Big Pharma just lost again in court - but will your drug prices actually go down?

On this Care Talk, Merith Basey from Patients for Affordable Drugs joins host Laura Packard for an update on the Medicare drug price negotiation lawsuits, Trump's Most Favored Nation deals with drug manufacturers, and what it all means for patients. A federal appeals court just rejected PhRMA's challenge to Medicare negotiation, the latest in a string of losses for industry lawsuits. At the same time, the Trump administration says it has struck Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing deals with 16-17 major manufacturers, starting with Pfizer, plus 9 new companies announced in late August, alongside the launch of TrumpRx.gov. Critics call the deals a farce with secret terms and no real enforcement.

Merith breaks down: which lawsuits are still alive, what's actually in the MFN deals, and whether Medicare negotiation or MFN will lower what you pay at the pharmacy counter.

Also Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org and Rachel Madley of Center for Health & Democracy answer your health insurance questions on the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

Topics include what to know for this Medicare open enrollment season, the Trump administration's proposed $500 Obamacare rebates, why can a drug be so much more expensive when not covered by insurance, and does preventative care really mean free of charge.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

SUBSCRIBE to Care Talk for weekly health care policy breakdowns that put patients first.

#Medicare #DrugPrices #BigPharma #healthcare

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Laura Packard is a stage 4 cancer survivor, health care advocate, and host of Care Talk. Founder of Health Care Voices and Voices of Health Care Action.

Your doctor said yes - but insurance said no. Why?

On this Care Talk, Emma Freer and Hannah Garden-Monheit from the American Economic Liberties Project, authors of the new report “Ban Prior Authorization: Ending Big Medicine’s Strategy to Boost Profits by Denying Medically Necessary Care" join host Laura Packard.

We break down how prior authorization went from a narrow cost tool to a “corporate care veto” — where Big Medicine insurance conglomerates require approval, then have their own affiliates (including AI companies they own) deny the care. We cover what it means for patients facing delays, denials, and surprise bills, why doctors are burning out, and why 71% of voters — Democrats and Republicans — support banning it.

Also Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer of Just Care answer your health insurance questions on the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

Questions include what to do if you lose your health insurance before employer insurance kicks in, is Medicare only available for people over 65, is appealing a prior authorization denial worth the effort, and what happens if you're on Medicare and retire abroad.

READ THE REPORT: Ban Prior Authorization — American Economic Liberties Project: https://www.economicliberties.us/our-work/ban-prior-auth/

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Emma Freer and Hannah Garden-Monheit are researchers/authors at the American Economic Liberties Project. Their August 6, 2026 brief proposes banning prior authorization where insurers have a financial conflict of interest.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Full Report (PDF): https://www.economicliberties.us/our-work/ban-prior-auth/

• Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

SUBSCRIBE to Care Talk for weekly health care policy breakdowns.

#PriorAuthorization #CareTalk #HealthCare

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Laura Packard is a stage 4 cancer survivor, health care advocate, and host of Care Talk. Founder of Health Care Voices and Voices of Health Care Action.

President Trump signed an executive order on August 10th, reshaping federal childhood vaccine recommendations - from limiting the vaccine schedule to splitting the MMR shot into separate visits. Pediatricians and public health experts are pushing back, with the American Academy of Pediatrics calling the measles, mumps, and rubella recommendation "dangerous."

Dr. Madhury "Didi" Ray, preventative medicine physician and leader at Doctors for America separates fact from fear in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard at Health Care Voices.

Plus Diane Archer at Just Care and Louise Norris at healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about health insurance companies and AI use, what to do when your health insurance company's billing department and credentialing department don't agree, identity theft and health insurance coverage, and how to tell if an incoming call claiming to be from your health insurance company is a scam.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

What's actually safe to eat right now? And what happens when we gut the public health agencies whose job is to catch food borne parasites before they reach your plate? Dr. Janet Krommes of Doctors for America explains two outbreaks hitting America's food supply now - the cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce, and the salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños - and the bigger story behind them in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Diane Archer from Just Care answers your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about prior authorization, and how insurers deny your needed care.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Corporate consolidation didn't just raise your health insurance premiums — it built a system where big insurance companies, hospitals, and PBMs profit from denying you care. Health insurance whistleblower and former Cigna VP Wendell Potter of Center for Health & Democracy joins us to expose what politicians really mean when they say "waste, fraud, and abuse" — and why the biggest offenders aren't patients, they're the corporations running the show in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Get "Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans" by Wendell Potter: https://amzn.to/4i2Cxg9

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answers your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about Affordable Care Act open enrollment timing, resources for fighting prior authorization denials of care, and non-MAGI income limits for Medicaid vs Medicare and Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

While public health faces enormous cuts, the global wellness economy reached a record 6 trillion dollars, and is projected to climb to nearly ten trillion by 2029. That’s serious money. But wellness culture has a dark side - and it's costing people their health, their money, and sometimes their lives. Jen Bordenick of Unbiased Science breaks down the grifters, gurus, and fake "cures" flooding the wellness industry. We're talking about how misinformation spreads, who's profiting off it, and how to spot a scam before it costs you in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about the Trump administration ending Medicare Part D drug premium subsidies, changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment schedule later this year for 2027 coverage, and what to do if you're overwhelmed with a confusing mountain of insurance bills from a hospitalization.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Medicare and Medicaid were created 61 years ago to protect Americans’ health and financial security. On their anniversary, we look at the future of both programs, and the growing attacks on Medicaid through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Margarida Jorge of Health Care for America Now discusses what the present and the future of Medicare and Medicaid looks like for patients, families, seniors, people with disabilities, and everyone who depends on affordable health care in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Rachel Madley from Center for Health & Democracy answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, what to do when a good faith cost estimate from the hospital is wrong, and does Medicare protect you from financial ruin if you get seriously sick or injured.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Giant corporate conglomerates may control your health insurance, your hospital, your doctor's office, AND your pharmacy - and it's costing American families $37,824 a year in employer coverage alone. It's time to break up Big Medicine. Emma Freer of the American Economic Liberties Project unpacks the corporate consolidation crisis destroying American healthcare, and the growing bipartisan movement to fix it in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Find out more about the Break Up Big Medicine coalition: https://www.breakupbigmedicine.com/

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about how to handle a surprise medical bill if your insurance refuses to cover it, what Medicare does and does not cover, figuring out what insurance plan is right for you, and Medicare and Ozempic coverage.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Big Pharma earns a 76% gross profit margin - and three corporate middlemen pocket 41 cents of every dollar Americans spend on prescriptions. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Alejandro Molina at Groundwork Collaborative breaks down their bold new plan, AmericaRx, that could change everything in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about changes to the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace next year, Medicaid termination rule coming soon, and what to do if your health insurance plan drops you.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Is the screwworm outbreak actually a threat to your food? How have cuts to our nation’s food infrastructure made our food supply less safe and endangered our health? Dr. Carrie McMahon, a former FDA regulatory scientist with over two decades of experience, now a contributor to Unbiased Science, cuts through the noise and delivers unbiased, evidence-based answers in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about a new bill in Congress that would add an out-of-pocket limit to traditional Medicare, CMS reports Affordable Care Act enrollment numbers have dropped, how to apply for Medicaid, and what to do if your doctor opts out of Medicare.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

New federal rules require some Medicaid recipients to prove they qualify for a "medical frailty" exemption - or lose their coverage. Here's what you need to know before it's too late. Nicole Jorwic at Caring Across Generations breaks down the new Medicaid work requirements that take effect next year - and the proposed new CMS rules that determine who qualifies as "medically frail" in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about the Trump administration allowing insurers to offer loans to patients with catastrophic health insurance plans, suing a school district forcing retired employees into Medicare Advantage, can your employer insurance discriminate based on private testing which may reveal pre-existing conditions, and a mix-up on primary and secondary health insurance coverage for cataract surgery.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Why is healthcare so expensive in America? Hospital mergers are driving up your health care bills - and the data proves it. Natasha Murphy at Center for American Progress breaks down how hospital consolidation hands Big Hospital the power to charge you whatever they want in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about a judge's ruling on Affordable Care Act marketplace changes for next year, a Medicare Advantage plan that handled charges incorrectly, proposed rule changes on Medicaid eligibility for next year, and whether or not vision insurance is a good deal.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Big Pharma just took a massive loss at the Supreme Court - and it means lower drug prices for millions of Americans. Merith Basey at Patients for Affordable Drugs breaks down the Supreme Court's decision to reject pharmaceutical industry lawsuits challenging Medicare drug price negotiation under the Inflation Reduction Act in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about Medicare covering GLP-1 weight loss drugs, Medicare no longer covering preventative sonograms for breasts, fighting an out of network bill, and Part B Medicare is optional?

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

The doors keep swinging at the Department of Health and Human Services. With multiple top health agencies now run by acting officials, who is actually steering America's public health? As the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak winds down, a new Ebola outbreak is rapidly spreading. What happens to patients when no one's in charge? Kayla Hancock at Protect Our Care does a deep dive into the leadership vacuum at HHS, and why it matters for your health in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about Affordable Care Act marketplace changes for 2027 and 2028, what to do if your Medicare drug plan denies your prescription, and appealing denials of care under an employer self-funded health insurance plan.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Hantavirus is dominating the news - but how much of what you're hearing is actually true? From the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak to viral social media claims, misinformation is spreading almost as fast as the headlines. Dr. Christina Madison the Public Health Pharmacist cuts through the noise in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about rule changes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) affecting health insurance plans next year, Medicare Advantage plans attached to a local hospital, do dental and vision insurance plans also have open enrollment periods, how to get a prescription for off-label use through Medicare.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Every year, tens of millions of Americans are denied the medical care they've already paid for - not by their doctors, but by their insurers. Miranda Yaver PhD, the author of the new book Coverage Denied, explains how insurers use "rationing by inconvenience", and what patients, advocates, and policymakers can do to fight back in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Get the book: https://amzn.to/4uCmN6z

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about fighting prior authorization problems, losing essential health plan insurance in New York due to income, and how does employer-based health insurance work.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

How can Americans finally pay less for prescription drugs? Vinny DeMarco from Maryland Health Care for All breaks down what's actually being done to lower prescription drug costs in states like Maryland and Colorado, what still needs to happen, and how YOU can take action in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answers your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about new open enrollment data for the Affordable Care Act this year, what to do when a patient exam is coded as out of network, are there alternatives to the VA for veterans care, and how do ACA marketplace plans calculate income for subsidies.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Learn how to be a patient advocate in healthcare and take your fight straight to your legislators. Mollie Montague of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network breaks down exactly how everyday people can lobby their legislators for better health care in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about recent changes to the Medicare Advantage star-rating system, how to handle surprise medical bills from an out of network provider, why can't you switch from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare any time you want, and why doesn't dental insurance cover costly procedures.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Every year, millions of Americans are blindsided by surprise medical bills and crushing debt - not because they did anything wrong, but because the system is designed to be confusing. Patricia Kelmar of PIRG explains your rights under the No Surprises Act, how surprise medical billing has changed, and what you can do about it in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Rachel Madley from the Center for Health & Democracy answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about proposed health care cuts to pay for the war in Iran, overview of 2026 open enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act, how to handle out of network medical bills, and the end of Medicare Advantage open enrollment.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

Sixteen years ago, the Affordable Care Act transformed American health care. Anne Shoup of Protect Our Care breaks down the victories, and the relentless assault on Obamacare. What’s happening, who’s responsible, and what you can do to fight back in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices.

Plus Diane Archer of Just Care & Social Security Works and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more.

This episode has more about adding an out-of-pocket cap to traditional Medicare, surprise medical bills if your insurance has an error in their provider directory, open enrollment for Medicare Advantage ends March 31, and what if your spouse qualifies for Medicare and you don't yet.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk