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Have big goals for 2023? Set yourself up for success by setting “tiny habits.” To help you get a head start on your new year goals, listen to this rerun of our conversation with behavior scientist BJ Fogg. He shares …
How do patents work in the medical space? And how do they lead to new medicines, therapies, and devices? This patent-explainer episode answers those questions and more. Dr. Ron Cohen, a physician and President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics...
Medicare’s proposal to reduce funding to home health care would deal a major blow to patients. But a new bill in Congress could help avert these catastrophic cuts. Guest Joanne Cunningham, CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, explains...
Promising clinical trial results for a new Alzheimer’s treatment are bringing hope to patients and caregivers. Hosts Terry and Bob discuss the needs of Alzheimer’s caregivers and how to measure if a new treatment helps meet those needs. ...
Congress is moving quickly to pass legislation before the year ends. Hosts Terry and Bob discuss the health care bills that, if passed, could increase patients' access to affordable and transparent care. From telehealth to generic drug access, learn...
In our special Thanksgiving episode, co-host Dr. Bob Goldberg speaks with Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, Chief Pharmacy Officer of Dispensary of Hope. Hear how the organization has channeled pharmaceutical donations to chronically ill patients in...
In this episode, get the latest solutions to ensure patients get the care they need when they need it. That includes the life-saving medication naloxone which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Despite standing orders in many states,...
This Veterans Day, we’re thankful for the brave service members who have sacrificed so much to protect our country. But when many veterans return home, their next battle is with a health care system that makes it difficult for them …
Congress has the power to improve patients’ access to affordable and transparent care. That’s why it’s important for patients to know which lawmakers support legislation that positively impacts patients across the country. To make this...
In this Halloween episode, get the biggest health care horror stories of 2022 that impacted patients all across the country. From lack of access to care to burdensome insurance delays, as detailed by migraine patient advocate Yuri Cárdenas. Plus,...
October is American Pharmacists Month, so we speak with Georgia Representative about how his experiences as a pharmacist inspired him to advocate for patients and providers in Congress. He shares how independent, rural pharmacies are being put out of...
Data shows more and more young people are being diagnosed with colon cancer. How do we get more screening appointments on the books to keep people healthy? Learn how a new campaign is changing public opinion around colonoscopies to cut …
Specialty medications can come with a high price tag and specialty mail-order pharmacies, mostly run by pharmacy benefit managers, have frequently created delays in getting necessary medications to patients. However, new technologies have created a...
Is the cost of your health care going up? Have you struggled to access the care your doctor recommends? A group of physicians and health care experts are working to address these growing problems and make care patient-centered. They propose...
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have become embedded in the ecosystem of drug pricing– but these middlemen are one of the reasons patients see high prices at the pharmacy counter. This episode is a crash course in everything drug pricing with...
An ongoing 10-year community-based project is improving the health of residents through investments in long-term health programs. Esther Dyson, the founder of Wellville, explains how community collaboration and resident involvement can have positive...
It takes decades of research, millions of dollars in funding, and numerous failed attempts to develop and approve a new drug for patients. Private investors have helped fund pharmaceutical research and development to bring patients life-saving...
In the rare disease community, early diagnosis can put patients on a treatment plan faster and improve outcomes. But that depends on accessible and affordable screenings, genetic testing, and holistic care. Thankfully, there are policy solutions to...
Is your Medicare plan giving you the best deal? It’s a tricky question since seniors have no tools to easily determine if their plan has the best price or coverage compared to others. There’s also a lack of transparency in …
At-home genetic testing allows expecting parents to see if they might be carriers for genetic conditions, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell. But the data from these tests are only one part of the equation. Patients need access to experts …
Hospitals and insurers are now required to share their prices and negotiated rates with the public. The problem? Most of the data is inaccessible to patients. Marcus Dorstel, Vice President of Operations at Turquoise Health, shares how his team...
Congress inches closer to a massive, 725-page spending bill referred to as “Reconciliation.” It includes several drug pricing provisions that claim to lower Rx costs for seniors. But a closer look reveals that those savings aren’t as widespread...
New procedures and nonopioid pain management give patients cutting-edge treatment options. But they’re frequently out of reach due to a lack of insurance coverage. Hosts Terry and Bob discuss how the bipartisan seeks to change that. Plus, Dr....
In this special bonus episode, Patients Rising Now Executive Director Terry Wilcox provides her perspective as a caregiver to seniors amidst ongoing debates in Congress over how to lower drug costs. She shares why Medicare price negotiation, a...
For 17 years, the gastroparesis community has fought for the FDA to allow it access to a treatment they say is necessary to improve quality of life. Gastroparesis advocate Michael Smith details the efforts to make sure that patient voices …
Biosimilars have the potential to lower costs. But due to middlemen like pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), those savings don’t always trickle down to patients at the pharmacy counter. How can we fix this system? Julie Reed, executive director of the...
Tired of telling your health care history over and over again to providers? Jessica Lunshof, a former nurse and caregiver found herself in this cycle that wasted time and placed an emotional burden on her and her family. She joins …
Accelerated approval drugs have given patients access to care they otherwise would have waited years for. A new study shows that these drugs account for less than 1% of Medicaid spending - yet programs have placed restrictions on these medicines …
Keyla Caba is a patient advocate who lives with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Her son was also recently diagnosed with a chronic disease, and she shares the challenges of being both a patient and a caregiver, mental health, and …
This week, patients with chronic disease from across the country convened in Washington D.C. for the We the Patients Fly-In. They met with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for several pro-patient health care bills that would improve...
No insurance? No problem. Blueberry Pharmacy in Pittsburgh is forging the path for a new kind of pharmacy. By cutting out the middlemen in the supply chain, Blueberry Pharmacy is able to provide its customers with inexpensive medications. It’s more...
Precision medicine harnesses the power of genetic data, which can improve treatment regimens and overall outcomes for patients. But accessing that data remains another challenge. Field correspondent Kate Pecora speaks with advocate Christine Von...
The formula shortage crisis has been devastating for patients with rare metabolic conditions, like PKU, who depend on specialty formulas daily. We hear from patients and families impacted by the shortage, including Lillian Isabella and Sarah...
A shark has entered the prescription drug waters. Entrepreneur and ABC Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban founded the ‘Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company’ which aims to slash prices, improve transparency, and provide greater convenience to patients....
“Your medication is no longer covered” are the words no patient wants to hear. Yet this is a common occurrence for patients with rare diseases who are on private health insurance plans. In an effort for plans to save money, …
In recognition of ALS Awareness Month, we get a report from the frontlines of ALS research, including new breakthroughs that impact patients. Dr. Sharon Hesterlee, the Chief Research Officer at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, gives us the big...
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or confused in your health care journey? Many patients juggle numerous phone calls and appointments with labs, pharmacists, and specialists, while also trying to understand what is and isn’t covered. To help, some...
Frustrated with the health care system? Want to improve health care access, affordability, and transparency for you or a loved one? Learn how to make your voice heard by decision-makers on Capitol Hill by joining us for our 2022 #WeThePatients …
Transportation to and from appointments, or lack thereof, is a major hurdle facing patients who contact our Patients Rising Concierge team. Any delays caused by transportation have a domino effect on a patient’s healthcare journey and can lead to...
The access and affordability challenges that face patients with Alzheimer’s and diabetes are not uncommon. In fact, they impact all patients within the chronic disease community. Hosts Terry and Dr. Bob explore underlying issues throughout the...
$0 deductibles and $1 prescriptions. It sounds almost too good to be true, but companies across the country have made these health plans a reality for their employees. For the past two decades, the cost of insurance premiums and deductibles …
Healthcare discussions in Washington are in full swing this week. Both the House and Senate meet to discuss a multitude of bills affecting everyday Americans, specifically those with rare and chronic diseases. Hosts Terry Wilcox and Dr. Bob break down...
Will free vaccines for Medicare patients improve health and lower overall costs? The quick answer, maybe. Doug Badger, former policy advisor to the White House, explains the pros and cons of eliminating cost-sharing for preventative vaccines under...
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 …
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...