Aftershock of Trump’s Budget Bill: Ghoulish Profiteering

This week on Paging America, former health insurance executive turned whistleblower and author Wendell Potter joins hosts Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson for a candid look inside the health insurance industry, Congressional stock trading scandals, and the hidden forces driving up your healthcare costs. Wendell Potter shares a firsthand look into his time at Cigna and Humana, why he left the industry, and what every American needs to know to protect themselves. Don’t miss his recommendations for healthcare advocates and a preview of his latest investigative project.

Dr. Rob and Miles also unpack the devastating impacts following the passage of Trump’s tax bill and the hypocrisy of several key Republican members of Congress who ultimately voted for the largest reduction to the American social safety net in generations.

Background reading:

• Healthcare Uncovered Substack by Wendell Potter

• Deadly Spin by Wendell Potter

• Derrick Van Orden’s deleted tweet

• Letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Majority Leader Michael Johnson from eight moderate Republicans pushing to protect Medicaid ahead of the final votes

• Statement from Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) saying he would fight against the closure of rural hospitals in Arizona before voting for the bill that will hasten the closure of rural hospitals in Arizona

• Video of Jen Kiggans (VA-02) spewing misinformation about the Trump budget bill

• Newsweek: Republican Unloads Medicaid-Related Stock Before Voting For Trump Tax Bill 

• Citizen Times: NC Sen. Chuck Edwards, with tax break on $1M PPP loan, opposes student loan tax breaks

• Sen. Chuck Edwards inaccurate tweet about Medicaid work requirements

• Rep. Young Kim (CA-40) tweeted that she would not vote for any version of the Trump budget bill “that does not protect vital Medicaid services & address SALT” before doing just that

• Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP: Centene Corporation (CNC) Investors See Over $11 Billion Of Shareholder Value Wiped Out In 1 Day Amid Independent Actuary Data, Withdrawn 2025 Guidance

• NBC News: Kennedy says health insurers promise to change prior authorization process

• HEALTH CARE un-covered: CMS is Trying to Expand Prior Authorization in Traditional Medicare Even Though All Data Points Say That’s a Bad Idea

• NPR: GOP's History Of Resistance To Social Welfare Programs

Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org

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