Health or Consequences

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An insightful exploration of the most important issues in Massachusetts public health and health care policy, featuring in-depth conversations with leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners. Hosted by John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute. Produced by CommonWealth Beacon.

  1. 4d ago

    Minogue's Patients First prescription

    The gubernatorial race between Minogue and Healey is heating up as the candidates head into the November election. In July, medtech billionaire Minogue released his “Patients First” plan for improving health care outcomes in Massachusetts. John and Paul sat down with Minogue to drill down into the details of his plan and his broader vision for the future of the state. Guest: Mike Minogue, republican nominee for Mass. governor, former CEO of Abiomed Hosts: John McDonough of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Paul Hattis of the Lowne Institute Follow Health or Consequences: https://pod.link/6818916003 CommonWealth Beacon is collecting listener questions regarding the November ballot for an upcoming podcast episode: https://commonwealthbeacon.org/uncategorized/ballotquestions/

  2. Sep 1

    CEO of Hebrew SeniorLife on long-term care's looming crisis

    We all need care as we age. Adam Scott leads New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior care and living communities. He says demand is rising as the Commonwealth’s average age continues to increase. This week on Health or Consequences, Scott discusses how the broader health care crisis is impacting long-term care. Guest: Adam Scott, president and CEO of Hebrew SeniorLifeHosts: Paul Hattis of the Lown InstituteJohn McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public health America's Wrong Turn: US Health Care in the Neoliberal Era by John McDonough is available now: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53872/americas-wrong-turn Question or comment for Health or Consequences paul.hattis@gmail.com Support this work:  https://commonwealthbeacon.org/support/

  3. Jul 28

    Patients or profit? with John McDonough

    America's health system is uniquely expensive and uniquely underperforming. On this month's edition of Health or Consequences, John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discusses his upcoming book, America's Wrong Turn: U.S. Health Care in the Neoliberal Era, and traces the political and economic forces that reshaped American medicine. From the Chicago School and Milton Friedman's free-market philosophy to Ronald Reagan's antitrust policies, McDonough argues that decades of neoliberal policymaking laid the groundwork for today's soaring health care costs, industry consolidation, and the growing influence of private equity. Pre-Order America's Wrong Turn: US Health Care in the Neoliberal Era 30% OFF Code: HTWN Publishes August 11th, 2026 https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53872/americas-wrong-turn?srsltid=AfmBOopF7X-M0BXT1fSZffPmeezISVx0CNkt5oJ14yAOfxO722xcR2nM Host: Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute Guest: John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/john-e-mcdonough/ Have a question or comment for Health or Consequences? Reach out to paul.hattis@gmail.com https://commonwealthbeacon.org/codcast/

  4. Jun 30

    Point32Health CEO on the state of health insurance

    Patrick Gilligan has a lifetime of experience in health care. One year ago, he accepted the role of CEO of Point32Health, a regional nonprofit health insurance provider. On this month's edition of Health or Consequences, hosts John McDonough and Paul Hattis ask Gilligan to take a deep dive into the current state of health insurance. Are patients getting what they're paying for? How are health insurers cutting costs while remaining competitive? How is market consolidation contributing to rising healthcare costs? And what policies might help stem the tide? Guest: Patrick Gilligan, CEO of Point32Health Hosts: John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthPaul Hattis of the Lowne Institute Have a question or comment for Health or Consequences? Reach out to paul.hattis@gmail.com

  5. May 26

    How OB3 is reshaping healthcare in Massachusetts

    Hosts John McDonough and Paul Hattis are joined by Victoria Pulos, a health law attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, to discuss the fallout of OB3, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” for Massachusetts residents. Who is likely to lose coverage? How has the state responded to federal cuts? And if Democrats win the midterms, can any of these actions be reversed? Hosts: John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthPaul Hattis of the Lown Institute Guest: Victoria Pulos, senior health law attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)

  6. Apr 14

    20 years later: The grassroots story that changed health care

    On April 12, 2006, at Faneuil Hall, Gov. Mitt Romney signed the Massachusetts Health Insurance Reform Act, commonly known as Chapter 58 or "RomneyCare." The groundbreaking legislation established the Massachusetts Health Connector, it expanded Medicaid, it required employers to provide insurance, it subsidized health care insurance for low income residents, and ultimately drastically reduced the number of uninsured. In this month’s installment of Health or Consequences, John McDonough moves into the interviewee seat, along with Cheri Andes, the former Lead Organizer of Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, to tell the story of how they built and led the coalition behind the historic bill, and how RomneyCare laid the foundation for the Affordable Care Act. Host: Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute Guests: John McDonough of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, former Director of Health Care for All Cheri Andes, Independent Consultant, former Lead Organizer of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO)

  7. Mar 30

    How is your experience of primary care?

    After 28 years at the helm of Mass. Health Quality Partners, Barbra Rabson is stepping down. MHQP provides data on patient experiences of primary care. They bring stakeholders and patient representatives together to further their shared mission, improve healthcare quality and equity. On this months episode of Health or Consequences, John McDonough and Paul Hattis ask Rabson about the impact of MHQP's approach in the midst of a primary care crisis. What do stakeholders need to improve patients' experience of primary care? How can we attract more primary care physicians? And, most importantly, how do we get out of the crisis? Guest: Barbra Rabson, President & CEO of Mass Health Quality Partners Hosts: Paul Hattis, Lown Institute John McDonough, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

  8. Feb 9

    Regulating insurance amid surging health care costs (with Michael Caljouw)

    Michael Caljouw, the state commissioner of insurance discusses new regulations for insurers, concerns about the stability and solvency of the Massachusetts health insurance system, and insurer consolidation. Hosts: John McDonough of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute Guest: Michael Caljouw, Commissioner of Insurance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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About

An insightful exploration of the most important issues in Massachusetts public health and health care policy, featuring in-depth conversations with leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners. Hosted by John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute. Produced by CommonWealth Beacon.

Information

  • Creator
    CommonWealth Beacon
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © CommonWealth Beacon
  • Show Website
    Health or Consequences