Fight Back

In this special Fight Back Library release, we welcome our special guest, Erica Costa, to discuss how to quit smoking. Erica is the Director of Advocacy for tobacco control in California for the American Lung Association. In her work, she advocates for support programs and methods to help people quit tobacco use and kick their nicotine addiction.

Erica gives our listeners a wealth of information on the best ways to tackle smoking and nicotine addictions. From providing us with the dangers of smoking cigarettes and vaping to the immediate health benefits of quitting, Erica discusses how best to create a plan to stop that encompasses counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, medication, friend and family support networks, and more.

In this FightBack! Minicast, we discuss autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 59 children in the United States—1 in 37 boys and 1 in 151 girls. A lifelong condition, autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, impacts those with this disorder and their families in many ways.
 
 Our special guest is former Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez Valladares. Suzette is a Latina businesswoman and educator specializing in early childhood education and advocacy. As the former Executive Director of Southern California Autism Speaks, she served special needs children.
 
 Suzette will help us understand ASD, the critical importance of parent advocacy, and available resources to patients and families.

In this Fight Back Library Release, we discuss the important 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. Race should not be one of them. Health equity advocates have emerged in response to challenges that people of color face while seeking medical care.

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.

In this Minincast Release of Fight Back, we welcome our special guest, Dr. Cari Spencer. Dr. Cari is a California-licensed naturopathic doctor and physical therapist. Dr. Cari believes in getting to the cause of the problem, personalizing treatments, and using the least force necessary to heal and treat the whole person.

Dr. Cari joins us to discuss the medical practice of naturopathy, an area of medical treatment of which most consumers are unaware. She talks about what naturopathy really is, what types of treatment are available, and how a Doctor of Naturopathy could help you improve your health. Join us today as we discuss Naturopathy 101!

In this Fight Back Library Release, we talk about bringing healthcare into the digital age. Digital health is applying digital technologies to healthcare to improve wellness programs and make medicine more accessible, personalized, and precise. It aims to improve the quality of care and lower costs.

We welcome our special guest, Gary Cohen, Vice President of Government Affairs at Blue Shield of California.

Gary joins us to discuss what bringing healthcare into the digital age means. How are your healthcare records kept safe, secure, and yet accessible to your healthcare providers? How can the new technologies that help you monitor your health at home be integrated into your health records? Why are you still filling out a form with pen and paper when you visit a new doctor or specialist, or in the worst case, the emergency room? We dive into these questions and more.

The Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation extends a happy and HEALTHY New Year to all and a hearty thank you to our listeners who helped make our Fight Back podcast one of the most listened to healthcare podcasts in America in 2022!
 
Our Fight Back 2022 year-in-review episode looks back at some of our most interesting and informative episodes. From discussing the importance of canine companions to analyzing long COVID, we will continue to interview expert guests about the important healthcare topics that matter most to you.

Listen to our Fight Back Year in Review episode today, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you won’t miss out on what we have in store for you in 2023!

In this Fight Back Library Release, we discuss the little-known yet potentially impactful Independent Medical Review system that gives healthcare consumers in every state of the country a powerful tool to fight back when insurance companies deny doctor-prescribed medical treatments.

Our special guest is Mary Watanabe, Director of the California Department of Managed Health Care, which oversees health plans that provide healthcare services to more than 27.7 million Californians. As Director, Mary is responsible for protecting consumers’ healthcare rights and ensuring a stable healthcare delivery system in accordance with federal and state rules.

We discuss the independent medical review process in California and the free resources and tools offered to consumers to help them make an appeal. Join us as we learn how to appeal a medical insurance coverage issue.

Everyone loves to go to the dentist, right? After listening to this surprisingly fascinating Fight Back minicast, you might not exactly love your dentist, but you will be more informed and even inclined to visit your dentist more often.

Our special guest, Dr. Joel Strom, discusses how oral hygiene impacts overall health and how preventive care almost always spares you from losing teeth and other problems. He also addresses a number of issues: Is flossing your teeth more important than brushing? How can oral health care impact your heart health, and how do you find the right dentist? Let's listen in and see if it's time to schedule your next dental exam.

Today's Library release, Lifestyle Medicine, focuses on educating and motivating patients to change personal habits and behaviors by using a whole food, plant-predominant diet, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection.

We discuss this topic with lifestyle medicine expert Dr. Cate Collings, Director of Lifestyle Medicine at El Camino Hospital and President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Join us as we explore Lifestyle Medicine and how this approach can change things for patients and doctors alike. 

In this minicast release from Fight Back, we learn about physical therapy. Physical therapists are highly educated, licensed healthcare professionals who examine, evaluate, and treat patients whose conditions limit their ability to move and function in daily life. From augmenting recovery after surgery or illness or proactively using physical therapy to improve general wellness to providing an alternative to pain-killing drugs, physical therapists play a critical role in a patient’s overall health and recovery from injuries and illnesses.

Our special guest is Dr. Rick Katz, who worked as a physical therapist in hospital and outpatient settings. He developed programs for cardiac, pulmonary, and stroke patients, a sports injury clinic, and a coaches clinic. 

Dr. Katz will give our listeners a quick look at when you might need a physical therapist, how to access care, and if your insurance plays a role in access to care.