A Health Podyssey

US Health Care Spending 2009–2019: What Changed? (Sherry Glied)

Health Affairs' Rob Lott interviews Sherry Glied of New York University on her paper that explores how U.S. health spending growth slowed [http://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00472?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=january+2026+issue] to less than half its historical rate, driven by lower utilization, slower price growth, and shifts in care delivery and administration. Order the January 2026 issue of Health Affairs [https://www.pubservice.com/backissue/subbi.aspx?CO=PJ&PC=HR&BI=HRI&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=A+health+podyssey]. Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support [https://www.healthaffairs.org/membership?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=insider], we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcast

BEST OF: J. Michael McWilliams on the Effects of Patient Survey Data on Risk Adjustment

Health Affairs' Senior Deputy Editor Rob Lott interviews J. Michael McWilliams of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital on his recent paper that explores opportunities for the use of patient health survey data for risk adjustment [https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01351?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=forefront] to limit distortionary coding incentives in Medicare. Order the January 2025 issue of Health Affairs [https://www.pubservice.com/backissue/subbi.aspx?CO=PJ&PC=HR&BI=HRI&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=A+health+podyssey]. Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support [https://www.healthaffairs.org/membership?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=insider], we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

BEST OF: Zirui Song on Private Equity’s Effect on Hospital Costs and Utilization

Health Affairs' Senior Deputy Editor Rob Lott interviews Zirui Song of Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital on his recent paper that explores how private equity acquisition impacts hospital costs and utilization [https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2024.00687?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=february+2025+issue] and what variations were seen throughout 2005–19. Order the February 2025 issue of Health Affairs [https://www.pubservice.com/backissue/subbi.aspx?CO=PJ&PC=HR&BI=HRI&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=A+health+podyssey]. Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support [https://www.healthaffairs.org/membership?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=insider], we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcasts free for everyone.

Job Lock’s Hidden Health Costs w/ Tiffany Lemon

Health Affairs' Rob Lott interviews Tiffany Lemon of Arizona State University on her recent paper exploring the concept of job-lock [https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00299?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=november+2025+issue] as it pertains to employer-sponsored health insurance and its impacts on adult physical and mental health. Order the November 2025 issue of Health Affairs [https://www.pubservice.com/backissue/subbi.aspx?CO=PJ&PC=HR&BI=HRI&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=A+health+podyssey]. Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support [https://www.healthaffairs.org/membership?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=insider], we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcast

Does UnitedHealthcare Pay Optum Providers Differently? w/ Dan Arnold

Health Affairs' Rob Lott interviews Dan Arnold of Brown University to discuss his recent paper exploring higher payments within UnitedHealth’s Optum network [https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00155?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=november+2025+issue], which found UHC Paid Optum providers more than non-Optum Providers using price transparency data. Order the November 2025 issue of Health Affairs [https://www.pubservice.com/backissue/subbi.aspx?CO=PJ&PC=HR&BI=HRI&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=A+health+podyssey]. Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support [https://www.healthaffairs.org/membership?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=a+health+podyssey&utm_campaign=insider], we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcast