journal Recap, we cover what moved in medical transportation in June — from the pump to the statehouse.This episode covers:Fuel prices — The national average hit $3.91/gallon on June 25, the fifth consecutive weekly decline. What's driving it and what it means for fleet operations.Colorado — Governor Polis signed HB 26-1328, one of the most comprehensive NEMT modernization bills of 2026. Plus: the MediDrive broker transition takes effect July 1, and providers need to be ready.Maryland — CMS approved a new state plan amendment requiring Medicaid NEMT to cover lodging and meals for qualifying members.Minnesota — A five-month revalidation sweep of 5,583 high-risk Medicaid providers produced 3,411 disenrollment notices. NEMT providers were caught in the wave.Ohio — SB 315 names NEMT providers directly in new GPS and electronic verification requirements, moving EVV from best practice to law.Federal policy — KFF breaks down what the 2025 reconciliation law means for NEMT reimbursement starting in 2029, and CMS consolidates its technology functions under a new office.The Genie Journal Recap is RouteGenie's monthly update on the regulatory, financial, and operational shifts shaping medical transportation. New episodes every month.Follow the show so you don't miss the next one.

With midterm elections just months away, the top economic concern for voters is the cost of healthcare. That's according to a recent poll from the health policy nonprofit KFF.With that in mind, the “Marketplace Morning Report” team traveled to southwest Alabama to learn more about how policy decisions at the national level lead to consequences for health care access in local communities across rural America.Many of the people we met often have to travel hours for basic healthcare needs. And experts say that's a fate that lies ahead for even more communities because of changing federal policies. In the absence of action to address health care shortages, many communities are turning within, leaning on each other and their own resilience to navigate the complicated landscape of what services remain.

With midterm elections just months away, the top economic concern for voters is the cost of healthcare. That's according to a recent poll from the health policy nonprofit KFF.With that in mind, the “Marketplace Morning Report” team traveled to southwest Alabama to learn more about how policy decisions at the national level lead to consequences for health care access in local communities across rural America.Many of the people we met often have to travel hours for basic healthcare needs. And experts say that's a fate that lies ahead for even more communities because of changing federal policies. In the absence of action to address health care shortages, many communities are turning within, leaning on each other and their own resilience to navigate the complicated landscape of what services remain.

The Friday Five for June 12, 2026: Apple WWDC 2026 Takeaways Instagram Grid Arrangement Feature IntegrityCONNECT Annuities & What's Coming Soon KFF MA Enrollment Stats & Trends for 2026 CMS Medicaid Work Requirements   Get Connected:

As predicted, the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans is causing many people to lose coverage for failing to make premium payments. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded angrily to a New York Times article suggesting he's not actively engaged in the work of his sprawling department. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF's Tricia Neuman, who is retiring this month as a senior vice president and the executive director of the Program on Medicare Policy. Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Anguished Parents. Doctors in Tears. Utah's Long Measles Outbreak Takes a Toll,” by Amy Maxmen. Sandhya Raman: CIDRAP's “Two Sisters, One Virus: A Family Devastated by HPV,” by Liz Szabo. Lizzy Lawrence: The Chicago Tribune's “One Plastic Surgeon. Eight Women Dead,” by Christy Gutowski and Gregory Royal Pratt. Lauren Weber: ProPublica's “The Milkman,” by Annie Waldman. 

Here's a shocking number: One out of eight American adults is taking a GLP-1, like Ozempic or Zepbound, according to a KFF poll. GLP-1s are the biggest pharmaceutical story since antidepressants. But there's still so much we don't know. “We're only at the beginning of what's been called this Ozempic era,” the journalist Julia Belluz told me. “I think we're really just at the beginning of discovering the benefits and the harms of these drugs.” These discoveries begin in the research but are also expanding into how we think about our punishing beauty standards and the blurry lines between illness and wellness. Belluz is a contributing Opinion writer and the author, with Kevin Hall, of “Food Intelligence.” She's one of the best health and science reporters I know and has been reporting on GLP-1s for years. In this conversation, Belluz takes me through what we know — and don't know — about GLP-1s, their unexpected uses, how they are clashing with a culture obsessed with thinness and looksmaxxing, and whether everyone should be on them. Mentioned: “The obesity pay gap is worse than previously thought” by The Economist “The Great Ozempic Experiment” by Julia Belluz Book Recommendations: Behave by Robert M. Sapolsky The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs. This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Annie Galvin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Julie Beer. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Johnny Simon. Our recording engineer is Aman Sahota. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Rollin Hu, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Transcript editing by Sarah Murphy and Marlaine Glicksman. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A new KFF poll of 1,343 U.S. adults finds 61% say healthcare costs will have a major impact on their midterm vote. Among MAHA voters, 42% list cost as their top issue — double the share focused on food additives or vaccine policy. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/healthcare-costs-top-of-mind-for-voters-as-midterms-approach-survey-finds/ #HealthcareCosts #MidtermElections #KFFPoll #MAHA #VoterSurvey #Politics #Congress #WashingtonStateStandard

The Friday Five for May 1, 2026: [00:44] Staying Caffeinated on the Road [03:26] Healthcare or Health Care? AP Stylebook Makes it Official [05:24] Spotify Spins Fitness into the Mix [08:41] Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 [12:16] CMS Update on BALANCE Model & Medicare GLP-1 Bridge   Events & Webinars for Insurance Agents   Get Connected:

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Lunna Lopez, senior survey manager at the Kaiser Family Foundation, to examine how rising healthcare costs are affecting consumers' insurance decisions and overall financial well-being. Drawing on recent KFF survey data, they explore how increases in premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs are forcing many marketplace enrollees to make difficult trade-offs—such as cutting back on basic household expenses or dropping coverage altogether. The conversation highlights the emotional toll of navigating coverage decisions, including widespread feelings of stress, confusion, and frustration, and discusses how affordability challenges may influence consumer behavior, market stability, and broader policy and voting dynamics.

Think what you've heard about Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans is true? Fun fact, it's probably not! Listen as we break down D-SNP myths to build up your knowledge.   Read the text version   Get Connected:

This week on Pulse: Hot Topics, Louise and George unpack a rapidly shifting healthcare landscape, where AI is no longer theoretical, but already embedded in patient behaviour, clinical risk, and global policy responses. And a big win for the UK's digital health workforce!Ireland's AI Strategy for Health - Ireland releases a national AI for Care strategy, positioning AI as core infrastructure for healthcare delivery, with strong emphasis on governance, workforce integration, and data readiness. A rare example of a country moving beyond pilots into system-wide planningAI Named #1 Patient Safety Risk - ECRI ranks AI-driven diagnostics as the top patient safety concern for 2026, highlighting risks like automation bias, poor integration, and lack of governance, reframing AI as a clinical safety issue, not just a technology one.Apple Forces Health Apps Into Regulation - Apple mandates that health apps declare whether they qualify as medical devices, signalling a major shift from platform neutrality to accountability, and potentially reshaping trust, compliance, and developer behaviour globallyPatients Are Already Using AI - New research from KFF, NEJM AI, and The Lancet shows that consumers are actively using AI for health advice, often before seeing a clinician, with evidence that AI is influencing real-world behaviour and reshaping care pathwaysNHS Recognises Digital Health Workforce - The NHS formally recognises its digital, data, and technology workforce as a professional group, a major milestone that elevates digital health roles and signals their critical importance to patient outcomes.Resources:Horizon Europe Grants LinkIreland's AI for Care Strategy 2026-2030 Pulse+IT LinkECRI 2026 Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns report LinkKFF poll on consumers use of AI in health LinkESSENCE study, published in the NEJM AI LinkSara Riggare and Charlotte Blease in Lancet Primary Care LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl balance two sides of American healthcare: the encouraging scientific advances that could help people live longer and healthier lives, and the growing affordability and trust crises threatening patients across the country. The conversation opens on an optimistic note. Dr. Pearl highlights new Yale research showing that aging is far less deterministic than many Americans assume. Rather than a steady and unavoidable decline, the study found that nearly half of adults over 65 improved physically, cognitively or both over a 12-year period. He pairs that story with new cardiovascular guidance from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, which shifts prevention toward a much longer time horizon and argues that earlier LDL management could prevent a significant share of heart attacks and strokes later in life. The episode then pivots to the mounting financial and institutional pressures facing patients, hospitals and public-health agencies. From rising medical debt and medication nonadherence to declining vaccine trust, hospital cost inflation and the political barriers keeping GLP-1 drugs unaffordable in the United States, the discussion captures both the promise and the fragility of healthcare in 2026. Here are the other major storylines from episode 105: Supplements fail the evidence test: Pearl reviews clinical trial data showing that commonly used supplements such as fish oil, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon and red yeast rice performed no better than placebo in lowering LDL, reinforcing the continued value of lifestyle interventions and low-cost statins. Medical costs continue to destabilize families: New Gallup-linked research shows that 82 million Americans are already making sacrifices to pay medical bills, from skipping meals to delaying retirement. Drug unaffordability worsens medication adherence: A new KFF survey finds that nearly 60% of Americans worry about affording prescriptions, with 43% reporting they have not taken medications as prescribed because of cost. Generative AI adoption surges among physicians: According to a new AMA survey, 81% of doctors now use generative AI in clinical practice, most commonly for documentation, literature summaries and chart support. Hospitals face intensifying economic pressure: The American Hospital Association reports that care delivery costs rose 7.5% last year, driven by higher labor expenses, drug prices, supply inflation and sicker patients. Trust in vaccine authorities continues to erode: Following the legal challenge to RFK Jr.'s overhaul of the federal vaccine advisory committee, new polling shows trust in federal vaccine recommendations has fallen sharply. Newborn preventive care is now affected by distrust: Pearl warns that refusal of vitamin K shots, hepatitis B vaccination and antibiotic eye ointment at birth is rising, reversing decades of scientific progress and reintroducing preventable newborn risks. Alzheimer's blood tests show progress, but not prediction: New FDA-cleared blood tests can help identify Alzheimer's disease as the likely cause of current dementia, but Dr. Pearl explains why they remain far less useful for predicting disease years before symptoms begin. The fax machine may finally be dying: In one of the episode's lighter moments, Dr. Pearl notes that CMS is moving to phase out fax-machine communication across HIPAA-covered entities, a long-overdue modernization step that could save taxpayers nearly $1 billion annually. Residency match reaches record size: The 2026 residency match was the largest in history, with more than 48,000 applicants competing for over 44,000 positions. Early heat waves carry serious health consequences: With unusual March heat across parts of the country, Dr. Pearl explains why early-season heat is especially dangerous, increasing risks of dehydration, kidney injury, cardiovascular strain and mental health emergencies. GLP-1 drugs go generic abroad while U.S. prices stay high: As Novo Nordisk's blockbuster GLP-1 medications go generic in India and other global markets, Dr. Pearl contrasts international pricing with U.S. costs and argues that congressional inaction on drug pricing remains one of healthcare's clearest failures. Tune in for more fact-based analysis and practical perspective on the healthcare stories shaping medicine today. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post MTT #105: New science on aging, rising medical debt & healthcare’s fax problem appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

The Friday Five for March 27th: Macbook Neo & WWDC26 Gas Buddy for Fuel Savings The Great Nee-Doh Shortage KFF State Health Facts Resource CMS Final Rule on Fax & Snail Mail   Get Connected:

The Friday Five for March 20, 2026: Rueppel Recommends Audible launches Standard Plan Universal Health Services to Acquire Talkspace Manufacturer Participation in CMS 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Microsoft Announces Copilot Health   Get Connected:

In this provocative and darkly funny episode of Living in a Post-Truth World: The Death Of Fact, host Dr. John Schinnerer explores how America entered the post-truth era—and what it's costing our democracy, our public health, and our sanity.Dr. John examines how the Trump administration's documented removal and disruption of public datasets—from health and climate reports to environmental justice tools—has contributed to a growing erosion of shared reality. Drawing on investigative reporting from Brookings, KFF, ProPublica, AP News, and others, he separates documented evidence from clearly labeled inference to ask a critical question:What happens when the scoreboard disappears?This episode breaks down:  The difference between misinformation and “measurement sabotage”  Health data and federal public health pages taken offline  The disappearance of major climate assessments from government websites  The shutdown of environmental justice mapping tools  How loss of public data impacts maternal health, public safety, and policymaking  Why fear, uncertainty, and nervous system dysregulation make men especially vulnerable to propaganda  The psychological mechanics behind the post-truth movement  How narrative control replaces evidence when public measurement is weakened Dr. John also brings in philosophy—yes, epistemology—to explain why understanding how we know what we know is no longer academic trivia but democratic survival training.Most importantly, he offers practical tools to stay grounded in a chaotic information landscape, including his CALM framework for “fact fitness”. This is not a partisan rant. It's a sober, evidence-based discussion about protecting shared reality in an age of narrative warfare. If you care about democracy, critical thinking, media literacy, public health data, climate transparency, and staying regulated in polarized times, this episode is essential listening. Because when facts disappear, whoever holds the microphone controls reality. And that should concern all of us.Want a Higher Baseline of Calm, Confidence, and Control? Start Here…

The Friday Five for March 13, 2026: Headline Quick Hits AI & Critical Thinking CMS Notification: 1.3 Million MBI Reassignments 2026 Medicare Part D Enrollment Stats Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration   Get Connected:

KFF research shows 29 states and DC now reject parts of federal vaccine guidance, following reductions to the CDC's childhood immunization schedule. New alliances and lawsuits highlight political divides over public health. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/twenty-nine-states-and-dc-now-reject-federal-vaccine-guidance/ #vaccines #publichealth #WashingtonState #CDC #childhealth #politics #immunization #news #KFF #WashingtonStandard

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl unpack a wide range of developments shaping healthcare in America today, including the TrumpRx drug discount program. From new legislation affecting telehealth and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to the rapid spread of measles and growing public concern about vaccine policy, this month's discussion highlights the policy decisions and scientific debates influencing medicine right now. The episode opens with the latest federal legislation passed to avert a government shutdown. While healthcare was not the central focus of this particular political battle, the bill contains several provisions that affect medical practice. These include extensions for telehealth coverage and hospital-at-home programs, reforms targeting PBM transparency and new requirements designed to address “ghost networks” in Medicare Advantage provider directories. Dr. Pearl explains that while these provisions represent incremental progress, they are unlikely to solve the larger problems driving healthcare costs and access challenges in the United States. Here are the other major storylines from episode 104: Healthcare costs remain nation's top concern: A new KFF poll finds that healthcare expenses rank above food, housing and utilities as the economic issue Americans worry about most. Prior authorization frustrations grow: Many patients report delays or denials of care due to insurance requirements, highlighting persistent tension between insurers, physicians and patients. Drug pricing debates continue: Pearl examines a new prescription drug website initiative and explains why it may have limited impact compared with broader policy proposals such as “most favored nation” pricing. Telehealth's uncertain future: Although the latest legislation extends certain pandemic-era flexibilities, the lack of a permanent solution leaves virtual care programs in limbo. PBM reforms move forward slowly: New policies aim to increase transparency and reduce incentives tied to drug list prices, though Pearl notes that meaningful change will depend on future implementation. Site-neutral payment gains attention: A provision requiring unique identifiers for outpatient services could pave the way for policies that eliminate higher reimbursement for hospital-owned facilities providing identical care. Measles outbreaks surge: Nearly a thousand cases have already been reported in 2026, with the overwhelming majority occurring among unvaccinated children. Trust in the CDC declines: Polling shows confidence in the agency has dropped significantly following changes to vaccine recommendations. Independent vaccine review groups emerge: Medical organizations and states are forming new committees to evaluate vaccine evidence as federal guidance becomes more contested. Early colon cancer deaths rise: The death of actor James Van Der Beek at age 48 highlights the growing incidence of colorectal cancer among younger adults and the importance of earlier screening. FDA confusion over a new flu vaccine: The agency initially declined to review Moderna's mRNA-based flu vaccine before reversing course and agreeing to evaluate it ahead of the next flu season. Younger Americans face worsening health trends: New claims data suggest chronic disease is appearing earlier among millennials and Gen Z, driven by lifestyle factors and reduced connection to primary care. Wearable data reveal health disparities: Apple Watch data show significant differences in resting heart rates across states, reflecting variations in lifestyle, access to care and public health conditions. As the episode concludes, Dr. Pearl warns that growing political conflict around vaccines and biomedical research risks undermining public trust in science. The consequences, he argues, could shape American medicine for decades to come. Tune in for more fact-based analysis and discussion of the biggest stories in healthcare. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn The post MTT #104: TrumpRx, rising measles cases & the politics of vaccine science appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Americans have more economic anxiety about health care costs than anything else, according to a KFF poll. “Conversations on Health Care” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter are at the Reporters' Roundtable to break down the policy debates and real-world impacts behind those concerns. Joining the roundtable are: Nada Hassanein of Stateline, Michael McAuliff of […] The post Reporters' Roundtable: High Cost of Health Care appeared first on Healthy Communities Online.

The Friday Five for February 27, 2026: [01:02] ☕Starbucks Spring 2026 Menu  [02:45]

After the grind of Annual Enrollment, the reality of lock-in can be a little defeating, even for the most seasoned agents. If you've been feeling that way, listen to learn more about Special Needs Plans and their place in your post-AEP strategy.   Read the text version  

The Friday Five for February 20, 2026: TikTok USDS Update Apple Announces Video Podcasts Tide Launches Evo Detergent The Burden of Prior Authorization State of the Senior Market 2026   Register to Attend Craig Ritter's 2026 State of the Senior Market!   Get Connected:

The nation's persistent affordability crisis continues to leave large majorities of Americans deeply concerned about the state of the country and dissatisfied with national political leaders and, as Newsline learned in a recent conversation with KFF senior survey polling analyst Dr. Shannon Schumacher, nowhere is this better evidenced than in the field of health care. As Schumacher told us in a recent conversation, new KFF polling finds that the combination of soaring costs and frayed and uncertain insurance coverage has left millions of people worse off than they were just a year ago and deeply concerned about the policies, actions and inactions of the Trump administration and congressional leaders as we look forward to the 2026 elections. Click here to listen to the full interview with KFF senior survey polling analyst Dr. Shannon Schumacher.

Californians have until January 31 to sign up for health insurance provided by Covered California, the state's Obamacare plan. Because Congress let health care tax credits expire, the cost of insurance has radically increased for many customers, and some are opting out of health insurance altogether. We'll hear how skyrocketing costs are affecting your healthcare decisions and take your questions. Guests: Jessica Altman, executive director, Covered California, the state health insurance exchange Cynthia Cox, senior vice-president, KFF, an independent source for health policy research, polls and news - Cox is also the director of KFF's Affordable Care Act Program Katelyn Jackson, executive director, Clinic by the Bay, a free medical clinic for uninsured patients Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced changes to vaccine recommendations for children and infants — raising questions and concerns for parents and pediatricians alike. We talk with pediatrician Dr. Amy Shriver about what's changed in the childhood immunization schedule, as well as the overturning of policy on the hepatitis B vaccine for infants. Health policy expert Jen Kates of KFF joins to explain what the changes mean for insurance coverage, how states are responding and why vaccines remain available for families. Later, husband-and-wife musicians Annie and Dave Ducharme-Jones join to discuss their latest album, 'Lumina.'

Enhanced subsidies for health insurance policies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges are set to expire at the end of today. That means skyrocketing premiums for some Obamacare enrollees. Premiums are expected to more than double, according to the nonpartisan health research organization KFF, and some healthier people are expected to drop their insurance. Plus, 2025 was the year that generative AI exploded, divided, and created trust issues. We'll take a look back.

Enhanced subsidies for health insurance policies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges are set to expire at the end of today. That means skyrocketing premiums for some Obamacare enrollees. Premiums are expected to more than double, according to the nonpartisan health research organization KFF, and some healthier people are expected to drop their insurance. Plus, 2025 was the year that generative AI exploded, divided, and created trust issues. We'll take a look back.

Will 2026 healthcare costs destroy your FIRE plan? Enhanced ACA tax credits expire in 2026—meaning health insurance premiums could DOUBLE or TRIPLE overnight. This healthcare subsidy cliff threatens millions who depend on affordable marketplace coverage. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench interview Matt McGough from KFF to break down the 2026 healthcare crisis and what you can do NOW to protect your early retirement. This Episode Covers: Who gets hit hardest by 2026 healthcare premium increases Exact cost projections for early retirement health insurance in 2026 Actionable strategies to prepare NOW for rising healthcare costs Which FIRE strategies still work after ACA subsidy changes Affordable health insurance alternatives for early retirees History of ACA subsidies and why they're expiring Steps to protect your financial independence from the healthcare affordability crisis And SO much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's open enrollment season. And for the 20 million Americans who buy their own health insurance, prices are through the roof.Rates are up an average of 30 percent for a typical plan in the 30 states where the federal government manages markets. In states that run their own markets, rates are up an average of 17 percent. That's according to an analysis from the health policy research group KFF.Meanwhile, the longest government shutdown continues in Washington. Lawmakers still can't agree over whether to extend subsidies that would make health insurance more affordable. Without those subsidies, experts estimate that more than 4 million people could lose access to insurance.How did health insurance get so expensive in the first place? And who stands to benefit from higher costs?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's a critical week regarding the Affordable Care Act, which is at the center of the government shutdown impasse. “Window shopping" began for some people buying health insurance through the ACA – also known as Obamacare – giving enrollees estimates on how much their premiums could cost next year. Without the ACA tax credits that Democrats want to extend into 2026, many people could see big increases in their health care costs – 114%, on average, according to estimates by KFF, a nonprofit health policy think tank. While there's still time for lawmakers to strike a deal on extending the subsidies, “the longer this goes on, the more damage there could be,” says Cynthia Cox, who conducts research on Obamacare for KFF.This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. It was edited by Ashley Brown, Diane Webber, and Nadia Lancy. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Is the government about to shut down? Congressional leaders and the White House appear to be at an impasse, even after President Donald Trump gave in and scheduled a meeting for Monday to try and get a deal done (though that meeting did not go well). The core of the issue is subsidies connected with the Affordable Care Act, financial assistance that is due to expire at the end of the year. Without it, millions of Americans could see their healthcare premiums skyrocket, with costs rising by hundreds of dollars a month. But the GOP hasn't been very interested in talking about these funds, despite the fact that millions of Republican voters benefit from them. To understand what the healthcare fight is really about and what happens next, we spoke to Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF and host of the healthcare podcast, “What the Health.”And in headlines, Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer tries to turn down the temperature on rhetoric after a deadly attack at a Latter-Day Saints church, Jared Kushner is a gamer (or at least he's going to buy a video game company along with Saudi Arabia), and MAGA world reacts to the news that Bad Bunny will play the Super Bowl halftime show.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.