Tradeoffs

In January, Trump signed an executive order reversing a long-standing policy that kept “sensitive locations” like schools, churches and health care facilities off-limits from immigration officials. Now, doctors and hospitals are concerned about the health of their patients who may be skipping medical appointments out of fear of being picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In Chicago, Steph Willding, MPA, CEO of CommunityHealth said they’ve already seen an uptick in no-shows and cancellations, which could pose serious risks for patients with chronic conditions. Learn more about the health impacts of avoiding care and increased stress: https://lnkd.in/gGSUiTzb

When I started reporting on artificial intelligence in health care two years ago, no one could answer what seemed like a simple question: How many hospitals use AI? Now, thanks to Paige Nong et al, we have answers! Roughly 2/3 of U.S. hospitals use AI and predictive models. *But just 44% of those hospitals test their AI tools for bias.* “This to me is like a blinking red light warning us that we have work to do here,” Nong told Tradeoffs. Check out our story for more from Paige's first-of-its-kind research, including what hospitals are using AI for, the surprising ways Paige worries biased AI could harm patients, and what she fears the risks to patients could be if research on bias in AI slows or stops. https://lnkd.in/ez-3h_Ne

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New research sheds light on how many hospitals are using artificial intelligence, what they’re using AI for, and what it means for patients and policymakers. https://lnkd.in/ghWnYefR

President Trump issued an executive order yesterday on making health care prices more transparent, one of the signature policies of his first term. The new order calls for more enforcement and new guidance or regulation to make pricing data easier to use. “There’s a lot of room for improvement in that space,” Stacey Pogue from the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms told me. Prices may be public under the rules Trump issued in his first term, but they’re still incredibly hard for researchers and consumers to use. “We haven’t achieved the vision yet,” Pogue said.  Trump’s order calls for federal agencies to come up with proposals within 90 days. Tradeoffs dove into Trump’s health care pricing policies last December. You can listen to our episode and read our story to find out why so many people are trying to make sense of these prices and why it's still so hard. https://lnkd.in/erSVyFmy

Tomorrow Dan Gorenstein will join a panel hosted by the USC Center for Health Journalism on the major policy changes RFK Jr. could make as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Register now to join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/gKkF333p

President Trump’s abrupt effort to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development will have more than just immediate effects. Director of International Programs and Innovation at the Global Center for Health Security (University of Nebraska Medical Center), James Lawler explains there are longer-term consequences to eliminating public health support for communities around the globe. On cutting off USAID funding, he said, “It may seem like a cost saving step in the short term, but what it is going to do is dramatically weaken our position in these countries here. And 20 years from now, we are going to rue that decision.” Listen or read more about the ripple effects of Trump’s decision to defund USAID: https://lnkd.in/dHt2qcCQ

I spent the last few weeks talking with more than a dozen people who provide care to or study the health of undocumented immigrants. They told me that fear of President Trump's immigration policy is keeping some people from seeking medical care, and they worry about the negative health impacts on children and adults. Research shows that constant fears of deportation can harm people’s physical and mental health — especially in kids. The stress can lead to anxiety, depression and PTSD, as well as increased risk of infection, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and cancer. Some clinics that serve large undocumented populations have already seen an uptick in no-shows and cancellations, though because they don’t ask about immigration status, clinics can’t say for sure if those absences are connected to Trump’s policies. Providers are trying to assuage patients’ fears by offering the option of switching to telehealth and exploring home-delivery of medications from the pharmacy to minimize the need for in-person visits. They are also training employees on what to do if ICE agents show up, and reassuring patients that clinicians and staff will do whatever they can to keep patients safe within their four walls. I hope you listen to the latest episode of Tradeoffs. You'll hear more from the experts, and you'll hear from Maria, an undocumented mother of four who is terrified for her children's health. She's also determined to keep them safe and healthy. Please listen to her story. https://lnkd.in/eikh9qxE

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