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Denied Care, Divided Nation: How America Fails Its Sickest Patients—and the People Fighting Back

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Across America, families are being broken not by illness alone, but by the quiet cruelty of denial letters from insurance companies.

Published

1 month ago

October 8, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Across America, families are being broken not by illness alone, but by the quiet cruelty of denial letters from insurance companies. Patients in crisis are told their care is not medically necessary. Others learn too late that their coverage has been canceled. The denials come swiftly, the appeals take months, and the system often feels rigged against the very people it was built to protect.

A ProPublica investigation revealed just how devastating those denials can be. In North Carolina, Teressa Sutton-Schulman and her husband, identified as “L” to protect his privacy, endured escalating mental health crises. After two suicide attempts in 11 days, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield repeatedly denied payment for psychiatric treatment. Hidden on page seven of a denial letter was a single line about a right to an external review. Desperate, Sutton-Schulman filed for that review. An independent physician overturned the insurer’s decision and forced the company to pay for more than $70,000 in care, ProPublica reported. “Appeal, appeal, appeal, appeal,” said Kaye Pestaina, a vice president at the nonprofit health policy group KFF, who has studied external appeals. “That’s all you have,” she told ProPublica.

The right to an external appeal was expanded by the Affordable Care Act in 2010, but the protections are uneven. Karen Pollitz, who helped draft the federal regulations under the Obama administration, told ProPublica that insurance lobbyists weakened the process. She said only a fraction of denials are eligible for external review and, in most cases, insurers still choose the reviewers who decide the fate of patients’ appeals. “There are all kinds of ways they could strengthen the laws and the regulations to hold health plans more accountable,” she said. Even when laws exist, few Americans know where to turn. That is why state-based consumer assistance programs, established under the Affordable Care Act, have become a vital safety net — though many states never created them, and others have defunded theirs. About 30 states still operate programs that guide patients through internal and external appeals, while the rest leave families largely alone.

“Every state needs one of these programs,” said Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of private coverage at Families USA. “Health care is so complicated, and people really need experts to turn to,” she told ProPublica. Those experts are often housed in attorney general offices, state insurance departments, or nonprofit agencies. Maryland’s Health Education and Advocacy Unit, for example, has been a lifeline for residents struggling with denied care. “The numbers are low because some people just give up. They’re frustrated. They’re tired. They’re battling cancer,” said Kimberly Cammarata, the unit’s director. “And sometimes the information about why the claim was denied or about how to appeal is terribly unclear. A lot of these outcome letters will say you have a right to an external appeal, but they don’t exactly tell you where to go,” she told ProPublica.

In New York, the Community Service Society operates a similar program, where advocates draft detailed appeals on behalf of patients. “We can help people write their appeals,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of health initiatives at the Community Service Society. “We write appeals for them, sometimes going through thousands of pages of medical records and writing 15- to 20-page appeals,” she told ProPublica. Across the nation, CMS documents show an uneven patchwork of help. In California, consumers can call the Department of Insurance Ombudsman at 1-800-927-4357 for help with denied claims. In Georgia, the Office of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner fields appeals and complaints from residents at 1-800-656-2298. In Illinois, the Department of Insurance maintains a consumer hotline at 1-866-445-5364. New York’s Department of Financial Services handles cases through its consumer division, while Pennsylvania residents can reach the state Insurance Department at 1-877-881-6388. Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia all continue to run active programs through their respective attorney general or ombudsman offices.

Still, millions of Americans remain in states without fully funded consumer assistance programs. For those individuals, even knowing that an external appeal exists is a struggle. ProPublica found that the process is buried under jargon, hidden in small print, or placed deep within denial letters that few patients have the time or emotional strength to decode. Experts say one step can make a difference: persistence. “Appeal, appeal, appeal” has become a mantra not only for patients but for advocates who have watched insurers exploit confusion and fatigue to wear people down.

For urgent cases, the law allows expedited reviews that must be resolved within 72 hours. If the independent reviewer overturns the denial, the insurer is required by law to pay. When that happens, the victory is binding. But the system was never designed for easy victories. Most patients never reach that point. Many die waiting. And yet, despite the exhaustion and the heartbreak, people keep fighting. From North Carolina to California, from New York to Georgia, they continue to challenge billion-dollar corporations that have learned to profit from denial. What unites them is not just the pursuit of care, but a demand for fairness — a demand that too often goes unanswered. “Every state needs one of these programs,” Fish-Parcham said again. “Health care is so complicated, and people really need experts to turn to.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Michael: The King of Pop’s Story Returns to the Big Screen

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making.

Published

3 days ago

November 6, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film will arrive in theaters on April 24, 2026, with the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stepping into the spotlight to portray his legendary uncle.

The trailer wastes no time rekindling the aura of Jackson’s genius. Opening with a studio scene between Jackson and his longtime producer Quincy Jones, played by Kendrick Sampson, the clip builds from a quiet, familiar rhythm to the electrifying pulse of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Viewers catch glimpses of the singer’s childhood, flashes of “Thriller,” and the silhouette that redefined pop culture. Each frame reminds fans of why Jackson remains unmatched in artistry and influence. The cast surrounding the late pop king’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, reads like a who’s who of Black entertainment and music history. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate takes on the role of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Laura Harrier portrays music executive Suzanne de Passe, while Kat Graham embodies Diana Ross. Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca, a towering entertainment lawyer and longtime Jackson confidant who later became co-executor of his estate. The film’s journey to release has been as complicated as the icon it portrays. Production wrapped in 2024, but legal hurdles over depictions of past controversies forced extensive reshoots and editing delays. Even so, Fuqua’s film now appears ready to reclaim the narrative, focusing on Jackson’s creative ambition and humanity beyond tabloid noise. IndieWire reported that the film had faced “a massive legal snafu” over a disputed storyline but was retooled to center the music and legacy that defined generations.

Maven. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

“Michael” promises more than a chronological retelling. It aims to explore how a child star from Gary, Indiana, became the world’s most influential entertainer. The script, written by Oscar-nominated John Logan, traces Jackson’s early years with the Jackson 5 through the triumphs and isolation of global superstardom. With Fuqua’s cinematic eye and producer Graham King—who brought “Bohemian Rhapsody” to life—joining forces with estate executors Branca and John McClain, the film is positioned as both a tribute and a restoration of Jackson’s cultural truth. Branca’s work behind the scenes has long shaped Jackson’s posthumous success. After the singer died in 2009, Branca and McClain took control of the estate burdened by debt and turned it into a global powerhouse worth billions. Under their stewardship, Jackson’s projects have generated more than $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales and landmark deals, including a $600 million joint venture with Sony earlier this year. At its heart, though, “Michael” is a story about artistry that transcends scandal. It offers a reminder that, despite the noise surrounding his life, Jackson’s music still bridges continents and generations. The trailer’s closing moments capture that spirit. As the beat of “Billie Jean” swells and Jaafar Jackson moonwalks into a spotlight, audiences are left with a familiar feeling—the awe of witnessing something timeless return home.

“Michael” opens worldwide in theaters April 24, 2026. See the official trailer here.

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Donald Trump Is the Biggest Loser

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Published

4 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02), says, “Last night was electric, and it was unquestionably a wave.” Democrats won big in what is widely considered a repudiation of Trump’s 9 months at the White House in his second term.

In the state of Virginia, which produced the first big election night win and saw the election of the first woman governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 56% of Virginia’s residents disapprove of President Trump. In New Jersey, 55% of state residents disapprove of the president; in New York, 69% disapprove; and in California, 63% disapprove of the president. The Trump brand or his support for any candidates did nothing to benefit those he endorsed in this election. They actually lost in each race he publicly put his name behind. Trump endorsed former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the New York mayor’s race in his run as an independent. And New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who ran for governor with the presidential endorsement, also lost his prospective race.

The next question is, will the democratic momentum be sustainable? Jones further explained, “This can become a 2026 tsunami, but turning a wave into a tsunami takes energy. A lot of energy. It doesn’t just happen. The conditions are there. Now we have to work!”

Some Democrats would argue that the work is already underway. The pushback against Trump’s national redistricting efforts received a thumb in the eye from California voters. Prop 50, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s counterbalance to President Trump’s redistricting efforts, passed in California last night. Although Trump’s name was not on the ballot last night, his Republican policies were. The United States has now entered the longest government shutdown in its history. Forty-two million Americans are not getting SNAP benefits. Economists are acknowledging that the government shutdown is contributing to the rise in delinquent debt in the student loan, automotive, and credit card industries. These items are among the negatives Americans are protesting against.

Compounding Trump’s political problems is a tariff battle that’s directly impacting pocketbooks. The day after the elections, the Trump administration was arguing before the US Supreme Court in favor of the president’s tariff powers. Meanwhile, President Trump‘s poll numbers are underwater, standing at a 37% national disapproval rate

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Historic Beatdown: Democrats Sweep Virginia as Speaker Don Scott and Jay Jones Make History

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia.

Published

4 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By Lauren Burke

In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia. Democrats once again swept all three statewide offices as they did in 2017 during Trump’s first term. Abigail Spanberger easily won the office of Governor, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi won her race over John Reid to be the next Lieutenant Governor. The victories occurred against the backdrop of a historic win in Virginia by Spanberger that will give Virginia its first woman Governor.

Spanberger’s widely predicted win over Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears was called 17 minutes after the polls closed in Virginia at 7 pm. Former Delegate Jay Jones won his race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. His victory means Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in Virginia’s history. Jones’ win was particularly noteworthy since the last month of his campaign was consumed by the issue of private text messages from 2022 to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner. Republicans ran a non-stop barrage of negative ads against Jones for a month.

Del. Coyner lost her bid for re-election to Delegate-elect Lindsey Dougherty. The Dougherty race was the number one target for House Speaker Don Scott and his campaign lieutenant, Delegate Dan Helmer. Coyner’s defeat was one of at least 13 victories for Democrats who have now added to their ranks in the Virginia House to historic margins. When the Virginia General Assembly returns to session in January, there will be at least 64 Democrats in the chamber. The widespread Republican defeat is a testament to a combination of historic fundraising, Democrats running in all 100 seats, dislike of President Trump’s policies, and an ineffective top of the ticket featuring Lt. Gov. Earle Sears.

+13: Speaker Scott and Del. Helmer Hit Historic Numbers in Fundraising and Power

As the evening ended, a glaring historic fact became clearer: The Virginia House of Delegates will expand to a historic number. The change means the largest Democratic House chamber in the modern era. There were several notable wins by Democrats running for the Virginia House. They include Virgil Thornton, Lilly Franklin, and Kim Pope Adams. Speaker Don Scott and his campaign chair, Dan Helmer, undertook a record fundraising effort never before seen in Virginia’s history. The moment of success for Virginia Democrats will be viewed as a positive signal for Democrats moving into the 2026 elections.