Karen Brown

A 3-part series on Massachusetts Health Reform — an overview of my reporting from the

Gary Cloutier, uninsured

last year, featuring the voices of consumers, doctors, advocates, insurers, state officials. (Aired on WFCR, and adapted for NPR.)

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Listen to Part One: A Look Back — How Massachusetts passed its landmark law (May 19, 2009)

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Listen to Part Two: The Individual Mandate — How people respond to HAVING to buy insurance (May 20, 2009)

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Listen to Part 3: Expanding Public Programs — Who benefits, who doesn’t, and is it sustainable? (May 21, 2009)

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Tyler Gorman, on Commonwealth Care

Listen Now (3:50)

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This story aired on NPR’s Morning Edition, March 3, 2009.

Gary Cloutier, taking down price quotes

When Massachusetts passed a 2006 law requiring all residents to have health insurance — or face a penalty — a new insurance market sprung up. Not all of those companies were on the up and up. Health advocates and state officials are getting complaints about unscrupulous insurance merchants. Reporter and Kaiser Fellow Karen Brown reports.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101368708

To download an mp3 of this report, right-click here

Listen Now (4:10)

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This story aired on NPR’s Day to Day on Feb. 4, 2009.

Artists are used to starving — and going without basics such as health insurance.

Artist Xylor Jane

But thousands of artists and other creative types in Massachusetts are now getting state-subsidized health care. The artists say this allows them to more effectively contribute to the creative economy.

Download an mp3 of the piece by right-clicking here

WFCR’s Morning Edition host Bob Paquette interviewed me about where things stand — based on my reporting — in Mass health reform. This interview aired on January 13, 2009.

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Bob Paquette

Host introduction: WFCR’s Karen Brown has been spending the last few months examining Massachusetts health care reform law. Her work, funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation, has included interviews with people who have health coverage for the first time — and those having trouble navigating the new system. She’s also talked to doctors, hospital personnel, state officials and health care advocates. The economy has soured since Brown started this project, but she says, so far, state officials have been able to largely insulate health reform from the downturn.

Listen Now (5:40)

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A version of this story aired on NPR’s All Things Considered, November 30, 2008.

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Northampton Doctor Dan Levy.

Health care reform in Massachusetts has led to a dramatic increase in the number of people with health insurance. But there’s an unintended consequence: A sudden demand for primary care doctors has outpaced the supply. Kaiser Media Fellow Karen Brown reports. (Aired on WFCR Dec. 4, 2008)

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Dr. Jacqueline Spain

To listen to the national version of this story, which aired on NPR’s All Things Considered, November 30, 2008, click here

[Reporter's Note: One of the people interviewed for this story, Kamela Kristara, has updated me with her health status. She says her neurologist determined she has not had any seizures or strokes.]

Listen Now (5:30 minutes) 

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This interview, with my WFCR colleague Tina Antolini, aired on November 3, 2008 – a day before the election.

HOST INTRODUCTION: Massachusetts’ landmark health care reform law is entering its third year. And there’s a national spotlight focused on the state, with healthcare a frequent topic in the presidential campaigns. WFCR’s Karen Brown is spending the next few months looking closely at health care reform. She told Tina Antolini that whether Massachusetts is making progress in its goal to insure all residents depends in large part on who you ask… leaders in state government say so far, health reform is a great success. [PLAY AUDIO]