Tradeoffs

10/13/2025

What happens if President Trump cuts billions of dollars from research on how to make our health care system work better?

Tradeoffs spoke with Aaron Carroll, the president and CEO of AcademyHealth about what we could lose by cutting this research.

Listen to or read the transcript of the latest episode: https://tradeoffs.org/2025/10/09/future-of-health-care-research-federal-funding-really-is-irreplaceable/

10/11/2025

Last week, we checked in this week with Hemi Tewarson, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, to hear how states are starting to adapt to the fallout from the megabill that Republicans passed in July.

Listen to the episode or read the transcript:

It's been 90 days since Congress passed Trump’s megabill slashing health care spending and reshaping the Medicaid program. States are already knee-deep in dealing with the fallout.

10/10/2025

Reporter and producer Ryan Levi has been promoted to become Tradeoffs’ first-ever managing editor, a new leadership position within the organization.

Reporter and producer Ryan Levi has been promoted to become Tradeoffs’ first-ever managing editor, a new leadership position within the organization.

10/09/2025

The Trump administration has spent the year slashing billions in federal grants for health research and calling for 40% cuts in funding for the National Institutes of Health.

What will those cuts mean to the type of research that makes our health care system less costly, more effective and safer?

Tradeoffs spoke with Aaron Carroll, the president and CEO of AcademyHealth, the nonpartisan professional organization that represents the folks who do this research on health services.

“Federal funding really is irreplaceable,” Carroll said. “Arbitrary cuts don't raise quality. All they do is wipe out whole areas of inquiry and drive talent out of the field because people get scared.”

Listen to today's episode to hear why Carroll feels this research is so important, what we could lose by cutting it, and what changes he thinks would make the field better.

What happens if President Trump cuts billions of dollars from research on how to make our health care system work better?

10/08/2025

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill epidemiologist and street drug scientist Nabarun Dasgupta has been awarded a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" for his harm reduction work that combines data and community engagement.

Earlier this year, Tradeoffs spoke with Dasgupta — about how the memory of a friend who died drives his work, and why he believes giving data on the drug supply to people on the street is more important than using it to inform national drug policy.

Read excerpts from our conversation or listen here:

A leading addiction expert explains how he’s driven by the memory of a friend who died, and why he believes giving data on the drug supply to people on the street is more important than using it to inform national drug policy.

10/06/2025

Tradeoffs is hiring a reporter/producer!

We’re looking for an experienced health care journalist ready to contribute to our distinct footprint at a moment of audience and impact growth for our newsroom.

Learn more about the position and how to apply:

We're looking for an experienced health care journalist ready to contribute to Tradeoffs' distinct footprint at a moment of audience and impact growth for our newsroom.

10/04/2025

It's been 90 days since Congress passed Trump’s megabill slashing health care spending and reshaping the Medicaid program. States are already knee-deep in dealing with the fallout.

Listen to this week's episode: https://tradeoffs.org/2025/10/02/how-states-are-reckoning-with-republican-health-reforms/

10/03/2025

With a government shutdown in effect, the Affordable Care Act is once again taking center stage.

On September 24, Tradeoffs co-hosted a virtual event with the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania about the potential end of generous federal subsidies that help millions pay their Obamacare premiums.

Listen to our bonus episode for excerpts of a live conversation with two top health economists about how extra federal support has helped millions of Americans access health insurance, and what would happen if that aid went away.

Excerpts of a live conversation with two top health economists about how extra federal support has helped millions of Americans access health insurance, and what would happen if that aid went away.

10/02/2025

States are now knee-deep in dealing with the fallout from the megabill that Republicans passed in July. Though a federal law, it comes with a cascade of consequences for states and the health programs that they run, including massive spending cuts and major reforms to Medicaid.

We checked in this week with Hemi Tewarson, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, to hear how states are starting to adapt to this new reality.

She said states are having to move quickly through uncharted territory. Plus, maintaining people’s privacy and trust is a top concern among state officials who are worried that new Medicaid requirements could cause millions to drop or lose coverage.

Give our full conversation with Tewarson a read or a listen to hear about her hopes and fears for the future of the Medicaid program.

https://tradeoffs.org/2025/10/02/how-states-are-reckoning-with-republican-health-reforms/

10/01/2025

How can a podcast go beyond the airwaves to build audiences and catalyze impact?

In a recorded conversation for the Health Podcast Summit, Tradeoffs’ Founder and Executive Editor Dan Gorenstein and Executive Director Jessica Silverman discuss how our multi-platform content strategy is helping us grow audiences, reach policymakers where they are and drive real-world impact.

Watch the discussion (for free!) here: https://summit.healthpodcast.co/

09/29/2025

Getting health care in America can feel like whacking through a bureaucratic jungle.

One of the most daunting barriers patients face is getting "prior approval" from their insurer for tests, drugs, hospital stays and other care their doctors prescribe.

Listen to the latest Tradeoffs episode to hear just how demoralizing this prior approval process can be from the perspective of one couple and their doctor who are racing to stop the husband’s rare cancer from spreading.

Every year, millions of people’s medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization, which requires a patient’s health insurer to sign off before chemotherapy, surgery or countless other services can proceed. Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could...

09/26/2025

Every year, millions of people’s medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization, which requires an insurer to sign off before chemotherapy, surgery or countless other services can proceed.

Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could it work better for everyone?

Listen to the episode:

Every year, millions of people’s medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization, which requires a patient’s health insurer to sign off before chemotherapy, surgery or countless other services can proceed. Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could...