John Oliver dedicated the longest segment of Sunday’s “Last Week Tonight” episode to talking about private dialysis providers. The life-extending, ongoing procedure is paid for by the government thanks to President Nixon (yes, Nixon). Now, Oliver says, providers such as DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care are finding ways to maximize their financial gains — paid for by U.S. taxpayers — at the expense of patients’ health and safety.

One can’t help but conclude from Oliver’s revealing segment that this is what happens when patients’ lives are on the line and providers care only about profits.

— Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata

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#health care#john oliver#kidney#last week tonight#richard nixon#usa