New Directions in Health Care

Annual Medicare spending is expected to double over the next 10 years, as baby boomers age and people live longer on average. And Medicaid will also see greater demand given that it provides coverage to more than 4.6 million low-income seniors. Experts are already concerned about funding these programs — and the tax law passed in late 2017, which is expected to add about $1.5 trillion to the federal deficit, poses new challenges. Federal responses to a ballooning deficit could put the health and financial security of future seniors at stake.

In this edition of our New Directions podcast, we look at why prices for prescription drugs are so high in the United States.

A new Commonwealth Fund podcast explores what repeal of the Affordable Care Act might mean for individuals and for the nation. Leighton Ku of the Center for Health Policy Research at George Washington University discusses his study, which found that 2.6 million jobs would be lost by 2019. And while the insurance industry waits for a possible repeal-and-replace the law, Sabrina Corlette of Georgetown University says uncertainty in the insurance market could lead to fewer plan choices and higher premiums.

India is home to Narayana Health, a chain of specialty care hospitals that delivers state-of-the-art medical services at a fraction of the cost charged here in the U.S. Sandy Hausman interviews Dr. Krishna Udayakumar of Duke University’s Global Health Institute, as well as Chandy Abraham, M.D., CEO of Health City, which offers high-tech, low-cost care in Grand Cayman.

MediCallHome is a subscription-based medical hotline that offers 24/7 to a doctor to resolve your minor medical issues. It's the model for a Spanish-language phone service for employers and consumers north of the border, too.

More than 60 percent of Brazil’s 200 million people are served by a model of primary care with community health workers at its center.

Basic Needs is a mental health program that is establishing self-help groups and changing public attitudes in Kenya and 12 other African and Asian nations. Producer Sandy Hausman interviews its founder as part of our new series on frugal innovations with global implications.

As the nation debates whether to replace or amend the Affordable Care Act, we’ll look at trends in health insurance provided by employers. Fifty-seven percent of adults under the age of 65 get coverage through their job—a benefit companies have kept since the passage of the ACA.

Prescription drug spending, a significant driver of overall health care costs, has been rising rapidly over the last few years. This episode explores the reasons for higher drug prices, including the introduction of new high-value medications, potentially inefficient research and development, and a lack of price regulation.

As more and more health insurers and providers merge, it’s important to look at the potential impact on the cost and quality of health care.