Season 3

July 22, 2022

The Fight for Access with Government Agencies

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 …

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July 15, 2022

Can Biosimilars Save You Money?

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...

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July 8, 2022

Healthcare’s Digital Future

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 …

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July 1, 2022

Accelerated Approval Matters

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 …

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June 24, 2022

How Chronic Illness Impacts Families

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 …

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June 17, 2022

Patients on Capitol Hill

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...

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June 10, 2022

The Future of Pharmacies

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...

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June 3, 2022

The Power of Patient Data

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...

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May 27, 2022

Formula Crisis Hurts Chronic Disease Community

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...

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May 20, 2022

Can Mark Cuban Deliver Cheaper RX?

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....

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May 13, 2022

Have Health Plans Abandoned Rare Disease 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, …

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May 6, 2022

Updates from the Frontlines of Medical Research

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...

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April 29, 2022

How Nurse Navigators Can Help You

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...

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April 22, 2022

Patient Advocacy on Capitol Hill

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 …

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April 15, 2022

Transportation Tips for Patients

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...

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April 8, 2022

The Real Costs of Diabetes + Alzheimer’s

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...

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March 25, 2022

$1 Prescriptions: The Future of Health Insurance

$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 …

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March 18, 2022

Congress’ Healthcare Showdown

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...

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March 11, 2022

Should Vaccines Be Free?

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...

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March 4, 2022

How Hospitals Get Rich Off Your Prescriptions

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...

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Feb. 25, 2022

Speedy Rare Disease Drug Reviews

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 …

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Feb. 18, 2022

Meet the Healthcare Mafia (And How to Stop It)

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...

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Feb. 11, 2022

Making Sense of California’s Healthcare News

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...

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Feb. 4, 2022

Where Does Congress Go from Here?

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...

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