What if your surgery were suddenly cancelled the day before because your insurer deemed it "medically unnecessary?" What choices do Americans have when it comes to their care? Would global budgeting have helped rural hospitals cope with the pandemic? Stephanie Kang, PhD, health policy director for Rep. Pramila Jayapal, shares with Brenda Gazzar how her father's personal experience with a marketplace health plan during a serious health crisis illustrates the need for improved, expanded Medicare for All.

What's the point of pushing for Medicare for All when President Biden opposes it? What about racial equity in healthcare - is winning single payer enough? Is there any value in supporting incremental legislation expanding Medicare to some? Host Brenda Gazzar and guest, Dr. Stephanie Kang, PhD, health policy director for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal discuss legislative strategies worth pursuing now if we hope to win a better healthcare future for America.

What's holding the U.S. back from implementing system-wide solutions to our healthcare woes? How do other countries rein in prescription drug prices? What are the 5 most important lessons about health care that the U.S. could learn from other wealthy nations? Host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Dr. Thomas Rice, health economist and Distinguished Professor at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health, discuss why it's not "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to health insurance systems.

Why does the U.S. healthcare system perform poorly in equity and efficiency compared to other wealthy nations? How does the U.S. ration access to health care based on cost? How do other countries manage to cover everyone for less? What lessons can we learn from their health insurance systems? Host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Dr. Thomas Rice, health economist and Distinguished Professor in UCLA's Department of Health Policy and Management, discuss his new book, "Health Insurance Systems: An International Comparison."

What's happening with healthcare reform in one of the bluest states in the nation, California? On which three fronts are single-payer advocates battling? What's essential to winning a healthcare justice ground game? Join host Brenda Gazzar and her guest, Ellen Karel, Chair of Health Care for All - California, as they discuss this historic moment for single-payer in the Golden State!

How did Ellen Karel, the chair of Health Care for All-California, come to support Medicare for All? What lead her to advocate for healthcare equity? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Ellen Karel as they discuss how expensive getting care can be, even with health insurance. Why should hardworking Californians, struggling to survive on low incomes, face hurdles to getting the care they need? What is holding California back from embracing single-payer healthcare, which would cover everyone for less money? Learn more at HEAL California!

How did Hawaii's effort to establish universal healthcare get derailed by the Affordable Care Act? What's an all-payer healthcare system and is it an alternative (or a path) to single-payer? What really happened with Vermont's attempt at single payer? Dr. Stephen Kemble, psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss what key feature of a single-payer plan is absolutely essential to reduce overall healthcare costs. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California!

For Mental Health Awareness month, this week's pod looks at how Medicaid Managed Care affects the availability of mental health services for low-income patients. Do corporate insurance industry practices, like preauthorization, complicate the treatment of mental health patients? Dr. Stephen Kemble, psychiatrist and past president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and host Brenda Gazzar discuss how Managed Care burdens patients and psychiatrists alike and how new models, such as collaborative care, might help.

How do common health insurance industry practices affect doctors' ability to remain independent? Can doctors stay in business when today's reimbursement rates in some specialties can be lower than they were 30 years ago? What happens when billing-related administrative expenses are too high? Dr. Nancy Niparko, a pediatric neurologist in the Los Angeles area, explains to host Brenda Gazzar how she came to shut down her private practice and accept employment. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California!

What can doctors do when they learn the best treatment for their patients is not covered by health insurance? How are American children impacted by coverage denials and the high cost of medicines? Brenda Gazzar and Dr. Nancy Niparko, a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, discuss the frustrating and unnecessary insurance hassles doctors routinely face while trying to properly treat their patients, and how different it is in Canada. Learn more & subscribe at HEAL California!