Nurse Talk

What happens when the cost of surviving an illness is so high, it's simply out of reach? How does Big Pharma enjoy such outsized profits from cancer and other treatments? And what about patients who are stuck between a pharmaceutical company and their health insurer?

To find out, we spoke to Dr. David Leibowitz, hematologist-oncologist and incoming chair of Physicians for a National Health Program - California, a non-partisan voluntary organization that supports equitable access to high quality health care as a right to all people. What's on his agenda for the California state chapter?

How have government policies created inequitable access to abortion? What's the Hyde Amendment and what has been its impact over the past 45 years? What role are some states playing in the effort to assure abortion access? And what can we do now to support reproductive freedoms? To find out, we spoke to Cat Duffy, policy analyst with the National Health Law Program, who works on reproductive and sexual healthcare access and services, including abortion coverage and access.

What are the implications of the Dobbs ruling for people seeking reproductive care across the United States? What kind of burdens will they face if they have to wait days or even weeks to get an abortion? Will this Supreme Court decision result in people having babies they don't want to have? To find out, we spoke to Cat Duffy, policy analyst with the National Health Law Program, who works on reproductive and sexual health care access and services with a particular focus on abortion coverage and access.

Why is it that many Americans who have health insurance are still not able to get the care they need? How are health insurers increasing their profits at the expense of American families?

To find out, we spoke to Wendell Potter, ex-communications executive for the health insurance giant Cigna turned industry whistleblower and New York Times bestselling author. Wendell is the co-founder of Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation and the president of the Center for Health and Democracy. He's also a strong advocate for Medicare for All.

How is medical debt a racial justice issue, and what's being done about it? What role does the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion play in reducing medical debt and keeping rural hospitals open? And what specific health policy should legislators pursue that would solve the medical debt crisis once and for all?

To find out, we spoke to Berneta L. Haynes, a staff attorney for the National Consumer Law Center, who focuses on medical debt and consumer energy policy. She previously served as a director at Georgia Watch, a state-based consumer advocacy organization, where she worked to make energy programs and quality health care more equitable and accessible for all.

New from Code WACK, A perfect storm: racism, chronic Illness & medical debt by Nurse Talk

What challenges do people in the LGBTQ+ community face in accessing quality health care and how does this affect their wellbeing? What policy solutions are needed to tackle these challenges?

To find out, we spoke to Jeffrey Rodriguez, the incoming director of Community Health Programs at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. He’s worked there for the past 12 years mainly in sexual health and education.

What special health needs do LGBTQ communities have – and how well are they being addressed? What can our broken healthcare system learn from the retail industry about how to treat clients with unique needs?

To find out, we spoke to Jeffrey Rodriguez, the incoming director of Community Health Programs at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. He’s worked there for the past 12 years mainly in sexual health and education, HIV and sexually transmitted infection or STI testing and treatment, HIV prevention, linkage into primary care, as well as with mental health and substance use programs.

How does the struggle for healthcare justice intersect with the movement to protect consumers? How do regulations on corporations and their products benefit us all? Is putting profit above consumer safety really "good business?" What's essential to winning Medicare for All?

To find out, we spoke with Andrew McGuire, a lifelong trauma prevention specialist and grassroots activist who lives in Sonoma County, California. He's an MacArthur fellow and Emmy award-winning filmmaker who has produced films related to his work in trauma prevention. Andrew's also the executive director of Code WACK’s parent organization, California OneCare, and a strong single-payer advocate.

California has expanded the state's Medicaid program to some undocumented immigrant workers, but not all. Who gets coverage, and who doesn't? Is lack of insurance coverage the only issue immigrant workers face when it comes to their survival? Did the pandemic reveal that the "safety net" is full of holes?

To find out, we spoke to Luz Gallegos, executive director of TODEC Legal Center in Southern California’s Inland Empire. The nonprofit mobilizes immigrant communities to build political power and demand justice while advocating for their most critical needs – from improved schools and better jobs to expanding access to medical coverage and legal protections.