The hottest Health Politics Substack posts right now

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Summertime Blues

Logging the World • 518 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health COVID-19 Pandemic response Vaccine Social media
  1. Lockdown restrictions have mostly been dismantled in the UK, returning to normalcy post-COVID.
  2. It's important to allow young people to enjoy festivals and parties after putting aspects of their lives on hold during the pandemic, despite public health concerns.
  3. Language around illness as punishment can lead to harmful judgments and biases in healthcare and society.

How two very motivated women are helping patients fight their health insurers and get the care they need

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 499 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy Insurance Issues
  1. Two women are helping patients fight against health insurance companies to get the care they deserve. They believe that everyone should advocate for themselves to ensure they receive the benefits they are paying for.
  2. They created resources that explain complex insurance terms and processes. These tools help patients understand how to deal with denials and other challenges in the healthcare system.
  3. Education is key for patients navigating healthcare issues. Many people don't know how to appeal denied claims or ask for urgent care, and there's a need for more knowledge in schools about health insurance.

Six annoying steps that reduced my prescription drug costs by $2000 per year

Neeloy’s Substack • 59 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Costs Prescription drugs Insurance Issues Patient Advocacy Health economics
  1. You can save money on prescription drugs by asking for generic versions. A simple request to your doctor might cut costs significantly.
  2. Checking websites like goodrx.com for coupons can make a big difference. It's worth taking the time to search for discounts at different pharmacies.
  3. Don't hesitate to communicate with your pharmacist and doctor. Asking questions and exploring alternatives can lead to much lower medication costs.

Does the UK’s liver transplant matching algorithm systematically exclude younger patients?

AI Snake Oil • 864 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Ethics Healthcare policy Predictive Modeling
  1. The liver transplant matching algorithm in the UK might favor older patients over younger ones, which raises serious ethical concerns. This can lead to younger patients, even if they are very sick, being overlooked for transplants.
  2. Using predictive algorithms in healthcare can be risky. They can have biases that might not be obvious, like wrongly estimating how long patients will live after a transplant based on a five-year cap.
  3. It's important for the public to have a voice in how medical algorithms are created and used. Better understanding and participation can help ensure fair and just treatment for all patients.

Are drugs good? Are side effects bad? It depends on what you're trying to do.

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 895 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Drug policy Mental health Medical Ethics Psychedelics Pharmaceuticals
  1. The good or bad nature of drugs really depends on what you're trying to achieve with them. It's important to consider the purpose behind using any drug.
  2. Different drugs can have different effects. For example, psychedelics can be helpful for depression but dangerous for someone who is unstable. It's all about context.
  3. Drugs should be viewed as tools that work in specific ways. We need to determine if those effects match what we want for our health or goals.
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Bad Drugs Get Pulled Fast

Cremieux Recueil • 223 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Drug Safety Epidemiology Regulations Public Health
  1. Drugs that cause safety concerns are usually taken off the market quickly. This helps protect people from potential risks.
  2. Large amounts of data from many users help identify drug risks early. Epidemiologists use this information to understand how safe or risky a drug really is.
  3. Mistakes can happen in drug safety monitoring, leading to unnecessary withdrawals. It's important to balance safety with access to beneficial medications.

FDA Commissioner Promotes Products Off Label, an Illegal Pharma Marketing Scheme Long Criticized by Democrats

The DisInformation Chronicle • 2005 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics FDA Regulation Vaccination Conflicts of Interest
  1. FDA Commissioner is promoting products off-label, which is illegal marketing scheme criticized by Democrats
  2. There are concerns about conflicts of interest in reporting on COVID vaccine efficacy
  3. Clinicians may not always see conflicts of interest when receiving payments from pharmaceutical companies

Social Justice Encroachment into Medicine

Heterodox STEM • 206 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Medical Ethics Public Health Gender Issues Social justice Mental health
  1. The focus in medicine is shifting from just improving health to also addressing social justice issues. This change is influencing how doctors see their roles, making them more like activists.
  2. There's growing concern about how medical guidelines in gender care are established. Some recent textbooks promote a very one-sided view and may ignore crucial issues that need more research.
  3. Changes in policy around gender-affirming care show that discussions about healthcare are becoming more political and less focused on individual patient needs, which is troubling.

Ady Barkan, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Be A Hero, dies at 39.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 439 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🏥 Health Politics Health care Activism Policy Reform Disability Rights Human Rights
  1. Ady Barkan was a passionate advocate for healthcare reform who passed away at the young age of 39 due to ALS. He fought tirelessly to ensure that everyone has access to essential health care.
  2. He co-founded 'Be A Hero' to help protect the Affordable Care Act and promote universal healthcare. Even while battling illness, he inspired many to join the cause for better healthcare rights.
  3. Ady's love for his family and friends was a driving force in his activism. He believed that everyone should have the care they need to spend more time with their loved ones.

Weekend flu check-in

Force of Infection • 65 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Infectious Diseases Healthcare policy Surveillance Epidemiology
  1. Influenza activity is increasing across many states, especially among children. While still low, this trend is expected to continue as the holiday season approaches.
  2. Different regions are experiencing varying levels of flu activity. Some areas, like New York City and Colorado, are seeing significant rises, while others remain stable or low.
  3. In Canada, flu cases are also rising quickly, with a noticeable increase in hospitalizations. It's important to monitor respiratory illnesses like RSV and COVID-19, but currently, COVID-19 levels are stable.

The Dose: This week's public health explained (Oct 11)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 959 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Epidemiology Chronic diseases Health Policy
  1. Free Covid-19 tests are now available for all. You can order them online and they will be delivered to your home.
  2. Obesity rates in the U.S. are showing some decline after many years of increase, but the drop could be uncertain and isn't significant yet.
  3. Routine vaccinations for kids are dropping, which is concerning. More children are unvaccinated against diseases like measles, and this trend needs to be addressed to prevent outbreaks.

Did the Pfizer Trial Show the Vaccine Increases Heart Disease Deaths?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 2256 implied HN points • 19 Feb 22
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Safety Clinical Trials
  1. The Pfizer trial did not show a statistically significant increase in all-cause mortality or cardiac mortality among vaccinated individuals
  2. The trial would have needed to be longer for significant differences to show, suggesting the need for longer trials in vaccine studies
  3. It's important to consider all possible risks found in trials seriously, even when statistically insignificant, and to approach vaccine research with caution

Cigna’s Q2 earnings put Wall Street on edge despite huge PBM business revenues

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 599 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Issues Healthcare Costs Profit Margins Corporate Practices Market Trends
  1. Cigna plans to raise health insurance premiums for many customers by about 23% next year, which could leave small businesses and individuals struggling to afford their coverage.
  2. Despite earning more money overall, Cigna's profits fell due to higher medical costs and this disappointed investors, causing their stock price to drop.
  3. Cigna is focusing on its pharmacy benefit manager business, which now accounts for a large share of its revenue, even while prioritizing stock buybacks over customer relief.

Now The Truth Can Be Told: Media Acknowledges COVID Vaccines May Have Caused Deaths Of Children

Unmasked • 50 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination policy Public Health Media Critique Pediatric health Government Agencies Misinformation
  1. Mainstream media and regulators are said to be acknowledging that COVID vaccines may have caused harm, including deaths, in some children.
  2. Because children faced very low risk from COVID, vaccinating them is argued to have offered minimal benefit while exposing healthy kids to potential side effects.
  3. Public health officials, political leaders, and the media are accused of promoting universal vaccination, dismissing dissenting views, and gaslighting critics, with a recent FDA memo and a large study presented as vindication.

Never Forget What They Told Us About COVID Vaccines

Unmasked • 48 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Health Policy Regulatory Policy Vaccine Safety Media Coverage Government oversight
  1. A recent memo says researchers found a link between COVID vaccines and the deaths of at least ten children and alleges earlier officials either hid or didn’t look for that link.
  2. Early experts and officials strongly claimed vaccines would stop transmission or even eliminate the virus, but those promises didn’t hold up and the public messaging shifted over time.
  3. Given these changing claims and possible concealment, people should do their own due diligence, ask questions, and demand transparency when making vaccine decisions.

Jails Should Serve Only Vegan Food

Bentham's Newsletter • 471 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🏥 Health Politics Prison Reform Veganism Animal Welfare
  1. Prisons serving only vegan food can help deter crime by making the environment less enjoyable for inmates.
  2. There's a strong animal welfare argument for prisons serving vegan food to prevent the torture and consumption of animals.
  3. The idea of serving vegan food in prisons should be considered despite concerns, as the criminal justice system is inherently harsh and must be addressed realistically.

Disparities Grow as Smoking Rates Rise Again

American Inequality • 432 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Health Disparities Public Health Healthcare system
  1. Cigarette smoking rates are rising, leading to disparities in health outcomes and life expectancy.
  2. Low-income Americans smoke at higher rates due to targeted advertising and easier access to tobacco products.
  3. E-cigarettes and vaping are on the rise, especially among teenagers, leading to concerns about addiction and health impacts.

Do red and processed meats cause cancer?

Unsettled Science • 840 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Nutrition Cancer Public Health Research Health Policy
  1. The World Health Organization says processed meats cause cancer, but only one type of cancer has been linked directly to them, which is colorectal cancer.
  2. The IARC's decision was based on a small number of studies, which raises questions about how strong the evidence really is.
  3. Many people reacted strongly to the news, fearing that all red meats are dangerous, but the evidence used may not support that broad conclusion.

An epidemic of medical debt is devastating American families as health insurers ratchet up out-of-pocket demands

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 439 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Medical Debt Insurance Healthcare Costs Consumer Advocacy Public Health
  1. Many American families are struggling with medical debt because health insurance companies are making them pay more out of pocket before they get any help. This leaves lots of people feeling like they don't have any insurance for most of the year.
  2. The rise in medical costs is leading to serious financial problems, with a large number of people owing money due to health care expenses. This debt crisis affects millions, and many people feel they might never fully pay it off.
  3. The way healthcare is organized forces people to pay higher costs for their care, often putting them in tough situations where they can't afford necessary treatments. Despite promises of affordable care, the system still seems to favor higher spending on healthcare.

Covid Situation Report: Apr 4, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 139 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health COVID-19 Healthcare policy Disease Control Vaccination
  1. Covid case numbers are low in England, and hospital admissions are stable. This shows that the winter surge is over, but we still need to be cautious.
  2. The Spring 2024 booster campaign is starting for older people and those with weakened immune systems, highlighting the importance of vaccinations.
  3. Changes in Covid testing mean fewer routine tests will be available, but Covid hospital admissions will still help track how the virus is spreading in the community.

Health insurers find new way to drain the bank accounts of Americans with chronic conditions

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 459 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Legislation Chronic Conditions Healthcare Costs Patient Advocacy
  1. Health insurers are changing rules that make it harder for people with chronic illnesses to pay for their medications. This is causing patients to spend much more money out-of-pocket.
  2. Copay accumulators are a new tactic where insurance companies do not count discounts from drug manufacturers towards patients' out-of-pocket limits, making medications even more expensive.
  3. Legislation is being introduced to help protect patients. Bills are being considered at both state and federal levels to ensure that all payments count towards out-of-pocket expenses.

Science, Policy, and Values

Your Local Epidemiologist • 904 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Misinformation Policy decisions Trust Issues
  1. It's important to separate facts from opinions when discussing science and policy. Confusing the two can lead to mistrust in both.
  2. Values play a big role in public health decisions, and people often disagree on what should take priority, like saving lives versus personal freedom.
  3. We need clear and honest communication about scientific uncertainty. People want to understand evolving data, not just fixed facts.

Outbreak Outlook: Week 6 of DIY disease surveillance

Force of Infection • 79 implied HN points • 09 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Disease Surveillance Outbreak Management Health data Food Safety
  1. COVID-19 cases are low across the country, but there may be a rise coming soon. Most states report minimal emergency department visits for COVID.
  2. Influenza activity is increasing, especially in the Southern states, while RSV is showing regional variations with more cases among young children in certain areas.
  3. Food recalls are happening due to contamination concerns, including infant formula linked to botulism, which is especially dangerous for babies.

WSJ shows insurers make patients pay thousands for cheap generics while Brookings thinks Congressional PBM reforms could fall short

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 479 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Insurance Reform Drug Pricing
  1. Health insurers are charging patients much more for generic drugs, even when those drugs are supposed to be cheap. This makes it hard for patients, especially those with serious health issues, to afford their medications.
  2. Researchers suggest that proposed Congressional reforms may not effectively lower drug costs because pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) could find new ways to maintain their profits.
  3. The market for PBM services is very concentrated, giving a few companies a lot of power. More competition could help lower drug prices, but eliminating PBM profits might only reduce overall spending by a small amount.

[VIDEO] Poor Americans to feel the burn from health insurer Elevence's decision in Medicaid dispute

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 519 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Insurance Issues Medicaid Public Health Policy advocacy
  1. Elevance is a health insurer with high denial rates for claims, affecting patients' access to necessary treatments. Many poor Americans are struggling because of this.
  2. In Ohio and Virginia, there's a conflict between Elevance and a major hospital system, leading to unpaid claims amounting to $100 million. This dispute means Medicaid patients may need to find different hospitals for care.
  3. Lawmakers need to step in and address the unfair practices of health insurers like Elevance. This is crucial for protecting low-income Americans who rely on Medicaid services.

It’s Time to Clear the Air on Juul

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 217 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Regulatory Affairs Youth behavior Harm Reduction
  1. The FDA has authorized Juul's e-cigarettes for marketing after a long delay, and this decision has caused surprisingly little backlash.
  2. The once widespread concern about youth vaping has decreased significantly, with much fewer high school students using Juul compared to previous years.
  3. The debate around Juul seems to have shifted, as many health organizations have not raised strong objections following the FDA's recent decision.

“Girls Can Do Anything” But Sorry, Boys Can’t

Bodies get in the way... • 452 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Gender Equality Maternal health Medical Ethics Public Health
  1. Physiological differences between men and women impact health and medical treatment.
  2. Supporting male lactation may not align with the natural functions and purposes of breastfeeding.
  3. The separation of sports competitions by sex acknowledges and respects the physical differences between men and women.

Universal Repeated mRNA Boosting Was (and is) Bad Policy

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Policy Public Health Immunology Regulatory Affairs Pandemic response Vaccine Safety Bioethics Epidemiology
  1. Repeated, frequent mRNA boosters push the immune system toward a tolerance-style response (higher IL-10 and IgG4), so antibodies still bind the virus but trigger less inflammation and cell-killing—this helps prevent severe illness but does not reliably stop infection or spread.
  2. A one-size-fits-all policy of universal, frequent boosting was adopted without solid prospective evidence or proper timing studies, producing predictable immune 'signal stacking'; booster strategies should be risk-stratified, experimentally timed, and driven by shared decision-making.
  3. The tolerance-leaning immune shift from repeated boosting could affect responses to other vaccines and infections and might impair anti-tumor immune surveillance in some contexts, so booster spacing and long-term consequences warrant careful study.

Thanks to reporters at ProPublica and Scripps News, we are learning more about how health insurers cheat patients out of life-saving care

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 339 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Healthcare Patient rights Regulations Legislation
  1. Health insurers often ignore laws meant to help patients get crucial medical care. This can result in patients not receiving life-saving treatments they need.
  2. Many patients don’t complain about insurance denials because they are overwhelmed during difficult times. This makes it hard for regulators to catch insurers doing wrong.
  3. State insurance departments are usually underfunded and struggle to enforce laws, which allows insurers to keep profiting while patients suffer.

DEI/Woke Medicine Forever

Who is Robert Malone • 20 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Medical education Public Health Bioethics DEI Policy Government Policy
  1. DEI and 'woke' ideology are now deeply embedded in medical schools and professional organizations, shaping what is taught and how clinicians speak and act.
  2. That influence shifts admissions and hiring toward demographic and ideological criteria instead of pure merit, and it encourages obedience to protocol over independent medical judgment—critics say this helped spread problematic COVID-era guidance.
  3. Proposed responses include using legal and regulatory means to curb guild power and restore merit-based standards, while patients uncomfortable with current trends may need to seek alternative providers who reject DEI-driven practices.

The seismic shift in U.S. health care imposes big hurdles for providers as payors benefit from “flywheel effect”

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 499 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare systems Policy Impact Market Trends
  1. The U.S. healthcare system has changed a lot since 2008, making it hard for providers and giving payors like UnitedHealth advantages. They manage profits by combining health services and insurance.
  2. Big insurers can keep costs low for themselves while paying their own providers well, which puts pressure on other healthcare providers. This may lead some to sell their practices to these larger companies.
  3. There is increasing tension between healthcare providers and payors due to strategies that payors use to reduce coverage and costs. Providers need to understand these changes to negotiate better.

COVID graphs update

Logging the World • 438 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🏥 Health Politics
  1. Recent data from Denmark suggests a potentially promising trajectory for the new BA.2.86 variant.
  2. There are indications that the growth of the EG.5.1 variant in the UK may be slowing down.
  3. Optimism is tempered with a reminder of humility and uncertainty in predicting the future trajectory of COVID.

Here are 13 Other Explanations For The Adolescent Mental Health Crisis. None of Them Work.

After Babel • 2133 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Mental health Technology Youth Issues Social media Schooling
  1. Smartphones and social media are the main factors behind the adolescent mental health crisis.
  2. The decline in independence among children and teens may be a contributing factor to the rise in teen depression, but it works in conjunction with smartphones and social media.
  3. Alternative explanations such as increased academic pressure or lack of places to hang out do not fully explain the significant increase in teen depression rates.

Breaking: Children’s Health Defense Hits AAP With RICO Suit Over Fraudulent Vaccine Safety Claims

Who is Robert Malone • 17 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Safety Public Health Pediatrics Regulatory Policy Medical Ethics
  1. Children’s Health Defense filed a federal RICO lawsuit accusing the American Academy of Pediatrics of running a decades‑long scheme to promote the childhood vaccine schedule, alleging undisclosed financial ties to vaccine makers and incentives for pediatricians to hit high vaccination rates.
  2. The plaintiffs include parents who say their children were injured or died after routine vaccinations and doctors who say they were professionally punished for questioning AAP guidance; the complaint alleges suppression of contrary research and reliance on a theoretical 2002 paper to justify the schedule.
  3. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and court orders forcing the AAP to disclose gaps in safety testing and stop making unqualified vaccine‑safety claims, and it compares the AAP’s conduct to Big Tobacco while highlighting ongoing legal battles over recent vaccine policy changes.

Dangerous USPSTF Guidelines for Higher-Weight Children Are Open for Public Comment - Part 1

Weight and Healthcare • 299 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Child Health Health recommendations
  1. The US Preventive Services Task Force draft recommendation for higher-weight children is open for public comment until January 16.
  2. Good news: They aren't suggesting intensive dieting for toddlers and recognize the need for research on weight-neutral interventions.
  3. Bad news: They recommend intensive diet programs for children aged 6 or older based on outdated charts, using predominantly fair quality studies with limited long-term follow-up.

America has a worsening hospital crisis. The new documentary "American Hospitals" charts a way out of it.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 359 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare system Public Policy Documentaries Legislation
  1. There is a growing crisis in American hospitals, especially with large hospitals making a lot of money while smaller ones struggle and close down.
  2. The documentary 'American Hospitals: Healing a Broken System' highlights these issues and features experts sharing insights on the hospital situation.
  3. Some lawmakers are starting to pay more attention to the hospital industry's problems and are encouraging changes to make healthcare more fair and accessible for everyone.

The Ethics of Self-Experimentation

Viruses Must Die • 35 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Bioethics Regulation Research Policy Patient rights Public Health
  1. Self-care is a civil right and people should be free to make choices about their own bodies, including personal experiments, without institutional veto.
  2. The Common Rule’s vague definition of “research” has led IRBs to overreach by treating routine or individual healthcare experiments as human-subjects research.
  3. Self-experimentation can speed scientific progress and avoid harmful withholding; studies done for individual benefit without control groups shouldn’t automatically require IRB approval.

Data and Dobbs

Technically Optimistic • 79 implied HN points • 20 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Reproductive Rights Data Privacy Legislation Women's Health Healthcare
  1. Protecting women's health data is crucial, especially in today's politically charged environment.
  2. Legislation like the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act aims to safeguard sensitive reproductive health information from exploitation.
  3. There is a need for comprehensive data privacy legislation to prevent the potential weaponization of all personal data, not just reproductive health data.

Fresh Air, and The Littlest Convoy

Natural Selections • 10 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Mandates Public Health Pandemics Civil Liberties Health Policy
  1. The pandemic bred intense social policing and fear of public shaming, leaving people anxious about masks, distancing, and even having their photos shared.
  2. Pandemic rules and vaccine policies had deep personal consequences for families. Some describe being prevented from traveling to dying relatives and question whether shots played a role in sudden illness.
  3. Finding like-minded people and being outdoors offered relief and a sense of belonging after long isolation. Many still want calm, honest discussion and hope future generations learn to spot warning signs and think independently.