Stephen Langel

Cleveland

Health Reporter and Producer at Ideastream

Articles

Cleveland Clinic Backs Down After Copay Controversy

1 week ago | ideastream.org | Stephen Langel

The Cleveland Clinic is dropping its controversial policy requiring patients to reschedule or cancel nonemergency medical appointments if they cannot make their copayments at the time of their visit. The policy was intended to apply to any non-emergency visit that didn’t involve a hospital stay — for example, visits with primary care doctors or specialists, physical or occupational therapists, and procedures performed in a doctor’s office.
Cleveland Clinic backs down after copay controversy

1 week ago | wosu.org | Stephen Langel

The Cleveland Clinic is dropping its controversial policy requiring patients to reschedule or cancel nonemergency medical appointments if they cannot make their copayments at the time of their visit. The policy was intended to apply to any non-emergency visit that didn’t involve a hospital stay — for example, visits with primary care doctors or specialists, physical or occupational therapists, and procedures performed in a doctor’s office.
Cleveland Clinic's new copay policy draws concerns and a lawsuit. What's next?

1 week ago | ideastream.org | Stephen Langel

The Cleveland Clinic’s new policy to ask for copays upfront from patients before some visits is scheduled to start on Sunday. Non-emergency medical appointments would be rescheduled or canceled if patients cannot make their copays at the time of their visit. Ideastream Public Media's Stephen Langel was the first to report on a lawsuit against the new policy, and he’s been getting some community reaction.
Cleveland Clinic's new copay policy draws concerns and a lawsuit. What's next?

1 week ago | wosu.org | Stephen Langel

The Cleveland Clinic’s new policy to ask for copays upfront from patients before some visits is scheduled to start on Sunday. Non-emergency medical appointments would be rescheduled or canceled if patients cannot make their copays at the time of their visit. Ideastream Public Media's Stephen Langel was the first to report on a lawsuit against the new policy, and he’s been getting some community reaction.
Court order filed to stop Cleveland Clinic's new copay policy

2 weeks ago | ideastream.org | Stephen Langel

A Cleveland attorney has filed a claim in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to prevent the Cleveland Clinic from charging copays before office visits, diagnostic tests and procedures. Attorney Cassandra McDonald, who spoke exclusively with Ideastream Public Media on Monday, filed the claim May 16. The Cleveland Clinic announced last week that appointments will be rescheduled or canceled for patients who can't make their copay at the time of their non-emergency visit.
Euclid holds May 17 meeting to draft gun violence prevention plan

3 weeks ago | ideastream.org | Stephen Langel

The Cleveland suburb of Euclid will hold a community-wide discussion May 17 to develop a five-part plan to reduce gun violence, especially among youth, with the intent to implement that plan within the year. The meeting is a culmination of months of community listening and learning sessions prompted by two Euclid High School students being shot outside the school, one fatally, in late 2022.
Cleveland Clinic now requires copay ahead of nonemergency appointments

3 weeks ago | ideastream.org | Stephanie Metzger-Lawrence |Stephen Langel

Cleveland Clinic will begin requiring copay payments before or at the time of check-in for all scheduled office visits, diagnostic tests and procedures, the Clinic confirmed Tuesday. Appointments will be rescheduled or canceled for patients who can't make their copay. The policy will go into effect June 1. The change doesn’t apply to emergency care, surgeries, inpatient hospital stays, cancer treatments or patients with Medicaid.
'Call your friends.' Lorain man wants others to avoid nitrous oxide addiction

3 weeks ago | ideastream.org | Stephen Langel

Smoke and vape shops have been booming in Northeast Ohio, and many sell more than just tobacco products. Another available drug at some stores is nitrous oxide, which is used in anesthesia and food preparation. It's also known as laughing gas and is often sold on the street in whipped cream canisters. The drug brings feelings of euphoria, but can be addictive and cause long-term neurological damage, including difficulty walking and maintaining balance.
Cuyahoga County confirms first measles case of 2025, urges vaccinations

4 weeks ago | ideastream.org | Stephen Langel

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health announced May 8 that the year's first case of measles in Cuyahoga County was reported when a child tested positive at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. The board of health is urging residents to protect themselves by getting the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The vaccine "provides long-term immunity," said Takisha Fuller, the board's deputy director of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Informatics.
What it means to strive for balance and objectivity

4 weeks ago | ideastream.org | Stephen Langel

The subject of objectivity comes up time and time again in my reporting. What is it? How do you maintain it? What does fairness look like? Why is it important? Just last week, I was asked about how to fairly cover climate change: "What do you do when the science is settled or there are strong ethical and moral arguments involved?"Regardless of the topic, here's how I answer: I strive to provide different perspectives on an issue, but not uncritically.