Joseph Burns
Health Policy Beat Leader
Joseph Burns is AHCJ’s health beat leader on health policy and insurance. He’s an independent journalist based in Brewster, Mass., who has covered health care, health policy and the business of care since 1991. Burns has written for a variety of publications, including The New York Times, Fortune, Hospitals & Health Networks, and Medical Economics, among others. Early in his journalism career, Burns worked as a reporter in Connecticut, first for The Wallingford Post (a weekly), and then The Meriden Record-Journal (a daily), and later for The Hartford Courant (the largest daily newspaper in the state and the nation’s oldest newspaper). For The Courant, he was a reporter, copy editor and regional news editor. During this time, he also taught news writing at the University of Connecticut.
“Covering the expensive, dysfunctional U.S. health care system is always challenging and often frustrating, making it an honor and a privilege to have the best beat in journalism.”
Authored Posts
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Medical debt in the U.S. leads to poor health and premature death, study says
A recent study suggests that when U.S. consumers have medical debt in collections, they are likely to have worse health…
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Sources for covering the hidden clauses raising employers’ and workers’ health costs
In February, a Johnson & Johnson employee sued the company for driving up health insurance costs in what could be…
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‘No one can see you now’: Primary care in crisis amid physician shortage, underfunding
A new report shows that a physician shortage and lack of investment in primary care has caused Americans’ average life…
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Lawsuit exposes hidden factors driving up prescription drug costs
The case against Johnson & Johnson alleges that the company mismanaged its employee benefit program, costing workers and the business…
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U.S. drug prices are 278% higher than 33 other countries, report shows
Prices for brand-name and generic drugs in 2022 were nearly three times higher in the U.S. than in comparable countries.
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Why ACA enrollment has broken records for the third year in a row
In the 10 years since the Affordable Care Act became effective, it’s never been more popular than it is today.
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Coverage 101: Using the new state media guides to write big stories
In this webinar, learn how to navigate and report on health insurance in each state with Georgetown University’s new primers.
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Covering financial toxicity: One woman’s struggle with the high cost of cancer care
April Donaldson, cancer patient and mother of three, is one of millions of Americans struggling with the financially toxic effects…
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As open enrollment begins, older adults have questions about how to afford Medicare coverage
Many Americans ages 65 and up have difficulty affording Medicare premiums and prescription drugs. Journalists have an opportunity to help…
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Why you should cover the slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout and insurance concerns
Journalists have an opportunity to reach out to their readers, viewers and listeners to gather case study examples and challenge…