Fight Back

Fight Back discusses the important and timely topic of health equity. "Health equity" means that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Many factors impact a person's health, including poverty, access to good jobs, education, and housing, to name a few. Health equity advocates have emerged in response to challenges that people of color face while seeking and securing needed treatments from the medical community.

What does health equity look like? How do communities and health organizations collaborate to promote health equity? How does addressing health equity impact everyone's health and safety? We'll dig into these issues and more with our special guest Jahmal Miller, System Vice President of CommonSpirit Health, serving in the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. Jahmal is recognized as a national thought leader and a leading spokesperson on public policy, health equity, mental health, social justice, and innovation. He serves on the American Diabetes Association's National Health Disparities Committee and previously served as the Deputy Director of the California Department of Public Health's Office of Health Equity (OHE). He also worked as a communications manager for Kaiser Permanente.

Today, we discuss whether it is possible to negotiate with your local hospital and what that means for you and your bottom line. (Hint: You have options.) We will be joined by special guest Alan Fox, a former hospital CFO, who offers his unique insight on the topic.  

America is living through a time of unprecedented demographic change. In the last twenty years, the segment of our population over the age of 65 has increased from 6% to 9%. According to estimates, those over 65 will comprise 17% of the population by 2050. At 65, individuals can join the Medicare healthcare system. But Medicare is complicated, and for many who are about to or have recently turned 65, they face many choices and daunting questions.

In this episode, we first hear from Jane, who had a challenging time enrolling in her Medicare program. She found out the hard way that not signing up when you first turn 65 made it more difficult and costly to enroll. Then we talk with Medicare Expert Karen Johnson of Wellcare to learn the details about how to enroll successfully in Medicare.

There are many reasons why we should pay attention to what we eat. The processed, low-variety foods many of us consume regularly may be convenient and tasty, but they compromise our health. We especially need to pay attention to what we eat when we are sick so we can give our bodies the nutrients it needs to heal. And if you want to be even more deliberate in improving health—perhaps to address a chronic disease or condition—a holistic approach can yield significant benefits.

In this episode of Fight Back, we hear from Jamie about some of the practical implications of Food as Medicine, including how to access healthy foods. Then, we talk with Michele Lew, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Trust, an organization that helps people at risk in the Silicon Valley area gain access to healthy, nutritious food. Join us as we learn how food can improve your health!

Health insurance is critical for individuals and families. When you suddenly lose your health insurance, because of COVID-19 or any other reason, it can feel overwhelming and difficult to determine where to start and what to do. Fortunately, there are many options available. Jenn Moore, Health Net’s chief commercial officer, joins us to talk about how to navigate this complicated and challenging process. For nearly 20 years, Jenn has overseen Health Net’s insurance plans for corporations, small businesses, families, and individuals. She also led the insurer’s planning for complying with and implementing the Affordable Care Act.  

In this episode, Fight Back covers the critically important topic of advanced healthcare directives, a legal document that addresses such end-of-life issues as “do not resuscitate” orders, treatment options, healthcare proxies, and more. In this emotionally powerful conversation, we hear from Kristen, whose husband J.J. was diagnosed with brain cancer at just 34 years old and given a few months to live. With the help of J.J.’s advanced healthcare directive, Kristen was able to act as her husband’s healthcare advocate—fighting for new treatments, second opinions, and facilitating J.J.’s wishes as he went on to live, not for three months, but for three years. Our special guest Ashton Ellis then joins us, who is an expert on advanced directives and attorney who creates advanced directives for families. Ashton is currently working to develop a curriculum that trains doctors and lawyers on how to apply the appropriate standard of care when complying with end-of-life care laws. Our conversation will cover many reasons why a healthcare directive is so important, not only for yourself but for your loved ones too.

Most often, healthcare consumers do not know the real cost of health services. Whether it is a bed in a hospital, a prescription drug, or a procedure like an MRI, the price is usually buried beneath government regulations, insurance forms, and confusing terminology.

In this episode, we first hear from John about how a recent brief hospital visit to deal with kidney stones turned into a $20,000 surprise. Fortunately, his insurance paid most of the bill, but if he had known the true cost, he might have made different decisions. David Balat, a former hospital CEO and now a policy healthcare advocate focusing on the costs of healthcare, explains consumers have the right to proper billing, how to understand the real cost of healthcare, and what resources are available for shopping for healthcare.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult for healthcare patients to obtain their routine, everyday care. We hear from Diannah, whose young son has Cystic Fibrosis. Her family turned to telemedicine to consult with their physicians and meet their medical needs. Barry Jantz, head of the Grossmont Healthcare District in San Diego, will then join us.  Barry explains how the Grossmont Hospital has worked to provide patients and their families stable access to routine medical care and secure appointments during this pandemic. Hospitals and clinics are creating new approaches to meet patients where they are at, while still providing quality healthcare. 

Mental Illness Challenges in America: A discussion with NAMI CA Executive Director Jessica Cruz.

Millions of Americans are affected by severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and also everyday mental health challenges such as anxiety and stress. 

Today, we will discuss the issues surrounding these illnesses and provide valuable information and resources. First, we'll hear from John and how severe mental illness impacted his family's life as a caregiver to his spouse, who suffers from bipolar disorder. 

Then, we will talk with Jessica Cruz, chief executive officer of the California chapter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about how to work through these issues, the challenges presented, the resources available, and some helpful tips about what people and families in similar situations can do.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities—Your Rights and Options: A discussion with Ken Barnes, CEO at Options For All.

Millions of people suffer from autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities. In this episode, Ken Barnes talks about growing up with his developmentally disabled twin brother, and the issues that he and his family went through caring for him. Because of that experience, in 2014, Ken volunteered to serve at Options for All, a nonprofit organization located in San Diego that provides a variety of community engagement services for the developmentally disabled. In 2017 he joined the board; in 2020, he became CEO. During the episode, Ken shares about how to work through these issues and the resources that are available. He then provides some helpful tips about what people and families facing similar problems can do.