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Diane Rehm: On My Mind

WAMU 88.5

Diane Rehm’s weekly podcast features newsmakers, writers, artists and thinkers on the issues she cares about most: what’s going on in Washington, ideas that inform, and the latest on living well as we live longer.

Copyright WAMU 88.5 American University Radio - For Personal Use Only

Diane Rehm’s weekly podcast features newsmakers, writers, artists and thinkers on the issues she cares about most: what’s going on in Washington, ideas that inform, and the latest on living well as we live longer.

Copyright WAMU 88.5 American University Radio - For Personal Use Only
6hr 37min
Thumbnail for "How private insurers made billions off Medicare Advantage".
The Medicare Advantage program was meant to make healthcare for seniors  and the disabled more efficient, a new Wall Street Journal investigation shows private insurers bilked the system for billions.
Thumbnail for "The ripple effects of Trump's plan to 'own' Gaza".
The impact of Trump's plan to take over Gaza. Middle East expert Aaron David Miller explains the region's reaction and what it means for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Thumbnail for "Musk, Trump and the growing legal backlash".
Diane talks to Naftali Bendavid of The Washington Post about the week's news and the court cases that are piling up against the actions of the Trump administration.
Thumbnail for ""Donald Trump is daring opponents: 'Come and get me!'"".
The New Yorker's Susan Glasser discusses Trump's eventful first days in office — and how the Democrats have struggled to respond.
Thumbnail for "Bishop Mariann Budde on her plea to Donald Trump".
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde on her plea to Donald Trump — and why she has no plans to apologize. 
Thumbnail for "What's with Donald Trump and Greenland?".
Donald Trump says he wants to buy Greenland. Greenlanders say it's not for sale. The Wilson Center's Sherrie Goodman explains what's behind the president-elect's interest in the icy island.
Thumbnail for "BONUS EPISODE: Remembering President Jimmy Carter".
Over the years, Diane Rehm interviewed Jimmy Carter 12 times. On this day before Carter's funeral in Washington D.C., we share with you excerpts of those conversations.
Thumbnail for "Joe Biden's presidential legacy".
January 20 will mark the end of Joe Biden's presidency. Susan Page of USA Today reflects on his legacy as commander in chief.
Thumbnail for "Understanding Earth as "Planet Aqua"".
Jeremy Rifkin says understanding Earth as a water planet is key to addressing climate change. He joins Diane to talk about his new book, "Planet Aqua."
Thumbnail for "Best books of 2024 ... and beyond".
Diane discusses the best books of 2024 with Ann Patchett, novelist and owner of Parnassus Books, Maureen Corrigan, book critic for N-P-R's Fresh Air, and Eddie Glaude Jr., author and professor of African American studies at Princeton University.

How private insurers made billions off Medicare Advantage

Thumbnail for "How private insurers made billions off Medicare Advantage".
January 9, 202542min 52sec

For the last year The Wall Street Journal has been investigating the Medicare Advantage program. It was originally created to make healthcare for seniors and the disabled more efficient. The idea was to outsource insurance to private companies to save taxpayer dollars -- and avoid providers gaming the system as they had in the traditional Medicare program.

“Some of those good intentions did not foresee how companies would respond to the financial incentives that had been created,” says Christopher Weaver, one of the Journal reporters who looked at the issue. He says companies have bilked the system for billions of dollars using tactics like over diagnosing patients. 

Christopher Weaver joins Diane on this episode of On My Mind to share the results of his investigation – and discuss the future of the Medicare Advantage program.

For more on The Wall Street Journal's series on the Medicare Advantage program: https://www.wsj.com/news/author/christopher-weaver

Thumbnail for "How private insurers made billions off Medicare Advantage".
How private insurers made billions off Medicare Advantage
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