CONFOUNDING [kənˈfoun’ding]: Interference by a third variable so as to distort the association being studied between two other variables.

The highly politicized dialogue surrounding healthcare in the US often confounds attempts to explain modern issues in health policy. When facts and opinions intermingle, it is easy to lose sight of the fundamental problems at hand. Confounders is a podcast designed to make understanding US healthcare policy easy. We tackle important questions like:

Why is US healthcare so expensive?

How does the US health insurance system work, and why is insurance such a complex issue?

What did the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) do to make healthcare well, more affordable?

Who are Patients, Payors, and Providers and how do their differing perspectives on healthcare affect us all?

Confounders makes topics like these easily understandable by exploring the fundamental principles underlying the functions of the American healthcare system. Our goal is to go beyond the headlines and present simple, non-partisan explanations of the most important issues in modern American healthcare. We hope you enjoy the show!