Season 2

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 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, …

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 …

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 …

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...

President Biden outlines a new COVID-19 strategy, the U.S. Senate returns to Washington, and the House of Representatives debates prescription drug prices. Hosts Terry Wilcox and Dr. Bob Goldberg break down D.C.’s busy week and what chronic disease...

Want greater access to your doctor at a lower price? It’s possible through direct primary care. This healthcare solution allows patients to develop personal relationships with their doctors and receive care quicker and cheaper. Three physicians...

What can Congress do to aid in the fight against ovarian cancer? If reauthorized, Johanna’s Law would increase funding for ovarian cancer education and awareness programs. Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance’s VP of Policy, Chad Ramsey,...

Kids across the country are headed back to school. But as the Delta variant spreads, what should families living with chronic disease know to stay healthy and safe? Pediatrician Dr. Marlene Wust-Smith gives a back-to-school c...

What’s the purpose of a patent? In the pharmaceutical industry, it helps manufacturers reinvest in new research and development to improve upon treatments and drugs. It’s a key part of the cycle of developing new treatments. ...

Premiums, deductibles, and copays continue to rise as insurance companies grow fat through mergers and monopolies. Host Terry Wilcox speaks with former insurance executive-turned-advocate Wendell Potter. Together, they explor...

The Delta variant, a breakdown of the FDA’s accelerated approval process, and how pink socks are bringing together patient advocacy groups. Hosts Dr. Bob Goldberg and guest host Kate Pecora dive into the news of the week, inc...

Opioid overdoses are rising as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. In 2020, overdose deaths rose by 30%. However, many chronic disease patients rely on prescription opioids for their healthcare regimen. We examine a balanced pol...

The high price tag for a new Alzheimer’s drug has fueled the ongoing drug price debate. But will patients really pay sticker price? (Spoiler alert: No!). Co-host Dr. Bob Goldberg explains the research/value assessment of the ...

Access to all of your health data - MRIs, screenings, and lab results - could be right at your fingertips. COVID-19 put healthcare tech companies into high gear to deliver health data to patients. The end result? Empowered pa...

Patients depend on safety and accuracy of medical equipment. If they’re improperly repaired, it could derail a patient’s healthcare journey and risk their health and safety. The Right to Repair Act aims to expedite medical de...

Doctor’s visits, tests, procedures and therapies are just one part of a healthcare journey. Knowing and understanding the laws that govern and protect your right to work, along with health insurance coverage and reimbursement...

Drama continues to unfold following the FDA’s controversial approval of a new Alzhiemer’s treatment. Members of the FDA’s advisory committee voted against approval, and some members resigned in protest. But how does this impa...

A new FDA-approved drug for Alzheimer’s signals a breakthrough in innovation for patients and caregivers, but has raised doubts from some over the price tag and approval process. Confused about what all of this means for you?...

Following a pandemic that exposed disparities, and failures to patients with chronic disease, now is the time for lawmakers and the industry in the U.S. to rethink its approach to healthcare. On this episode: how to create su...

Can you tell the difference between an advertising claim and research-backed statistics? For chronic disease patients who take supplements to manage their conditions, this is an ongoing problem. And the Food and Drug Administ...

More than 60 million Americans live with allergies or asthma. COVID-19 brought much needed attention to lung and respiratory challenges, but where do allergy and asthma patients go now in this emerging post-pandemic world? To...

Demands for mental and behavioral health services are on the rise. These services represented nearly half of all telehealth claims during the pandemic, but the digital divide and lack of in-network mental health providers cre...

When it comes to saving a buck, rare and chronic disease patients are too often put on the chopping block. Accelerated approval drugs are key to treating life threatening diseases. So why is Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Acce...

Patients rely on access to a broad range of innovative and effective medications to find a treatment option that best suits them. But restrictive formularies and price caps could prevent patients from accessing newer medicati...

April is Donate Life Month, and we examine many challenges facing organ transplant recipients. Amidst the physical and emotional toll of surgery, many patients also have to juggle apartment searching, moving, and financing a ...

The FDA’s Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock brings listeners inside the FDA. While the agency’s hands are full with a global pandemic, the FDA is also still tasked with shepherding accelerated approvals for rare and chro...

The most effective treatments are often out of reach for patients. Big news came from the FDA announcing the approval of CAR-T therapies for multiple myeloma patients, but drug assessments from third-party groups are concerni...

You may have seen Johns Hopkins Hospital surgeon Dr. Marty Makary all over the national news this week, and he also joins the Patients Rising Podcast to talk with us about the winners and losers in the healthcare system, why …

We conclude our series on lupus with a trip to the doctor’s office, where rheumatologist Dr. Mark Box delves into the clinical side of the disease. He explores dealing with insurance companies and preserving the doctor-patien...

This week, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) deliberates the fate of insurance coverage for patients with lupus. In this episode, Mollee Huffman shares her diagnosis of lupus, how it impacted her Navy care...

When a chronic condition prevents you from working, you might find yourself filling out a disability claim. But what happens when it’s denied? And how can you fight to receive your health benefits? All of this ties back to ER...

If you have trouble adhering to your medication regimen or know you need to eat healthier, but are overwhelmed, tiny habits may be your answer. Examining your small habits can help patients with chronic illness live healthi...

COVID-19 has caused people to delay important cancer screenings and medical appointments. Coupled with the rising rates of colon cancer among younger adults, it’s clear the healthcare industry must change its approach to scre...

Rare Disease Day is February 28. New and exciting medical innovations and drug therapies for rare disease abound, but accessing those treatments is another challenge. Discriminatory healthcare metrics like quality-adjusted-li...

Minority communities are underrepresented in healthcare leadership roles. By dismantling systemic barriers, the entire healthcare industry can benefit from talented professionals, scientists, and researchers from diverse back...

Digital tech became a major healthcare tool during the pandemic. And AI-powered prescription drug apps are leading the charge in creating accessible and affordable medications. So how can these apps help patients take control...

Underserved communities are at higher risk for COVID, but they’re getting vaccinated at a slower pace. How do we correct a healthcare system that fails to serve all Americans? Dennis Johnson joins the show to share lessons le...

Congress may soon revisit legislation to tackle the high costs of prescription drugs under Medicare. But drug pricing is never a simple fix. Guest Peter Pitts explains the ins and outs of drug pricing. Plus, Terry and Bob dis...

Vaccine distribution is off to a rocky start. While some states are exceeding expectations, others continue to lag behind. This week we grade America’s pandemic response to this point and vaccine distribution. Pandemic prepar...