NPR Series: Common Ground https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=g-s1-130283 Our political divisions are certainly loud. But are they as deep as we think? <br><br>In a new project — called <em>Common Ground</em> — we’re focusing on the areas where healthcare is quietly uniting Americans. KFF Health News, NPR and the NPR Network of member stations around the country will bring you stories where Republicans and Democrats are working — sometimes below the radar — to solve problems in the healthcare system that affect everyone.<br><br>We offer this project in the same spirit as NPR Network’s <a href="https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-33903/seeking-common-ground"target="_blank" >Seeking Common Ground</a> series from 2024-2025.<br> en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:59:08 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Common Ground https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-130283/common-ground-healthcare-politics These church members disagree on politics. Together they're wiping out medical debt Trinity Moravian Church, a politically diverse congregation in Winston-Salem, N. C., has been raising money to retire medical debt in the surrounding community. Sun, 28 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/06/28/nx-s1-5847966/medical-debt-politics-republican-democrat https://www.npr.org/2026/06/28/nx-s1-5847966/medical-debt-politics-republican-democrat

Trinity Moravian Church, a politically diverse congregation in Winston-Salem, N. C., has been raising money to retire medical debt in the surrounding community.

(Image credit: Allison Lee Isley)

]]> Noam Levey 'Cancer doesn't care': Patients pushed past divisive politics to lobby Congress Hundreds of volunteer advocates put partisan differences aside and pressed Congress to help people with cancer. The advocacy came just before the stalemate that has shut down the federal government. Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/10/21/nx-s1-5576978/cancer-lobby-politics-patients-american-cancer-society-cancer-action-network https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/10/21/nx-s1-5576978/cancer-lobby-politics-patients-american-cancer-society-cancer-action-network

Hundreds of volunteer advocates put partisan differences aside and pressed Congress to help people with cancer. The advocacy came just before the stalemate that has shut down the federal government.

(Image credit: Charlotte Kesl for KFF Health News)

]]> Noam Levey In a county that backed Trump, people depend on Medicaid and are conflicted about cuts Medicaid plays a vital role in many rural communities that favored President Trump in the 2024 election. But residents still seem open to Republican plans to cut perceived waste in the program. Wed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/28/nx-s1-5413448/medicaid-big-beautiful-bill-trump-congress-arizona-budget-cuts https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/28/nx-s1-5413448/medicaid-big-beautiful-bill-trump-congress-arizona-budget-cuts

Medicaid plays a vital role in many rural communities that favored President Trump in the 2024 election. But residents still seem open to Republican plans to cut perceived waste in the program.

(Image credit: Linda Gross for KFF Health News)

]]> Noam Levey Medical debt snares millions of people. States, red and blue are passing laws to help State lawmakers from both parties are expanding protections for patients burdened by medical debt. Mon, 07 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/10/07/nx-s1-5135641/medical-debt-solutions-hospitals-republicans-democrats-state-laws https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/10/07/nx-s1-5135641/medical-debt-solutions-hospitals-republicans-democrats-state-laws

State lawmakers from both parties are expanding protections for patients burdened by medical debt.

(Image credit: Ash Ponders for KFF Health News)

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