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EPIDEMIC with Dr. Celine Gounder

S1E15 / Health Coverage in a Pandemic / Donald Berwick & Karen Pollitz

EPIDEMIC with Dr. Celine Gounder

KFF Health News and Just Human Productions

Science, #Coronavirus, Health & Fitness, #Smallpox, Documentary, #Covid19, #Sarscov2, #Eradication, Life Sciences, Society & Culture, #Covid, Medicine

4.61K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2020

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“COVID-19 is the great revealer. It’s showing every crack and fault in the healthcare coverage system.” - Dr. Donald Berwick In today’s episode, co-hosts Dr. Celine Gounder and Ron Klain speak with Dr. Donald Berwick, former administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and senior fellow for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, about how COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities of the U.S. healthcare system to a public health crisis. They also discuss how the Affordable Care Act has provided a safety net for many Americans during these uncertain times, and how coronavirus relief bills, the CARES Act, attempt to address further gaps in the system. Finally, they discuss how both rural and urban hospitals will be affected by the pandemic from an economic standpoint. They also speak with Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and a four-time cancer survivor, about how important it is to have health insurance coverage when a crisis strikes, and how terrifying it can be to lose coverage during these times. Karen also explains options for those who have lost coverage and are struggling to figure out how to cover themselves and loved ones during this unpredictable time in our country, and how to weigh their options, depending on individual circumstances. Listener Q&A: How does contact tracing and quarantine work for a disease where many cases are asymptomatic and many do not even realize they are sick? This podcast was created by Just Human Productions. We're powered and distributed by Simplecast. We're supported, in part, by listeners like you. #SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #COVID #coronavirus

Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm Dr. Saline Gounder and I'm Ron Klein and this is epidemic.

0:12.4

Today is Tuesday, April 28th, during the end of one of the deadliest months in American history.

0:18.0

More than 50,000 Americans will die from COVID this month that's more than died from a heart attack or from all cancers

0:26.1

combined during the month of April.

0:29.4

Since mid-March, in addition to the health care consequences there have been devastating economic

0:34.3

consequences from the coronavirus epidemic. For many Americans who lost their

0:39.8

jobs they also had their health insurance put at risk.

0:44.0

What are the uninsured supposed to do now when having health insurance is more important than ever?

0:49.0

COVID has exposed just how vulnerable the U.S. health care system is in the midst of a

0:54.4

public health crisis. In today's episode we'll hear about how the

0:59.4

Affordable Care Act provides a safety net for many during these times and how Corona release

1:06.1

bills like the Cares Act are trying to address other gaps.

1:10.3

We'll also hear from an expert about what to do if you've lost your health insurance and how to weigh your options.

1:17.0

Our first guest is Don Berwick. There are few people in this country who know more about how Americans get health care

1:25.7

than Don Burwick. He used to be the administrator for the Centers for

1:29.8

Medicare and Medicaid

1:33.0

and

1:35.0

and program in the United States.

1:38.0

He's also President Emeritus and the senior fellow

1:41.0

of the Institute for Health Care Improvement.

1:43.6

So Don, thank you so much for joining us on our podcast.

1:46.6

It's a pleasure, Ron.

...

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