A doctor walks us through the risks and benefits of new cancer-detecting body scans and blood tests.
Leslie Walker
Leslie is a senior reporter and producer for Tradeoffs covering a wide range of health policy issues including prescription drugs and Medicare. Her story, “Inside Big Health Insurers’ Side Hustle,” was awarded first place in audio reporting by the Association of Health Care Journalists and her work has been featured on Marketplace, NPR and STAT News. Before Tradeoffs, Leslie worked as a freelance writer and editor, in nonprofit communications, and at a health care social enterprise. She lives in San Francisco.
Posted inPublic Health
The Stories That Made an Impact in 2023
In this special episode we reflect on a few of our favorite stories of 2023 and hear how they’re making a difference for patients and policymakers.
Posted inCost of Care
Can the U.S. Put an End to Surprise Ambulance Bills?
Congress banned most surprise medical bills back in 2020, with one major exception: ambulance rides. Can lawmakers find a fix?
Posted inInsurance
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Mess
People shopping for Medicare coverage struggle with too many choices, too little help and an alarming amount of deception.
Posted inInsurance
The 12 Million People Lost in a Maze of Medicare and Medicaid
Many of America’s poorest and sickest patients are stuck navigating two separate insurance programs — Medicare and Medicaid — to get the care they need.
Posted inCost of Care
What to Expect When Medicare and Pharma Finally Negotiate Drug Prices
We explain how Medicare’s historic price negotiations with drugmakers will work, and the impact they could have.
Posted inInsurance
One Economist’s Plan to Blow Up America’s Health Insurance System
Economist Amy Finkelstein has studied America’s patchwork of health insurance policies for more than 20 years. She’s finally concluded that it’s time to tear the whole system down.
Posted inInsurance
The Meteoric Rise of Private Medicare Advantage Insurance
What’s gained and what’s lost as private insurers manage an increasingly large share of the Medicare program?
Posted inHealth Equity
What Gas Stoves, Minimum Wage Laws and the Military Teach Us About Health Policy
We get a sneak peek at some of the most exciting papers coming out of a major health economics conference.
Posted inPublic Health
What the PHE Taught Us About Sick Leave, Telemedicine and Public Health Powers
A trio of studies help mark the end of the PHE, and recap some of the health policy lessons learned from this unprecedented period.