In the latest episode of Policy Chats, hosts Kevin Karami & Rachel Strausman sat down with Dr. Deborah Lefkowitz, an Assistant Professional Researcher and Harvard Alumni, whose research focuses on vulnerable cancer populations within Inland Southern California. 

“I think we have to say our healthcare system is really broken. It's very fragmented,” Dr. Lefkowitz said. “What that means is that it takes a lot of work to get access to care and that work is disproportionate if you have a low income.”

The episode also covers public health policy, health disparities, and the Affordable Care Act. 

In a conversation about how insurance companies dictate health care decisions in ways people fear the government would with a universal healthcare system, Dr. Lefkowitz noted that “It's a real mistake to think that we could actually make informed choices in advance about the best health insurance for our own needs... I hear a lot less discussion about insurance companies making health care decisions. That's essentially the system that we have now…”

Listen to the full episode here.  

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Policy Chats is a production of the Dean’s Brand Ambassadors of the UCR School of Public Policy.  

Launched in 2020, the UCR School of Public Policy podcast series explores current public policy issues with guests from throughout the policy world. Episodes are accessible via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Anchor. More information is also available through the UCR School of Public Policy podcast page.