Episodes

How can low-income communities afford costly medications? A government program called 340B, which was originally created to help low income patients, now generates significant income for hospitals. Find out what caused this program to falter and how...

As Rare Disease Month comes to a close, we take a look at a major piece of legislation that impacts the FDA, and consequently, patients with rare diseases.  With the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) up for renewal in Congress, much is at...

Chronic disease patients often fall victim to high healthcare costs due to supply chain 'middlemen' otherwise known as Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs). David Balat, Executive Director at Free2Care, discusses how eliminating kickback protections...

A bid for universal healthcare falters in California. Meanwhile, the state is posed to take up misleading “Right to Repair” legislation that would allow technicians who are not held to FDA safety standards to operate on medical equipment. What are...

With Congress back in D.C. this week, the hill looks to debate on current legislation. This includes the  Build Back Better plan, which has several health policies that would affect patients, particularly those on Medicare. To discuss these...

Congress is quiet on health policies this week, but the federal health agencies are making noise. Terry and Dr. Bob cover the controversy over CMS’ proposed coverage decision for a new Alzheimer’s treatment. And learn about the FDA’s decision to...

If you’ve ever felt like your healthcare providers were dismissive of your knowledge and preferences when it comes to making the decisions about your treatment, then this episode is for you!  In this episode, learn about shared-decision making...

States are like dominos. When one state enacts a health policy, others replicate. Oregon’s Medicaid draft 1115 waiver has several red flags for patient healthcare access, and all patients should watch this carefully. Meghan Moyer, the public policy...

With COVID-19 cases on the rise, remote care through telehealth is critical to keep patients safe. But it also serves a vital role beyond the pandemic. For chronic disease patients, it can unlock greater access to care regardless of where you...

For the chronic disease community, 2022 is set to be a major year of health policy. On this episode, Republican and Democrat political experts weigh in on what’s on the horizon for healthcare policies in the new year.  Matt Rodriguez, a...

A doctor knows their patients’ needs best. But too often, insurance gets in the way. In an effort to lower costs, insurers sometimes force stable patients off of prescribed medication to a cheaper option. It’s called non-medical switching, and can...

Have you received an unfair medical bill? You’re not alone. Many patients have faced high bills that are simply incorrect, or even predatory. But let’s face it, even understanding complex and confusing bills is a huge challenge. Patients Rising...

Today’s medical research and development creates the cures of tomorrow. But it requires immense amounts of funding to develop safe and effective drugs, treatments, and medical devices. In the rare disease space, funding is in short supply. Hear how...

The Senate faces a race to the end of the year with a mountain of healthcare policies on its plate. Taking center stage is the House’s version of the Build Back Better plan. But it’s likely to undergo several changes, all of which will impact the...

Half of individuals with health insurance are covered by their employer. If you are in this group, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how benefit design impacts your out-of-pocket expenses, your in-network providers, and the care available to you....

Cold and flu season is here. If you are immunocompromised, respiratory infections pose an even greater risk. Antibiotics are a common go-to solution, but there’s a catch: the more we use them, the less effective they become. Dr. John Rex of...

This Veteran’s Day, hosts Terry and Dr. Bob explore potential federal policies to improve healthcare for U.S. veterans. Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee and she joins the show to share what Congress can do to...

Hosts Terry and Dr. Bob catch up with patient advocates following their virtual meetings on Capitol Hill. Patients Rising Now Patient Advocacy Day, held at the end of October, had patients and caregivers sharing their healthcare stories and asking for...

No two patients are the same, so often care teams can’t predict a treatment outcome from one patient to the next. That’s where biomarker testing comes in: the first step in personalized medicine.  Biomarker tests help physicians identify...

Congress promises to lower drug prices. But patients won’t see any cost savings at the pharmacy counter. We sort through the facts and myths of drug pricing, how “middlemen” in the supply chain lead to higher costs and real solutions to lowering...

COVID-19 continues to put the most vulnerable at risk, including the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. At its peak, it filled up hospitals and forced those seeking non-COVID care to postpone critical appointments. To protect patients and...

Patients depend on the research and development cycle to produce innovative, life saving medicines for rare and chronic conditions. But this medical innovation faces hurdles if Congress passes medicare price negotiations within the Build Back Better...

Numerous health policies are under debate in Congress. As Senators and Representatives hash out drug pricing legislation and more, where are patients in the conversation? Advocate and former Ohio state legislator Randi Clites shares how patients can...

As Congress continues to debate solutions to lower healthcare costs, biosimilars are a promising option. But uptake of biosimilars has been slow in the U.S., and few patients are seeing direct savings at the pharmacy counter. Brian Lehman, Director of...