Tradeoffs

Hundreds of U.S. courts offer treatment over prison for some defendants with mental illness.

But critics say mental health courts have outpaced research on their effectiveness.

https://tradeoffs.org/2026/06/04/mental-health-courts-offer-people-facing-prison-an-imperfect-alternative/ less

Mental Health Courts Offer People Facing Prison an Imperfect Alternative Hundreds of U.S. courts offer treatment over prison for some defendants with mental illness. But critics say mental health courts have outpaced research on their effectiveness.

Hundreds of U.S. courts offer treatment over prison for some defendants with mental illness. But critics say mental health courts have outpaced research on their effectiveness.

Over the last 30 years, some 600 counties across 40 states have launched mental health courts.

Proponents say these can be life-changing opportunities for people to receive much-needed treatment — and that they save taxpayers money. Critics argue the legal system should stay out of the mental health treatment business and that these courts’ growth has outpaced the research on their effectiveness.

Journalists Grace Hauck and Josh McGhee spent months diving deep into mental health courts in Illinois for MindSite News and The BGA's Illinois Answers Project.

We talked with Hauck to learn about the key takeaways from their reporting. Listen to the full episode to hear from a woman in Illinois who says mental health courts changed her life, and from Debra Pinals, a forensic psychiatrist who has spent 20 years studying and working in mental health courts.

https://tradeoffs.org/2026/06/04/mental-health-courts-offer-people-facing-prison-an-imperfect-alternative/

President Trump and other leading conservatives are pushing policies they hope will empower patients to shop more wisely for the health care they need.

The hope is that patients become savvier shoppers. Find the cheaper hospital for that hip replacement. Think twice about the extra generous insurance plan. But will these ideas lower spending?

“Shopping for dresses is fun,” said New York University professor Sherry Glied said. “Shopping for health insurance is not fun.”

We go much deeper on the pros, the cons and the evidence behind these ideas. Listen to the episode:

Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care President Trump and other leading conservatives are pushing policies they hope will empower patients to shop more wisely for the health care they need.

Every year, millions of people’s medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization.

Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could it work better for everyone?

A Closer Look at a Widely Despised Health Insurance Policy Every year, millions of people’s medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization, which requires a patient’s health insurer to sign off before chemotherapy, surgery or countless other services can proceed. Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could...

President Trump and other leading conservatives are pushing policies they hope will empower patients to shop more wisely for the health care they need.

In today's episode, we break down the pros, the cons and the evidence behind these policies.

Listen:

Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care President Trump and other leading conservatives are pushing policies they hope will empower patients to shop more wisely for the health care they need.

Economist David Cutler has advised multiple presidents on health policy and was a key voice in crafting Obamacare.

When he published a splashy new paper with The Brookings Institution, suggesting that America has actually saved money on health care, Tradeoffs' Dan Gorenstein had to give him a call.

Listen to their conversation:

The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It? New research from leading health economist David Cutler explores what’s behind a historic slowdown in health spending, even as millions of Americans struggle to afford their care.

With Republicans in control of Washington and health costs on the rise, there’s new momentum behind an old conservative policy: Put more cash in patients’ hands and let them buy their own health care.

https://tradeoffs.org/2026/05/21/republicans-want-to-change-how-you-buy-health-care/ less

Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care President Trump and other leading conservatives are pushing policies they hope will empower patients to shop more wisely for the health care they need.

With Republicans in control of Washington and health costs on the rise, there’s new momentum behind an old conservative policy: Put more cash in patients’ hands and let them buy their own health care.

“The more connected you are to what you're spending, the more likely you are to care about the cost and the price and the value that you're getting,” said Avik Roy, who has advised multiple Republican presidential candidates on health policy.

Republican lawmakers are pushing all sorts of policies built around this idea: HSAs, HFAs, ICHRAs. It’s a supersized serving of acronyms — all designed to give patients more tools and incentives to shop around for their care.

In this week’s episode, we highlight two of the policies getting the most buzz right now and break down the pros, the cons and the evidence behind these ideas. Give it a read or a listen: https://tradeoffs.org/2026/05/21/republicans-want-to-change-how-you-buy-health-care/

New research from leading health economist David Cutler explores what’s behind a historic slowdown in health spending, even as millions of Americans struggle to afford their care.

Listen:

The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It? New research from leading health economist David Cutler explores what’s behind a historic slowdown in health spending, even as millions of Americans struggle to afford their care.

American Public Media's acclaimed mental health series, “Call to Mind,” is back with five new special reports for Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

Each episode features sound-rich stories from across the country that amplify the voices of people living with mental health challenges as they journey to live well.

Listen now: https://link.podtrac.com/KsTsulRh