Earlier this month, the radio documentary program This American Life aired two full one-hour programs devoted entirely to health care reform. As usual, the programs were insightful, entertaining, and thought-provoking. The first program focused primarily on trying to understand the exorbitant cost of the American health care system, with segments that looked at the role that doctors, consumers, and insurance companies play in keeping costs rising, even while more, and more expensive, care does not ensure better health outcomes.  The second episode focused on health insurance, and included segments tracing the history of the American employer-based health insurance system and looking at why more competition between insurers may not lower health insurance costs.

Unlike much media coverage and political discourse about health care reform, these programs avoid easy generalizations and simple solutions (“Insurance companies are greedy!” “Patient responsibility!” Public option!” “Health savings accounts!” ). Instead, they provide important reminders of the complexity of the health care system and the enormity of the challenges we face in trying to improve the quality of care at manageable costs.  Perhaps the only certainty we can count on is that whatever the precise nature of health care reform we end up with, or don’t end up with, this year, debates about health care will be with us for decades to come.

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Alex [Bloomberg] and Adam [Davidson] walk us step by step through the complications of the US government buying up bad assets from banks, and explain why, when it comes to footing the bill, the government might just prefer to not be in charge of the very banks it is having taxpayers bailout.  From a dollhouse, to a hypothetical bank worth tens of dollars, to the trillions of dollars being spent to keep banks afloat, Alex and Adam talk economy, and where we might be headed.

You can listen to the full 40-minute segment online or download it as a podcast for $0.95.

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