Medicare For All Explained

Why Drug Prices Are So Expensive in the United States

This is episode 24, “Why Drug Prices Are So Expensive in the United States.”

My guest Donald Light explains why drug prices are so high in the United States and the deficiencies in our current drug regulation system.

Donald Light is a Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Sociology at Rowan University-School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a guest researcher at Princeton and New York University. Prof. Light received the Edmund Pellegrino Medal in Bioethics for 2016 and the Distinguished Career Award for 2013 from the American Sociological Association. On the Google citation h-index, Prof. Light ranks in the 96th percentile.

Do not miss this episode as Prof. Light describes the problems of our current drug regulatory system and explains why our drug prices are so high.

For more information about drug regulation and pricing, check out Prof. LIght’s website, http://www.pharmamyths.net/.

Prof. Light’s book, “The Risks of Prescription Drugs,” can be found here and here.

The Average Family Is Going to Get Much More and Pay Much Less

This is episode 23, "The Average Family Is Going to Get Much More and Pay Much Less."

In this episode, my guest, Victoria Dooley, MD, describes the problems patients and doctors face under our current health care system and how Medicare for All will solve those problems.

Dr. Dooley is a board-certified Family Medicine physician, a member of Physicians for a National Health Program, and a health care activist.

She has appeared on numerous live radio and television broadcasts, and she was a weekly contributing medical expert on ABC WXYZ-TV news in Detroit for over two years. Dr. Dooley has published op-eds in the The New York Times and the HuffPost.

Do not miss this episode as Dr. Dooley describes the problems of our current health care system and how Medicare for All can solve them.

Mothers for Medicare for All – Part 2

This is episode 22, “Mothers for Medicare for All – Part 2.”

In Part 2, my guest Kristen Grimm, founder of Mothers for Medicare for All, continues the conversation by explaining her decision to start Mothers for Medicare for All and her plans for the organization.

Do not miss this episode as Ms. Grimm continues her riveting and powerful story about her support of Medicare for All and her decision to start her own organization.

 

Mothers for Medicare for All - Part 1

In episode 21, “Mothers for Medicare for All – Part 1,” my guest Kristen Grimm, founder of Mothers for Medicare for All, describes the struggles she and her family endured as they fought to get medical care for her son who suffers from a rare medical condition and has had 24 surgeries in his lifetime. Ms. Grimm describes how her experiences led her to support Medicare for All.

Ms. Grimm’s story is riveting and powerful. Please do not miss this episode.

In Part 2, to be released on Oct 15^th, the conversation continues with Ms. Grimm as she explains her decision to start Mothers for Medicare for All and her plans for the organization.

 

Dealing with HIV

This is episode 20, “Dealing with HIV.”

My guest, Kenyon Farrow,  was named a "Modern Black History Hero" by Black Entertainment Television.

He is an award-winning writer, activist, and strategist. He has worked on local and national campaigns on issues related to criminalization/mass imprisonment, homelessness, health justice and LGBT rights.

Mr. Farrow is currently the senior editor with TheBody.com,  a news and information site focused on HIV, LGBT health, and social justice, and serves on the board of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG).

Do not miss episode 20 as Mr. Farrow describes how our current health care system prevents people with HIV from getting necessary care and how Medicare for All would help them and would help reduce the transmission of HIV.

Please note that there was a connection problem during the interview that sometimes affected audio quality.

How Do We Meet the Needs of People Who Need Mental Health Services? Poorly!

This is episode 19, “How Do We Meet the Needs of People Who Need Mental Health Services? Poorly!”

My guest, Doctor Leslie Gise, MD, is a psychiatrist who has practiced in New York City for 30 years, and then practiced in Hawaii for 24 years. She loves psychiatry, but quit practicing because of the intrusions of managed care. In Hawaii, she has worked in the public sector for 20 years treating disadvantaged people with severe mental illness. Half of them had substance use disorders as well.

Doctor Gise has served as the Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the John A Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. She has been on the faculty of medical schools for 48 years

Doctor Gise is a Past-President of two national professional organizations. She has reviewed for many journals and has many publications. She has made presentations all over the world and has been quoted extensively in the media.

Do not miss episode 19 as Dr. Gise describes how our current health care system fails to meet the needs of people who require mental health services and how Medicare for All can help.

We Can’t Truly Help People in This For-Profit System

This is episode 18, “We Can’t Truly Help People in This For-Profit System.”

My guest, Kristy Fogle, founded the Maryland Progressive Healthcare Coalition. She is an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant who works in the Baltimore, Maryland, area.

Ms. Fogle is a progressive healthcare activist working with Progressive Maryland and their National affiliate, People’s Action. She was one of several activists who were invited to sit in as official advocates in support of HR 1384 in the first ever Medicare for All Hearing by the House Rules Committee.

Do not miss episode 18 as Ms. Fogle describes the problems with our current health care system and why we need Medicare for All.

If you like more information about the  Maryland Progressive Healthcare Coalition, check out their Facebook page.

Every Shift I Would See Patients Struggling for Their Care

This is episode 17, “Every Shift I Would See Patients Struggling for Their Care.” 

My guest, Jonathan Michels, discusses how he came to support Medicare for All.

Jonathan Michels started working in a hospital transporting patients. He became a radiology technician and is currently taking premed courses for entry into medical school. Mr. Michels also works as a freelance journalist.

As a radiology technician, Mr. Michels discovered that people were often stressed about paying for medical care. This led him to become active in Students for a National Health Program and led him to co-organize a protest against the American Medical Association’s position against single-payer.

Do not miss episode 17 as Mr. Michels explains how his experiences caused him to become an activist for Medicare for All.

A Different Kind of Going Broke

This is episode 16, “A Different Kind of Going Broke.”

My guest, Professor Neil Buchanan, discusses how our current health care system is destroying the economy and how single-payer Medicare for All would fix that.

Neil Buchanan is an economist and a professor of law. He is an expert on the federal budget and the budgeting process. Professor Buchanan recently accepted an offer to move from The George Washington University to the University of Florida, where he will hold an eminent scholar chair in tax law. His research focuses on government finances, debt, deficits, and obligations between generations.

Do not miss episode 16 as Professor Buchanan provides insight about the problems with our current health care system and how Medicare for All can solve them.

Please note that there was a connection problem during the interview, which sometimes affected audio quality. 

A Revelation

This is episode 15, “A Revelation.” My guest, Stephanie Nakajima, discusses her personal experiences with health care systems in the United States, Japan, and Denmark.

Ms. Nakajima is the Director of Communications at Healthcare-NOW, which advocates for the United States to implement a single-payer health care system. She previously worked as writer, editor, and journalist in Tokyo and covered the Fukushima nuclear disaster and organized crime. She has also worked for the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Danish Refugee Council in Copenhagen.

Do not miss episode 15 as Ms. Nakajima experiences as a health care consumer clearly illustrate the benefits of national health programs and why we need single-payer Medicare for All.