The human cost of ghost networks
For people with the most severe forms of mental illness, the problem of not being able to find treatment can be deadly. Ravi Coutinho tried very hard to find treatment for his depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorder.
He met frustration at every turn as he tried to find mental health care providers who took his insurance, which seemed to have an adequate network.
NPR’s Rhitu Chatterjee interviewed Coutinho’s mother, Barbara Webber, and Chatterjee discusses the tragic case with Weekend Edition’s Ayesha Rascoe.
For more on Ravi’s story, read the full investigation by ProPublica’s Max Blau.
To find out what to do if you find yourself looking for mental health care in a health insurance ghost network, read this guide.
Marxist Dissanayake wins Sri Lanka’s presidential election as voters reject old guard
The election was crucial as the country seeks to recover from the worst economic crisis in its history and the resulting political upheaval.
In one key swing state, both parties are courting Black men
With North Carolina now a toss-up this presidential election, both parties are making appeals to Black men. An older farmer and a younger restaurant owner share what's driving their votes.
Money for cutting-edge climate technology could dry up in a second Trump term
A hydrogen plant in Utah could offer a new path to slash fossil-fuel pollution. But federal funding that was critical for projects like this one could dry up if Donald Trump is reelected.
‘I Don’t Want to Die.’ He needed mental health care. He found a ghost network
Ravi Coutinho bought a health insurance plan thinking it would give him access to mental health providers. But even after 21 phone calls and multiple hospitalizations, no one could find him a therapist.
Up against a ‘ghost network’ for mental health care? Here’s what you can do
Insurers’ failures to update their provider directories have led to dire consequences for people seeking mental health care. Here's how you can navigate these challenges to find treatment.
Dungeons & Dragons turns 50 this year. Here’s what the game has meant to you
Throughout the decades, it’s remained as a way for its most loyal players to socialize with friends and escape to faraway lands. Readers and listeners to told us about the game's role in their lives.
