Code WACK!
Code WACK! shines a light on our callous healthcare system and what we can do about it. It reveals the healthcare hassles that - far from being just annoying - threaten our peace of mind, our financial security and at times, our very lives. Join us each week as we chat about the challenges that patients and healthcare providers face, amplifying their voices and examining a range of possible solutions, including Medicare for All. Powered by HEAL California, a project of the California OneCare Education Fund, Code WACK! informs the vital discussion of healthcare reform.
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The single-payer quandary: What would you do with an extra $5,000 a year?
04/23/2024
The single-payer quandary: What would you do with an extra $5,000 a year?
This time on Code WACK! How would single-payer, Medicare for All affect the experience of getting care? Would it make it easier to find and see a primary care doctor? And just as importantly, how much money could individuals and families save under a state or national single-payer system? To find out, we spoke to Dr. James G. Kahn, an expert in health policy and economics, an advisor to Code WACK! and editor and primary blogger of , a health policy blog. This is the second episode in a two part series with Dr. Kahn. Check out the and for more!
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Simplicity, savings & equity? The single-payer solution
04/15/2024
Simplicity, savings & equity? The single-payer solution
This time on Code WACK! What the heck is going on with Medicare for All in California? Can single-payer advocates overcome their differences and finally win health care for all in the Golden State? What’s the significance of two recent bills, Senate Bill 770, and Assembly Bill 2200, in achieving Medicare for All in California? To find out, we spoke to Dr. James G. Kahn, an expert in health policy and economics, an advisor to Code WACK! and editor and primary blogger of , a health policy blog. This is the first episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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What's at stake in 2024? Your health care
04/08/2024
What's at stake in 2024? Your health care
This time on Code WACK! Will California’s new single payer bill, , be a tough sell for the state’s legislature, even if most of the state’s residents want Medicare for All? What political hurdles must be cleared before such a bill would pass? And what would it mean for single payer efforts if Donald Trump is re-elected president this year? To find out, we spoke to . As a longstanding champion of single-payer health care, Assemblymember Kalra introduced statewide legislation known as CalCare ( in 2021 and in 2023), which would guarantee comprehensive, high-quality health care for all Californians as a human right. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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How California’s latest single-payer bill would revolutionize health care
04/01/2024
How California’s latest single-payer bill would revolutionize health care
This time on Code WACK! Once again, a new single-payer bill, or , sponsored by the , has been introduced in the California state legislature. How will it help save lives? Will it break the bank, or will it save us money? What’s different about this version of the bill and what kind of support does it have in the state legislature? To find out, we spoke to . As a longstanding champion of single-payer health care, Assemblymember Kalra introduced statewide legislation known as CalCare ( in 2021 and in 2023), which would guarantee comprehensive, high-quality health care for all Californians as a human right. This is the first episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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Forced pregnancies and racial bias: A deadly combination?
03/25/2024
Forced pregnancies and racial bias: A deadly combination?
This time on Code WACK! Besides the Alabama IVF decision, how else are reproductive rights being rolled back in America? Why are some states going after emergency contraception known as the morning-after pill? What policy solutions are needed to better protect reproductive rights? To find out, we spoke to Vina Smith-Ramakrishnan, a fellow at , where she works on issues related to maternal health and reproductive rights and justice. Vina’s work supports The Century Foundation’s efforts to eliminate racial and gender disparities in health outcomes. Vina has a master’s of public health in global health policy from George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. Check out the and for more!
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Is 'fetal personhood' coming to your state?
03/18/2024
Is 'fetal personhood' coming to your state?
This time on Code WACK! Where are we today when it comes to reproductive rights in America? And what does the latest IVF case in Alabama mean for reproductive justice and healthcare equity in America? To find out, we spoke to Vina Smith-Ramakrishnan, a fellow at , where she works on issues related to maternal health and reproductive rights and justice. Vina’s work supports The Century Foundation’s efforts to eliminate racial and gender disparities in health outcomes. Vina has a master’s of public health in global health policy from George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. Check out the and for more!
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What's fueling America's dreadful nursing home care
03/11/2024
What's fueling America's dreadful nursing home care
This time on Code WACK! Are regulations meant to protect nursing home residents being enforced? How is understaffing at the California Dept of Public Health affecting nursing home regulation? Are for-profit and nonprofit nursing homes comparable when it comes to the quality of care residents receive? What reforms are in the works to better protect residents? To find out, we spoke to Tony Chicotel, senior staff attorney at , or CANHR, where he promotes the rights of residents in long-term care facilities through litigation, legislation, regulatory policy, and consumer education. Check out the and for more!
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'A race to the bottom:' How U.S. nursing homes are failing us
03/04/2024
'A race to the bottom:' How U.S. nursing homes are failing us
This time on Code WACK! The COVID pandemic devastated nursing homes and other long-term care facilities highlighting the need for major reforms. What are the policies behind the often dismal performance of the nursing home industry? What policy changes have been made so far and why are nursing home residents still so vulnerable? To find out, we spoke to Tony Chicotel, senior staff attorney at , or CANHR, where he promotes the rights of residents in long-term care facilities through litigation, legislation, regulatory policy, and consumer education. Check out the and for more!
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How Medicare ACOs restrict care and offer dangerous incentives
02/26/2024
How Medicare ACOs restrict care and offer dangerous incentives
This time on Code WACK! Why is tying a medical provider’s pay to the outcomes of their patients a bad idea? Why else should we be concerned about Accountable Care Organizations and the privatization of traditional Medicare? To find out, we spoke to Dr. Ana Malinow, who spent three decades working as a pediatrician with immigrant, refugee and underserved children before retiring as Clinical Professor of Pediatrics from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. She’s past president of and is currently a lead organizer for and The Movement to End Privatization of Medicare. This is the second episode in a two-part series with Dr. Malinow. Check out the and for more!
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'You're not safe': How middlemen are corrupting traditional Medicare
02/19/2024
'You're not safe': How middlemen are corrupting traditional Medicare
This time on Code WACK! You've probably heard about the dangers of Medicare Advantage, but did you know that traditional Medicare is being privatized too? How is this corrupting our healthcare system even more and what does this mean for patients? To find out, we spoke to Dr. Ana Malinow, who spent three decades working as a pediatrician with immigrant, refugee and underserved children in Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, and California before retiring as Clinical Professor of Pediatrics from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. She’s past president of and is currently a lead organizer for National Single Payer and The Movement to End Privatization of Medicare. This is the first episode in a two-part series with Dr. Malinow. Check out the and for more!
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'Nothing about us without us!' The trans community fights back
02/12/2024
'Nothing about us without us!' The trans community fights back
This time on Code WACK! Some states are making it easier for trans and non-binary individuals to get gender-affirming care but in other states, a record number of laws have been passed to outlaw – or limit – such care. What kind of toll does this take on people in the trans community, their doctors and their advocates? What policy solutions are needed to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender identity, has access to the medical care they need? To find out, we spoke to Ash Orr, a trans organizer from West Virginia and press relations manager for the or NCTE. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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Transgender denied! Healthcare stigma & discrimination in rural America
02/05/2024
Transgender denied! Healthcare stigma & discrimination in rural America
This time on Code WACK! What unique challenges do transgender individuals face when it comes to accessing health care - especially in rural America? Why is gender affirming care considered potentially life saving for trans and nonbinary individuals? How do inaccessible health care, employment discrimination and medical mistreatment intersect for trans people? To find out, we spoke to Ash Orr, a trans organizer from West Virginia and press relations manager for the or NCTE. Ash is also a National Storyteller for Planned Parenthood, leveraging their personal experiences with abortion care and transition-related healthcare to help dispel societal stigmas around these topics. This is the first episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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A life-saving Rx for Skid Row? Methadone, harm reduction & reparations
01/29/2024
A life-saving Rx for Skid Row? Methadone, harm reduction & reparations
This time on Code WACK! What can be done about the fentanyl crisis on Los Angeles’ Skid Row that disproportionately affects Black residents? What policy solutions are needed? In light of the historical evidence of racial disparities in the criminal justice and healthcare systems, should reparations be considered? To find out, we spoke to , director of the LA Harm Reduction Network. Harm reduction, an evidence-based public health approach, focuses on reducing harmful consequences of substance use. It meets people where they’re at and acknowledges that many people aren’t willing or able to stop using. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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From Hollywood to Skid Row: What's behind LA County's ballooning overdose deaths?
01/22/2024
From Hollywood to Skid Row: What's behind LA County's ballooning overdose deaths?
This time on Code WACK! More than 3,000 people died of drug overdoses in Los Angeles County alone in 2022 and last October, Hollywood actor Matthew Perry, of “Friends” fame, became one of the latest overdose victims when he accidentally died of acute effects of ketamine at his Los Angeles home. Perry's story reminds us that no one is immune to drug overdoses, but who are the most vulnerable in LA County and why? How do poverty, homelessness and mental health issues intersect with addiction to create a deadly “perfect storm” for so many? To find out, we spoke to , director of the LA Harm Reduction Network, which aims to expand and enhance access to substance use disorder treatment for L.A. County and especially Skid Row. This is the first episode in a two-part series.
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Can we stem the tide of healthcare inflation?
01/15/2024
Can we stem the tide of healthcare inflation?
This time on Code WACK! Can California’s new Office of Health Care Affordability stem the rising tide of healthcare inflation? Are similar efforts to rein in healthcare costs happening in other states? And what does the creation of the Office mean about the chance for single-payer, Medicare for All in the Golden State? To find out we spoke to Ian Lewis, the policy director for , a union of over 15,000 hospitality workers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ian previously served as a research director for the National Union of Healthcare Workers and is a board member of established in 2022. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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A new sheriff in town? How one state is fighting high healthcare costs
01/08/2024
A new sheriff in town? How one state is fighting high healthcare costs
This time on Code WACK! The New Year is ringing in higher health care premiums while U.S. life expectancy continues to fall. Despite spending more on health care than any other country, we don’t seem to be getting much bang for our bucks! For instance, in 2023 American men can expect to live to age 73 while Frenchmen can expect to live to age 80 - nearly 10% longer! What’s the link between lower life expectancy and high healthcare costs? And what can we do to about it? To find out we spoke to Ian Lewis, the policy director for , a union of over 15,000 hospitality workers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ian previously served as a research director for the National Union of Healthcare workers and is a board member of established in 2022. This is the first episode in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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Why millions of Americans seek health care abroad, despite the risks
01/01/2024
Why millions of Americans seek health care abroad, despite the risks
This time on Code WACK! In honor of more than 200 podcast episodes and the New Year, we’re running one of our oldies but goodies about the medical tourism phenomenon - Need surgery but your $7,000 deductible is in the way? How about major dental care that your insurance doesn't even begin to adequately cover? Could you save by going to another country for treatment? The skyrocketing cost of care and rising insurance premiums are driving some Americans to seek affordable health care abroad. Many medical tourists get high quality, affordable health care abroad. However, some have problems. It's essential to thoroughly research the risks and benefits before pursuing medical care in another country. That being said, how much could you save? And what's the experience like? To find out, we spoke to Michael Djavahery, a Los Angeles-based life coach, trainer, speaker, author, and master hypnotist. In this episode Michael shares his experiences, including how much money he saved, traveling to the Philippines and Malaysia, to be treated by highly-qualified, internationally accredited doctors and dentists. If the U.S. had Improved Medicare for All, would that have influenced Michael's decisions? Check out the and for more!
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'Absolutely bonkers': The hassles doctors face in treating patients
12/25/2023
'Absolutely bonkers': The hassles doctors face in treating patients
This time on Code WACK! Patients aren’t the only people who are frustrated with our current healthcare system. So are doctors! Why? And why doesn’t free market capitalism work with health care? To find out, we spoke to award-winning filmmaker Maddy Purves, who is editor of the documentary narrated by Susan Sarandon, and Laura Fielding, founder of and associate producer of Healing US. This is the second episode in a two-part series.
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Healing US: Uniting across the political spectrum to save lives?
12/18/2023
Healing US: Uniting across the political spectrum to save lives?
This time on Code WACK! How did the new documentary , about the drawbacks of America’s for-profit healthcare system, get made? Which harrowing stories did they highlight? When Americans need health care, why do so many worry whether they can afford to be treated? For answers to these questions and more, we spoke to award-winning documentary filmmaker Maddy Purves, who is editor of the film, and Laura Fielding, founder of and associate producer of Healing US. This is the first in a two-part series. Check out the and for more!
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A ‘village of support’: Changing the game for Black expectant parents
12/11/2023
A ‘village of support’: Changing the game for Black expectant parents
This time on Code WACK! How can we, as a society, better support Black expectant parents and their babies in light of how vulnerable they are to dying in America? And what root causes must be addressed do this most effectively? To find out, we spoke to Melissa Franklin, the first Black director of Maternal Child and Adolescent Health for LA County’s Department of Public Health. Dr. Franklin is a system transformation leader with over 25 years of experience in organizational development, community engagement and communications strategy. This is the second in a two-part series with Dr. Melissa Franklin. Check out the and for more!
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Abundance, joy & dignity. Healing the Black birth experience
12/04/2023
Abundance, joy & dignity. Healing the Black birth experience
This time on Code WACK! Why are Black people so vulnerable to maternal and infant mortality - and what’s being done about it? What will the closing of a maternity ward in South Los Angeles County – a trend happening around the country – mean for local residents there? To find out, we spoke to Melissa Franklin, EdD, MBA, the first Black director of . Dr. Franklin is a systems transformation leader with over 25 years of experience in organizational development, community engagement and communications strategy. This is the first in a two-part series with Dr. Melissa Franklin. Check out the and for more!
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Money, money, money! The politics of funding single payer
11/27/2023
Money, money, money! The politics of funding single payer
This time on Code WACK! What are the main obstacles in implementing a new law paving the way to Medicare for All in California? Where does the biggest opposition lie – and what’s at stake if the law doesn’t fulfill its mission? How is the 2024 election key to our healthcare future? To find out, we spoke to Irene Kao, executive director of , a progressive grassroots advocacy organization. She’s also a board member of the single payer advocacy coalition . Check out the and for more!
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Fed up with profit-driven health care? New law puts patients first.
11/20/2023
Fed up with profit-driven health care? New law puts patients first.
This time on Code WACK! What kind of a healthcare system could actually promote equity? How does a new bill recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom get California closer to universal, single-payer health care? And how is it different from previous Medicare-for-All bills? To find out, we spoke to Irene Kao, executive director of , a progressive grassroots advocacy organization for which she’s the first woman of color to lead. She’s also a board member of the Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the first episode in a two-part series with Irene Kao. Check out the and for more!
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Fighting the Medicare Advantage scourge
11/12/2023
Fighting the Medicare Advantage scourge
This time on Code WACK! What can be done in light of Medicare Advantage overcharging taxpayers to the tune of around $140 billion a year? What’s the Medigap Trap and why should you worry about it? Why should we work to improve traditional Medicare while pursuing Medicare for All? To find out, we spoke to Dr. Ed Weisbart, the national board secretary for and president of the . Check out the and for more!
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Four Ways Medicare Advantage is ripping you off
11/06/2023
Four Ways Medicare Advantage is ripping you off
This time on Code WACK! Medicare Advantage is overcharging the federal government – and you won’t believe by how much! How’s this affecting taxpayers like you and me and what can be done about it? To find out, we spoke to Dr. Ed Weisbart, the national board secretary for and president of the .
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Stranded: Throwing a lifeline to the millions losing Medicaid
10/30/2023
Stranded: Throwing a lifeline to the millions losing Medicaid
THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! We're taking a closer look at what the millions of people being kicked off Medicaid can do about it. What’s being done to help them? And what else could we do to make sure people don't get stranded without health insurance coverage? To find out, we spoke to Loretta Alexander, who recently retired as the health policy director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Ms. Alexander has over 40 years of experience in health care. This is the second episode in a two-part series with Loretta. Check out the and for more!
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Millions of Americans lost in the Medicaid purge
10/23/2023
Millions of Americans lost in the Medicaid purge
THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! Now that COVID protections have ended, what does that mean for the millions of people getting booted off Medicaid in the country? Where does that leave our nation’s most vulnerable, including children and people with chronic diseases or mental health issues? To find out, we spoke to Loretta Alexander, health policy director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Ms. Alexander has over 40 years of experience in health care. This is the first episode in a two-part series with Loretta. Check out the and for more!
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Indian Health Service: A broken promise?
10/16/2023
Indian Health Service: A broken promise?
THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! What’s being done to help elder Native Americans receive culturally competent long term care? Would it surprise you to learn that relying on the Indian Health Service may not be enough to meet their needs? Why are some members of this highly vulnerable population buying health insurance too? To find out, we spoke to Elder Billie Tohee, acting executive director of the Albuquerque-based National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) and former chair of the board. Check out the and for more!
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Enduring Inequalities: Health Care in America's Indigenous Communities
10/09/2023
Enduring Inequalities: Health Care in America's Indigenous Communities
THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, we’re examining healthcare inequities in Native communities. What challenges do they face when it comes to accessing quality health care in America? What problems could they encounter when they get their care through the Indian Health Service, the principal federal health care provider to American Indians and Alaska Natives? To find out, we spoke with Elder Billie Tohee, acting executive director of the National Indian Council on Aging and former chair of the board. She’s an enrolled member of the Otoe-Missouria tribe and a descendant of the Iowa Nation of Oklahoma.
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Meet the Wall Street darlings ruining our health care
10/02/2023
Meet the Wall Street darlings ruining our health care
THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! How did UnitedHealth Group, America’s largest health insurer by revenue, make billions in profit in the second quarter of 2023? How do UnitedHealth Group, CVS and Cigna control 80 percent of the drug supply market -- and why should we be concerned? To find out, we spoke with Wendell Potter, a former health insurance industry executive turned whistleblower, the New York Times bestselling author of and the president of the . He is the author of the Substack newsletter which covers out-of-control profiteering in U.S. health care, its impact on everyday Americans, and potential policy solutions. Check out the and for more!
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