The Search for Affordable Healthcare: Panel Discussion on March 13
Join us on March 13 for The Search for Affordable Healthcare: Shifts in Federal and State Policies, a vital discussion on the crisis in affordable healthcare. With healthcare costs continuing to rise, the affordability crisis is threatening federal, state, and family budgets, with almost 70% of people in New Hampshire delaying or going without healthcare in the last year due to cost. Federal and state policy responses are in flux.
Award-winning health reporter Noam N. Levey, a senior correspondent with KFF Health News, and Health and Life Sciences Law Professor Lucy Hodder will discuss federal and state responses to this crisis and their prospects for making healthcare more – or less – affordable.
Recent developments that could have major consequence include cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, drastic changes to the ACA and its individual marketplace coverage, and a departure from previous Trump and Biden administration efforts to cut prescription drug prices.
Read Noam N. Levey's in-depth healthcare coverage here, including the investigative series Diagnosis Debt and his recent piece: "Republicans Once Wanted Government out of Health Care. Trump Voters See It Differently."
Read UNH Healthcare Vitals articles co-authored by Prof. Hodder here.
See below for more on panelists' recent work.
The discussion will be moderated by Laura Knoy, Community Engagement Director for the Rudman Center.
When: March 13, 2025, 5:45 – 7:15 p.m., followed by a reception.
Where: The UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, 2 White Street, Concord, NH, Room 282. (Please use the entrance on the corner of Washington and Rumford Streets.)
A Zoom link will be provided for those who prefer to join remotely.
Registration is required. Please register here. Registration deadline is March 12.
Resources and Articles of Interest Recommended by Panelist Prof. Lucy Hodder
Articles and Projects by Noam Levey
More than 100 million people in America — a startling 41% of adults — are saddled with medical bills they cannot pay, according to a KFF Health News investigation with NPR and CBS News. The project exposed that medical debt — rather than fighting disease — is now a defining feature of the nation’s health care system.
Trump Vowed To End Surprise Medical Bills. The Office Working on That Just Got Slashed.
By Noam N. Levey, Updated March 5, 2025, Originally Published March 4, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The Trump administration’s first round of sweeping staff cuts to federal agencies eliminated dozens of positions at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, which is tasked with implementing the No Surprises Act.
Republicans Once Wanted Government out of Health Care. Trump Voters See It Differently.
By Noam N. Levey, February 27, 2025, KFF Health News Original
Frustrated by high health care prices, many who backed President Donald Trump support strong government actions to protect patients. It’s unclear whether GOP leaders will listen.
Biden Administration Bars Medical Debt From Credit Scores
By Noam N. Levey January 7, 2025, KFF Health News Original
The move, which comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, represents a challenge to the new administration.
Rage Has Long Shadowed American Health Care. It’s Rarely Produced Big Change.
By Noam N. Levey December 18, 2024, KFF Health News Original
The outpouring of anger at health insurers following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson continues a cycle of rage that dates back decades.
Podcasts: Lucy Hodder and Laura Knoy
The Legal Impact: The High Cost of Healthcare, October 25, 2024
On this episode of The Legal Impact, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Professor Lucy Hodder explains why care is so expensive in this country. Listen to this fascinating overview by one of our state’s leading experts. Produced by The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication and hosted by The Rudman Center's Laura Knoy.
Articles: Lucy Hodder and Deb Fournier, UNH Healthcare Vitals
UNH Healthcare Vitals: Measuring Total Healthcare Expenditures
Monday, December 16, 2024
In healthcare, as in most things, “you can’t improve what you don’t measure!” We know that we need more affordable healthcare - almost 70% of people in New Hampshire reported delaying or going without healthcare in the last 12 months due to the cost. We also know that New Hampshire has no statewide healthcare affordability measure. Nobody transparently tracks what we collectively spend on healthcare and what we spend it on. This year, for the first time New Hampshire will measure the state’s total healthcare expenditures ...Learn More
UNH Healthcare Vitals: Hospital mergers have changed the healthcare landscape
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Hospital mergers (also referred to as hospital acquisition transactions or health system consolidations) have changed our healthcare landscape over the past 20 years. While there are many reasons that hospitals and health care systems seek new relationships, the research shows that consolidation has consistently produced higher healthcare prices for families and often results in cuts to services and shifts in provider availability. ...Learn More
UNH Healthcare Vitals: Healthcare Cost and Activity in New Hampshire
Friday, June 14, 2024
The cost of healthcare services, including prescription drugs, tops the list of people’s financial worries according to a national February 2024 KFF Health Tracking Poll. In fact, nearly half (48%) of insured people reported worrying about whether they could afford to pay their monthly premiums. The work in New Hampshire on healthcare accountability and transparency is critical to help communities, providers, and businesses manage the future of affordable New Hampshire healthcare. ...Learn More
From New Futures and Altarum Healthcare Value Hub
The New Hampshire Consumer Healthcare Experience Survey: Rising health care costs continue to cause health and financial strain for New Hampshire residents, according to poll results released this week by New Futures, New Hampshire’s leading health care policy and advocacy organization. https://new-futures.org/post/New-Poll-Results-Show-Rising-Health-Care-Impacting-Physical-Financial-Health-of-New-Hampshire-Residents
New Hampshire Health Cost Initiative
https://www.nhhealthcostinitiative.org/
