Hey, first!  If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to support our work.

We have SO much work ahead in 2026. Donate here.

We’re back for another look at things that – believe it or not – did NOT suck in 2025. 

Specifically: new state laws from around the country aimed at protecting people from things like medical debt, insurance delays and denials, and corporate profiteering.  

In this episode, we dive into two examples from opposite sides of the country to look at how laws like these get made – and in some cases, defended. 

In Maine, lawmakers unanimously voted to remove medical debts from people’s credit reports. While a nationwide court ruling raises questions about the new law’s future, we’ll hear why consumer rights attorney Chi Chi Wu remains optimistic.  

And in Oregon, a law aims to prevent big corporations and private equity firms from taking over medical clinics and strip-mining them for profits.

Plus, a good-news update from our team at An Arm and a Leg. 

Here's a transcript of this episode. 

Send your stories and questions! Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.

And, again… we’d love for you to support this show.

Hey, first!&nbsp; If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">support our work</a>.
We have SO much work ahead in 2026. <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">Donate here</a>.
<hr>
We&rsquo;re back for another look at things that &ndash; believe it or not &ndash; did NOT suck in 2025.&nbsp;
Specifically: new state laws from around the country aimed at protecting people from things like medical debt, insurance delays and denials, and corporate profiteering.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In this episode, we dive into two examples from opposite sides of the country to look at how laws like these get made &ndash; and in some cases, defended.&nbsp;
In Maine, lawmakers unanimously voted to remove medical debts from people&rsquo;s credit reports. While a nationwide court ruling raises questions about the new law&rsquo;s future, we&rsquo;ll hear why consumer rights attorney Chi Chi Wu remains optimistic.&nbsp;&nbsp;
And in Oregon, a law aims to prevent big corporations and private equity firms from taking over medical clinics and strip-mining them for profits.
Plus, a good-news update from our team at An Arm and a Leg.&nbsp;
<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/what-didnt-suck-in-2025-2/#transcript">Here's a transcript of this episode</a>.&nbsp;
Send&nbsp;<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact-us/">your stories and questions</a>! Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.
And, again&hellip; we&rsquo;d love for you to&nbsp;<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">support this show</a>.

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart. 

An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/

Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you&rsquo;re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting &mdash; you&rsquo;re not always helpless. We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we&rsquo;ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.&nbsp;
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/">KFF Health News</a> and distributed in partnership with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>.
You can support An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;by donating at <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">armandalegshow.com/support/</a>
<hr>
Show Credits:&nbsp;Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

Advertisement