Fight Back
136 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 1 year ago -“Fight Back” is produced by the non-profit organization Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation. Each episode takes a look at a pressing current medical issue, often including the story of someone who has been negatively affected by that issue, such as insurance claims denied, not getting the referral to a specialist or medical procedure one needs, an unexpected “out of network” bill, dealing with heart disease, COVID, mental illness, and more. Then we interview a relevant expert who can provide the insights and resources to help solve these kinds of problems while navigating our complex healthcare system.(The information provided on this podcast is for general information only, and is no substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney. Consumers who need legal advice about health care access or insurance should consult a qualified attorney who can provide advice tailored to their particular situations. The views expressed by individuals in these podcasts are their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation or the views any other organization or agency with which such individuals are affiliated.)
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Episodes
Part 1: Medical Aid in Dying/Assisted Suicide: A Consumer-Facing Deep Dive into this Controversial End of Life Issue
June 07, 2021 20:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBWith this episode, we begin a special two-part series on physician-assisted suicide/medical aid in dying. In part one, special guest, Dr. Lonny Shavelson, a physician and proponent of physician-assisted suicide/medical aid in dying, joins us. Part two will feature Dr. Brian Callister, a physician with an opposing viewpoint on this controversial but important issue. Dr. Shavelson, a former ER doctor, founded Bay Area End of Life Options in 2016, a clinic dedicated to providing terminally ill...
Telemedicine
May 24, 2021 14:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBOn this episode of Fight Back, we talk with special guest Dr. Alan Sanders, a specialist in infectious diseases. Dr. Sanders previously served as Chief of Medicine at St Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY, and currently is the Chief Medical Officer of St Peter’s Health Partners. He will soon be assuming the role of Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Among many other responsibilities, he will spearhead establishing a telemedicine program to deliver cli...
Physical Therapy
May 10, 2021 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.5 MBIn this episode of Fight Back, we learn about physical therapy. Physical therapists are highly educated, licensed health care professionals who examine, evaluate, and treat patients whose conditions limit their ability to move and function in daily life. From augmenting recovery after surgery or illness or pro-actively using physical therapy to improve general wellness to providing an alternative to pain-killing drugs, physical therapists play a critical role in a patient’s overall health an...
Autism Awareness Month, Part 2
April 26, 2021 16:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBApril is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, a nationwide effort to promote improved understanding and acceptance of people diagnosed with autism. Fight Back has joined this effort with a special two-part series on autism. If you haven’t listened to part one, we encourage you to visit www.healthcareconsumerrights.org and listen in. In episode two, we talk with special guest Kristin Jacobson. Kristin is the Founder and Executive Director of Autism Deserves Equal Coverage Foundation, whi...
Autism Awareness Month - Part 2
April 26, 2021 16:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBApril is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, a nationwide effort to promote improved understanding and acceptance of people diagnosed with autism. Fight Back has joined this effort with a special two-part series on autism. If you haven’t listened to part one, we encourage you to visit www.healthcareconsumerrights.org and listen in. In episode two, we talk with special guest Kristin Jacobson. Kristin is the Founder and Executive Director of Autism Deserves Equal Coverage Foundation, whi...
Autism Awareness Month. Part 1
April 12, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBApril is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, a nationwide effort to promote improved understanding and acceptance of people diagnosed with autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 59 children in the United States—1 in 37 boys and 1 in 151 girls. A lifelong condition, autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, impacts the autistic individual and their families in many ways. On this Fight Back episode, we join the autism awareness effort with our...
Autism Awareness Month
April 12, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBApril is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, a nationwide effort to promote improved understanding and acceptance of people diagnosed with autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 59 children in the United States—1 in 37 boys and 1 in 151 girls. A lifelong condition, autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, impacts the autistic individual and their families in many ways. On this Fight Back episode, we join the autism awareness effort with our...
Prepared for Long-Term Care? What You Need to Know
March 29, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBIt is projected that about 70 percent of individuals over 65 will require at least some type of long-term care services during their lifetime, from help with everyday activities of daily living or requiring supervision due to severe impairments to needing placement in a nursing home. In this episode of Fight Back, we cover the state of long-term care in the country and the key issues surrounding insurance coverage: what is causing the skyrocketing rise in the cost of long-term care insuran...
Back to School? The Impact of COVID on Kids
March 15, 2021 07:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBDue to the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures, there has been a significant uptick in children's mental health issues, including eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and suicide. This is a critical time for parents, children, and teachers. The pandemic has affected students' mental and physical well-being, and schools are reporting children experiencing academic and developmental difficulties across all grade levels. School officials are still weighing safety concerns about returning ...
Heart Health
March 02, 2021 08:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBMany of us have heard that heart disease is often called a “silent killer.” But what does that really mean to each of us? Heart disease can be a difficult and confusing diagnosis to understand and navigate. Our special guest is world renowned Dr. Kathy Magliato, who is one of the few female cardiothoracic surgeons in the world. She is currently developing a Women’s Heart Center to address the cardiac needs of female patients. We will discuss heart disease, its signs and symptoms, and som...
Trouble Sleeping? You're Not Alone
February 15, 2021 10:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBWe all know a good night's sleep can make a world of difference, but you may not realize just how integral sleep is to your overall health—or that there is a whole field of medicine devoted to the subject. During this Fight Back episode, we speak with renowned sleep expert Dr. Rafael Pelayo, who talks with us about how important sleep is to our health. Dr. Pelayo is a clinical professor at the Sleep Medicine division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stanford Univer...
How to Make Covered CA & Health Insurance Work for You!
February 01, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBFight Back! talks with Peter Lee, Executive Director for California’s health insurance marketplace, Covered California. In his role, Mr. Lee oversees the planning, development, and administration of Covered California and its efforts to improve the affordability and accessibility of quality healthcare for all Californians. In our conversation, Peter provides valuable insight into the many facets of the Covered California program, including what options consumers have for obtaining affordabl...
Lifestyle Medicine
January 18, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBLifestyle Medicine focuses on educating and motivating patients to change personal habits and behaviors around using a whole food, plant-predominant dietary lifestyle, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connection. We discuss this topic with lifestyle medicine expert Dr. Cate Collings, Director of Lifestyle Medicine at El Camino Hospital and President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Cardiovasc...
2020: Year in Review
January 05, 2021 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBFight Back is switching things up in our first episode of 2021. For this episode, our host, Steve Poizner, is in the hot seat, discussing what led to the launch of the Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation and the Fight Back podcast, sharing some of the podcast's most memorable moments, and looking forward to 2021. It's a year in review—and a year to look forward to! You'll also meet Fight Back co-producers Robert Molnar and J'aime Rosales as they take us back through some of our most poign...
COVID-19 Vaccine: Is It Safe?
December 14, 2020 18:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MBLatest reports indicate that COVID-19 cases are on the rise throughout the U.S., and many warn of more difficult days to come with the onset of winter. Throughout the pandemic, leaders have indicated that getting the pandemic under control hinges on creating and distributing a vaccine. But now that the first of the vaccines are rolling out to the public, consumers want answers to several pressing questions: how were these vaccines developed so fast? Will they be available for everybody? Ho...
COVID-19 Vaccine: Is It Safe?
December 14, 2020 18:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MBLatest reports indicate that COVID-19 cases are on the rise throughout the U.S., and many warn of more difficult days to come with the onset of winter. Throughout the pandemic, leaders have indicated that getting the pandemic under control hinges on creating and distributing a vaccine. But now that the first of the vaccines are rolling out to the public, consumers want answers to several pressing questions: how were these vaccines developed so fast? Will they be available for everybody? Ho...
Pharmacy 101
November 30, 2020 16:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MBLet's take a quick course in Pharmacy 101 with special guest Debby Johnson, a third-generation pharmacist and former President of the California Pharmacist Association. We'll dive into important topics related to the world of pharmacy, including the importance of having your prescriptions at one pharmacy, the dangers of drug interactions, the differences between brand name and generic medicines, and the pharmacist's specific roles and responsibilities. We'll also discuss two very timely topi...
Healthcare for Dummies
November 16, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode, we discuss alternative health systems: different ways to deliver healthcare to patients, and how states, nonprofit organizations, and even companies—like Whole Foods—have implemented unique concepts to enable better and cheaper healthcare options for consumers. Our guest is Sean Flynn, Assistant Professor of Economics at Scripps College. He is the author of Economics for Dummies, which has now been translated into seven foreign languages, as well as the coauthor of the worl...
Taiwan's COVID-19 Success Story
November 02, 2020 17:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBWhile COVID-19 cases explode anew across the world, and America struggles with its next steps, Taiwan's national response has proven to be an important case study for world leaders. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan has reported only 550 cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths. How did they do this? We talk with Dr. Wen Chiu, former Taiwanese Minister of Health and Welfare (2011 – 2014), about how Taiwan learned valuable lessons from previous pandemics such as SARS and MERS and appl...
COVID-19: Progress and Setbacks
October 19, 2020 10:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBAs we enter the fall and winter months, and as cases begin surging again across the country and world, we provide an update on all things COVID-19. From testing and tracing to the progress the medical community has made developing therapeutics and vaccines to what you and your loved ones can do to protect yourself against the next wave, we will discuss it all with our special guest, Dr. Bob Wachter, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at University of California, San Franc...
Holistic Medicine
October 05, 2020 15:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBCan we eliminate prescription narcotics, even after spinal surgery? It might sound far-fetched, but that is just one of the promises of Holistic Medicine. In this episode, orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Hooman Melamed joins Fight Back as our special guest. Dr. Melamed is an outspoken advocate of holistic and integrated medicine, the idea that we need to address all aspects of our health for our bodies to be in optimal condition. We discuss what this looks like in our day-to-day practices, incl...
Health Equity
September 21, 2020 15:00 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MBFight Back discusses the important and timely topic of health equity. "Health equity" means that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Many factors impact a person's health, including poverty, access to good jobs, education, and housing, to name a few. Health equity advocates have emerged in response to challenges that people of color face while seeking and securing needed treatments from the medical community. What does health equity look like? How do comm...
Negotiating Medical Bills
September 08, 2020 15:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBToday, we discuss whether it is possible to negotiate with your local hospital and what that means for you and your bottom line. (Hint: You have options.) We will be joined by special guest Alan Fox, a former hospital CFO, who offers his unique insight on the topic.
Negotiating Medical Bills
September 08, 2020 15:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBToday, we discuss whether it is possible to negotiate with your local hospital and what that means for you and your bottom line. (Hint: You have options.) We will be joined by special guest Alan Fox, a former hospital CFO, who offers his unique insight on the topic.
Medicare
August 24, 2020 15:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBAmerica is living through a time of unprecedented demographic change. In the last twenty years, the segment of our population over the age of 65 has increased from 6% to 9%. According to estimates, those over 65 will comprise 17% of the population by 2050. At 65, individuals can join the Medicare healthcare system. But Medicare is complicated, and for many who are about to or have recently turned 65, they face many choices and daunting questions. In this episode, we first hear from Jane, wh...
Food As Medicine
August 10, 2020 15:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBThere are many reasons why we should pay attention to what we eat. The processed, low-variety foods many of us consume regularly may be convenient and tasty, but they compromise our health. We especially need to pay attention to what we eat when we are sick so we can give our bodies the nutrients it needs to heal. And if you want to be even more deliberate in improving health—perhaps to address a chronic disease or condition—a holistic approach can yield significant benefits. In this episod...
Losing Health Insurance
July 27, 2020 15:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBHealth insurance is critical for individuals and families. When you suddenly lose your health insurance, because of COVID-19 or any other reason, it can feel overwhelming and difficult to determine where to start and what to do. Fortunately, there are many options available. Jenn Moore, Health Net’s chief commercial officer, joins us to talk about how to navigate this complicated and challenging process. For nearly 20 years, Jenn has overseen Health Net’s insurance plans for corporations, sm...
Losing Health Insurance During COVID-19
July 27, 2020 15:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBHealth insurance is critical for individuals and families. When you suddenly lose your health insurance, because of COVID-19 or any other reason, it can feel overwhelming and difficult to determine where to start and what to do. Fortunately, there are many options available. Jenn Moore, Health Net’s chief commercial officer, joins us to talk about how to navigate this complicated and challenging process. For nearly 20 years, Jenn has overseen Health Net’s insurance plans for corporations, sm...
Advanced Healthcare Directives
July 13, 2020 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this episode, Fight Back covers the critically important topic of advanced healthcare directives, a legal document that addresses such end-of-life issues as “do not resuscitate” orders, treatment options, healthcare proxies, and more. In this emotionally powerful conversation, we hear from Kristen, whose husband J.J. was diagnosed with brain cancer at just 34 years old and given a few months to live. With the help of J.J.’s advanced healthcare directive, Kristen was able to act as her hus...
Price Transparency: The True Cost of Healthcare
June 29, 2020 15:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBMost often, healthcare consumers do not know the real cost of health services. Whether it is a bed in a hospital, a prescription drug, or a procedure like an MRI, the price is usually buried beneath government regulations, insurance forms, and confusing terminology. In this episode, we first hear from John about how a recent brief hospital visit to deal with kidney stones turned into a $20,000 surprise. Fortunately, his insurance paid most of the bill, but if he had known the true cost, he ...
Healthcare Access During COVID-19
June 15, 2020 15:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult for healthcare patients to obtain their routine, everyday care. We hear from Diannah, whose young son has Cystic Fibrosis. Her family turned to telemedicine to consult with their physicians and meet their medical needs. Barry Jantz, head of the Grossmont Healthcare District in San Diego, will then join us. Barry explains how the Grossmont Hospital has worked to provide patients and their families stable access to routine medical care and secure ...
Mental Illness Challenges in America
June 01, 2020 15:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBMental Illness Challenges in America: A discussion with NAMI CA Executive Director Jessica Cruz. Millions of Americans are affected by severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and also everyday mental health challenges such as anxiety and stress. Today, we will discuss the issues surrounding these illnesses and provide valuable information and resources. First, we'll hear from John and how severe mental illness impacted his family's life as a caregi...
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities—Your Rights and Options
May 18, 2020 15:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBIntellectual and Developmental Disabilities—Your Rights and Options: A discussion with Ken Barnes, CEO at Options For All. Millions of people suffer from autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities. In this episode, Ken Barnes talks about growing up with his developmentally disabled twin brother, and the issues that he and his family went through caring for him. Because of that experience, in 2014, Ken volunteered to serve at Options for All, a nonprofit organization lo...
COVID-19 and Your Mental Health
May 04, 2020 15:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBCOVID-19 & Your Mental Health: A discussion with NAMI CA Executive Director Jessica Cruz. The coronavirus has brought stress and anxiety to every American. First, we'll hear from Liz and her story about how COVID-19 has impacted her and her family. Then, we will talk with Jessica Cruz, chief executive officer of the California chapter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about how to work through these issues, the challenges presented, the resources available, and some helpf...
An Introduction to Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation
March 25, 2020 19:00 - 5 minutes - 3.74 MBWelcome to our kickoff podcast to introduce what Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation is all about and how we plan to help you navigate the complex healthcare system and to help folks understand their legal rights and options. Each “Fight Back” podcast will tell the personal story of someone who has been tripped up by the healthcare system in some way—insurance claims denied, not getting the referral to a specialist or medical procedure one needs, an unexpected “out of network” bill, and so...
Fight Back: A Podcast from the Healthcare Consumer Rights Foundation
March 25, 2020 19:00 - 5 minutes - 3.71 MBConsumer Education The Foundation plans to engage consultants to research and write a resource guide—under the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors—to educate California consumers about their healthcare rights and options. The Foundation will distribute the guide through its website and social media. We will encourage other organizations to distribute their guide at no cost to consumers as well. The project will be the primary focus of the Foundation’s program during its firs...