The hottest Healthcare policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

SEIU Delenda Est

Astral Codex Ten • 41984 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. SEIU repeatedly uses ballot initiatives as leverage, proposing attractive-sounding measures designed to wreck targeted industries and then demanding money or union access in exchange for withdrawing them.
  2. The proposed California Billionaire Tax is poorly written—taxing unrealized gains, valuing stakes by voting rights, and applying retroactively—and could drive billionaires and tech founders out of the state, possibly reducing revenue and harming Silicon Valley.
  3. The ballot proposition system creates a perverse incentive for interest groups to design destructive but popular measures as bargaining chips, effectively turning direct democracy into a tool for political extortion.

WPATH, part II: The gist

gender:hacked by Eliza Mondegreen • 1924 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health is now calling itself 'evidence-based', but some parts of their research have been held back, which affects their practice.
  2. They are aware of problems in their field, like overly simplistic assessment tools, but are trying to move towards more inclusive and open-ended questions.
  3. There are concerns about patients, especially young people, wanting to revert their gender decisions, which highlights the importance of supporting individual choices.

Monopoly Round-Up: Why the Epstein Files Won't Go Away

BIG by Matt Stoller • 29565 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. New Epstein documents link many powerful people to his network and show shameless behavior among elites, but those revelations are producing little legal accountability.
  2. A union mechanic won a heavily outspent Texas special election, signaling strong voter anger and a possible anti‑establishment shift driven by economic frustration.
  3. Regulators and markets are clashing with monopoly power — from accusations against Bezos to drug price moves and big tech deal scrutiny — showing rising public and regulatory pressure on corporate elites.

Announcing My Next Book, All in Your Head: Illness as Identity, Trauma as Fashion, and the Desire to Be Disordered

Freddie deBoer • 9684 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare policy
  1. Modern identity and online culture have turned mental illness and developmental disabilities into identity markers or fashion, which distorts reality and harms people.
  2. Historical shifts like the antipsychiatry movement and deinstitutionalization created major failures in care. Making involuntary treatment easier and pursuing concrete policy reforms are proposed fixes.
  3. Disability should be understood as a harmful condition that disables and hurts. Accommodations should focus on mitigating harm rather than validating or celebrating disability.

CBS News Misinforms the Public on Pertussis Vaccination Policy: Dr. Lyons-Weiler Issues a Call for Retraction

Popular Rationalism • 970 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The CBS News report about whooping cough vaccines contained misinformation, suggesting adults need a booster every ten years for pertussis. This is misleading because the CDC does not recommend regular boosters for pertussis.
  2. The effectiveness of the pertussis vaccine decreases significantly within a few years, meaning people can still get infected and spread the disease even after vaccination. This poses risks, especially to infants who are not fully vaccinated.
  3. The vaccine does not provide herd immunity, making it difficult to rely on vaccinated adults to protect vulnerable groups. The public should be educated about the limitations of the vaccine and the risks of asymptomatic carriers.
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Congress Forces NIH to Reverse Policy, Continue Funding Fauci’s “Unsafe” Infectious Disease Centers

The DisInformation Chronicle • 485 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Congress forced NIH to reverse its prior decision and allocate $18.2 million to restart the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID), despite earlier NIH findings that the program was unsafe and not a good use of taxpayer funds.
  2. The CREID awards involve controversial researchers, including Kristian Andersen and Peter Daszak; their work has been criticized over the 'Proximal Origin' paper, and Daszak has previously been debarred from receiving federal funds.
  3. HHS officials say they are alarmed that university lobbyists and Congress intervened in funding decisions, and the White House is finalizing a risk-based policy to limit funding for dangerous gain-of-function research and penalize nondisclosure of risky studies.

The Rise and Fall of Youth Gender Medicine

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1706 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. A rapid rise in gender ideology changed language and policies across schools, media, and medicine, and many people felt they could be punished for using words like “male,” “female,” or “pregnant.”
  2. Activist enforcement pushed professionals to publicly endorse contested beliefs about biological sex, sometimes threatening jobs, careers, and classroom speech.
  3. Increased reporting and public pushback have started to reverse that influence, leading institutions to reevaluate policies and medical practices.

How Big Pharma Mixed Addiction With Social Justice

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 3638 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Purdue ran a deliberate, identity-targeted marketing campaign to get doctors to start and keep patients on high-dose opioids, using fake patient profiles and other tactics that helped drive widespread addiction.
  2. They co-opted feminist and empowerment language to sell pills to women, planning to "educate women in their natural settings" — including things like Tupperware parties — to normalize and increase demand.
  3. After massive harm and lawsuits, bankruptcy deals offer modest payouts (often $3,500–$16,000) and let the company rebrand and move into addiction treatment, even as many clinicians were misled about how addictive modern opioid therapy really is.

Medicaid Data Dump: Billing Codes Explode Up to 10,000%, LA Mental Health Dept. Highest Biller in the Nation

OpenTheBooks Substack • 429 implied HN points • 21 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. A new HHS data release shows over 270 million Medicaid payments from 2018–2024 totaling more than $1 trillion, with monthly spending rising sharply after 2020.
  2. One billing code, T1019 for personal/home care, accounts for a huge share of spending and grew about 144% from 2018 to 2024, with a few organizations (mostly in New York) collecting over $1 billion each.
  3. Dozens of other billing codes ballooned—some up hundreds to over 10,000%—largely for home-based and coordinated care, concentrating large sums quickly and raising questions about oversight and possible fraud.

Medical Roundup #6

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1657 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare policy
  1. The apparent rise in autism is actually just more people being diagnosed under much broader criteria, not a real increase in prevalence, and the "autism spectrum" is now so wide it would be clearer to separate the very different ends.
  2. Doing even a small amount of regular exercise gives real health and cognitive benefits, and lowering psychological barriers (like free gym access) raises activity, though gains taper off once you become very fit.
  3. Regulatory and system problems — costly, slow clinical trials, restrictive FDA decisions, and workforce bottlenecks — are slowing drug development and harming care, so easing unnecessary barriers and better incentives would speed innovation and improve outcome access.

Doctors Won't Listen. Is Artificial Intelligence the Answer?

COVID Reason • 356 implied HN points • 02 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed flaws in the healthcare system, showing that some doctors may not always listen to their patients or critically evaluate their practices.
  2. A study found that while AI like GPT-4 can diagnose accurately on its own, doctors did not significantly improve their performance using it, possibly due to skepticism and integration issues.
  3. For AI to be effective in healthcare, there needs to be better collaboration between doctors and AI tools, focusing on trust and finding ways to integrate AI smoothly into their work.

What Covid Policy Did to Doctors Who Refused to Stay Silent

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 48 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Medicine shifted from open debate to enforced unanimity during the pandemic, with dissent labeled dangerous and scientific discussion suppressed.
  2. Many doctors stayed silent because speaking risked licenses, hospital privileges, funding, and income, which created an illusion of consensus and stifled learning.
  3. Those who spoke faced heavy personal and professional costs, so protecting physicians’ freedom to question and demanding accountability are crucial to safeguard medical integrity and patient care in future crises.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: From Fighting Obamacare to Defending Big Pharma

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 559 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a history of opposing health care reforms like Obamacare, fighting to protect the insurance industry's profits. Their actions have often prioritized big business over the needs of everyday people.
  2. Recently, the Chamber has also opposed Medicare's efforts to negotiate lower drug prices. They claim it will harm the pharmaceutical industry, but many seniors could benefit from cheaper medications.
  3. Overall, the Chamber does not represent small businesses or local interests as much as it represents large corporations. Their lobbying efforts highlight how some businesses prioritize profit over the well-being of the public.

UnitedHealth Group – a Real Life Majin Buu: The Art of Absorbing Everything in Sight

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 679 implied HN points • 14 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. UnitedHealth Group is a massive company that has grown by buying up other businesses in healthcare. This makes it very influential in many areas of the industry.
  2. Like the Dragon Ball Z character Majin Buu, UnitedHealth absorbs other companies to become stronger and extend its reach. This strategy helps them dominate the healthcare market.
  3. The unchecked power of companies like UnitedHealth can have serious consequences for regular people, leading to higher costs and fewer choices in healthcare.

As UnitedHealth and Cigna are Sued for AI-Based Claims Denials, Documents Suggest Major AI Expansion

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 739 implied HN points • 11 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. UnitedHealth and Cigna are facing lawsuits for denying medical claims using a flawed AI system, which many believe does not work correctly. This has led to patients not receiving the care they need or having to pay high costs for care.
  2. Despite the lawsuits and public criticism, these companies plan to expand their use of AI in health care decision-making. They are investing more in technology, aiming for efficiency even at the risk of more denied claims.
  3. Experts warn that using AI in health care can leave patients feeling helpless and confused when their claims are denied. They believe that patients under AI-driven systems may struggle to advocate for their own health needs effectively.

Private Medicare Plans and Vertical Integration Yield UnitedHealth $15.8 Billion in Profits Between January and June

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 619 implied HN points • 16 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. UnitedHealth made a massive profit of $15.8 billion in just six months by using strategies to boost its income from private Medicare plans. This shows how profitable these plans can be for insurance companies.
  2. The company has been increasing its earnings by owning many of the doctors and clinics its patients visit. This vertical integration gives them more control and helps them profit more from the services they provide.
  3. UnitedHealth has found ways to maximize its Medicare Advantage funding by misreporting patient conditions. This has earned them billions from the government, which has raised questions about their practices.

URGENT: Big Pharma wins again

Unreported Truths • 44 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. A senior FDA medical official who publicly challenged certain mRNA vaccine makers is leaving their post amid intense pressure. Shares of the companies he criticized jumped after the announcement.
  2. Powerful industry and institutional forces pushed back on criticism and can derail internal reformers. That shows it’s very hard to change drug regulation from inside the current system.
  3. The market rewarded the outcome, signaling that investors favor moves that help pharmaceutical companies. This dynamic undermines confidence in regulatory independence and efforts to hold companies accountable.

While an Insurance Industry Front Group Pushes Against Medicare Advantage Scrutiny, Rural Hospitals Remain Unswayed

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 599 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Medicare Advantage plans are being pushed heavily by some insurance groups, but many rural hospitals are rejecting these plans due to issues like payment delays and limited coverage.
  2. Reports show that people on Medicare Advantage can face higher out-of-pocket costs and less access to necessary care compared to those on traditional Medicare.
  3. Many rural hospitals are opting out of Medicare Advantage altogether, indicating that this choice may leave beneficiaries with fewer options and potentially lead to financial burdens.

FTC: Big Insurance’s PBMs “Profit at the Expense of Patients by Inflating Drug Costs and Squeezing Main Street Pharmacies"

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 579 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Big insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are making money by increasing drug prices and hurting small pharmacies. This means patients often pay more for their medications.
  2. The FTC found that just six companies control most of the pharmacy benefit market, limiting options for patients and squeezing independent pharmacies.
  3. Many people struggle to afford their medications, with some saying they skip doses because of high costs. This shows the serious impact of PBMs on healthcare access.

The End of Youth Gender Transition?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3830 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The Supreme Court decided that states can limit or ban gender transition treatments for minors. This marks a significant shift in how such medical care is regulated.
  2. The number of young people seeking transition treatments has greatly increased in recent years, with a surprising number of adolescent girls among those seeking help.
  3. The ruling highlights concerns about the lack of solid evidence and ethical practices surrounding these medical interventions for minors.

Open letter to the New Zealand Health Minister.

A B’Old Woman • 479 implied HN points • 15 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The open letter to New Zealand's Health Minister highlights worries about the new gender-affirming care guidelines, suggesting they lack solid evidence and consensus.
  2. It questions the credibility of organizations like WPATH and PATHA, pointing out conflicts of interest and potential political pressures affecting health guidelines.
  3. There's a call for greater caution in treating young people who identify as transgender, emphasizing the need for evidence-based practices rather than 'treatment on demand.'

Confessions of a Recovering Managed Care Executive

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 839 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Working in managed care, the focus is often on lowering costs rather than ensuring quality care. This can make it hard for executives to feel good about their roles.
  2. A turning point in his career came when a doctor reminded him of the real people affected by profit-driven decisions. It made him reevaluate his path.
  3. Leaving the for-profit insurance world was tough financially, but it became the best career choice for him. He now helps doctors get fair contracts and values the work he does.

Medicaid and Medicare Claims Managed by Insurers Are Rising. Why Aren’t They Worried About Their Profits?

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 819 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Insurers are seeing more claims for Medicaid and Medicare, but they aren't worried about profits. This is surprising to many people looking at the rising costs.
  2. Insurance companies can limit patient care by using tactics like prior authorization, which makes it hard for people to get needed treatment. This helps them keep their profits high.
  3. Medicare Advantage plans allow insurers to charge seniors more out-of-pocket costs. Insurers do this to maximize their profits while still getting a steady payment from the government.

Medicare Advantage Insurers Hurt You Because Their Profits Depend On It

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 739 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Many seniors using Medicare Advantage plans face serious obstacles, like having limited access to doctors. This can lead to long travel times and difficulties in getting proper care.
  2. These plans often require a lot of extra steps to approve treatments, causing frustrating delays for patients in need of immediate attention. It can take weeks or months to get the care they need.
  3. Switching from Medicare Advantage back to traditional Medicare can be tricky and risky. Many people may find they can’t get the additional coverage they need after becoming sick, thus leaving them stuck in a difficult situation.

Celebrating Medicare’s 59th Birthday Amidst Troubling Trends

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 259 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Medicare has helped millions of seniors access health care since it started 59 years ago. It was created to ensure older people could get medical services without going broke.
  2. Medicare Advantage plans, run by private companies, often cause more problems than they solve. They can lead to higher costs and less access to care for seniors.
  3. Big health insurers are getting extra money from the government through Medicare Advantage, which is hurting the traditional Medicare system. Regulators are now starting to pay attention and could help protect this important program.

CVS CEO to Wall Street: People in Medicare Advantage Are in for a World of Hurt as We Focus on Profits

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 919 implied HN points • 13 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. CVS Health is under pressure to boost profits, which may lead to reduced coverage for Medicare Advantage plans. This means people might not get the treatments their doctors recommend.
  2. Expect higher premiums and limited benefits as CVS plans to adjust its Medicare offerings to make more money. Many seniors could find themselves losing access to necessary care.
  3. The changes happening now in Medicare Advantage could disrupt healthcare for many. Once someone is dropped from these plans, it can be tough for them to find affordable alternatives.

URGENT: Poll, reader thread, and podcast discussion today on what the ouster of Vinay Prasad means for the FDA and the future of medical reform in the United States

Unreported Truths • 24 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The U.S. spends about $5 trillion a year on healthcare but still has poor outcomes, which has helped fuel the grassroots MAHA movement focused on personal responsibility and questioning the medical establishment.
  2. Political answers are unclear: Democrats mostly push more government-funded coverage that could raise costs, while Republicans lack a unified reform plan and many policymakers are tied to industry interests.
  3. The ouster of Vinay Prasad from the FDA feels like a pivotal setback for aggressive medical reform, suggesting big pharma influence remains strong as promised changes to drug advertising and other reforms stall.

Covid Situation Report: Jul 18, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 279 implied HN points • 19 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Covid cases are rising again in England, especially among older people. This suggests that the virus is still active and not just a seasonal illness.
  2. Hospital admissions for Covid are also increasing and approaching the levels seen during last winter's peak. This means the healthcare system could face more pressure soon.
  3. Despite fewer deaths from Covid compared to last year, there has been a recent increase in fatalities. It's crucial to stay cautious and follow health guidelines to minimize risks.

Covid Situation Report: Jul 11, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 219 implied HN points • 12 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Covid case rates and hospital admissions are stabilizing, but they are still higher than May's figures. It looks like the peak may have passed, but caution is needed.
  2. The Spring 2024 booster campaign had lower vaccine coverage compared to previous campaigns, especially among vulnerable groups. This means more people might be at risk.
  3. Long Covid remains a concern for everyone, and it's important to take safety measures like self-isolating and wearing masks if you're feeling unwell.

How can American medicine be this bad?

Unreported Truths • 116 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Big corporate healthcare and insurance pressures have turned primary care into rushed, impersonal visits where thorough physical exams and continuity are often missing.
  2. Doctors are increasingly treated like functionaries following checklists and metrics, prioritizing measurable targets like blood pressure numbers and vaccines over listening to a patient’s full story.
  3. Older solo practitioners provided hands-on exams and long-term, personalized care, and those bedside skills and relationships are disappearing as systems prioritize efficiency and scale.

Covid Situation Report: Jun 20, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 299 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Covid positivity rates and hospital admissions are on the rise again, indicating that the virus is spreading more in the community. It's important to stay cautious.
  2. Long Covid is affecting many people, with over 1.1 million reporting symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks. This shows that even after initial recovery, some individuals continue to face health challenges.
  3. The Spring 2024 booster campaign is ongoing but is seeing slower vaccination rates compared to previous campaigns. It's crucial for eligible individuals, especially the immunosuppressed, to get vaccinated before the campaign ends.

The Heritage Foundation's Medicare and Social Security Blueprint

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 739 implied HN points • 04 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy
  1. The Heritage Foundation is working to change Medicare into a system more like private insurance, which may not provide the same level of care for everyone. This shift could leave many seniors without sufficient support when they really need it.
  2. Currently, many people are choosing Medicare Advantage plans because they seem to offer great perks. However, these plans might limit their care options when serious health issues arise, potentially putting them in a difficult situation later on.
  3. If reforms are passed, Medicare and Social Security could become benefits available only to those in the greatest need. This would transform them from universal programs into something more like welfare, affecting millions of Americans.

The Medicare Price Caps are the Moral Equivalent of Genocide

Something to Consider • 239 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Medicare price caps could lower investment in new drugs, as they cut profits for pharmaceutical companies. Less investment might mean fewer new medicines in the future.
  2. Reducing drug prices could result in significant loss of life, as fewer new drugs mean fewer treatments for diseases. This effect is not just for the U.S., but could impact people globally.
  3. Instead of cutting prices, the focus should be on finding ways to help people afford medications. It's important to invest in pharmaceuticals to save lives rather than trying to cut costs at the expense of future health advancements.

Covid Situation Report: Jun 27, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 239 implied HN points • 28 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Covid cases in England are rising again, especially in the North East and North West, but they are still at relatively low levels overall.
  2. Deaths from Covid have slightly increased recently, but they remain lower compared to last year, with only 101 deaths recorded for a recent week.
  3. The Spring 2024 booster campaign is ending soon, and while 55% of those eligible have received it, many immunocompromised individuals still need to get vaccinated.

The great Medicare Advantage marketing scam: How for-profit health insurers convince seniors to enroll in private Medicare plans

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 1338 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Seniors receive a lot of ads for Medicare Advantage plans that often oversell the benefits and don't mention the downsides, like limited networks and requiring approvals for care.
  2. More than half of seniors are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage, a shift that many believe is driven by aggressive marketing tactics from insurance companies.
  3. Complaints about how Medicare Advantage is marketed have doubled recently, highlighting the need for stricter regulations on these advertising practices.

Your top 10 FAQ on drug prices

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1591 implied HN points • 15 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Drug prices in the U.S. are much higher than in other countries because drug companies set their own prices, and patents keep competition away for many years. This results in Americans paying more for medications.
  2. High drug prices lead people to skip doses or avoid taking medicine altogether, which can result in serious health issues. Many people can't afford their medications, causing preventable health problems.
  3. There are possible solutions to lower drug prices, like the government negotiating prices and reforming patents to allow generics more quickly. However, it requires public pressure and political will to make these changes happen.

Covid still quiet, measles, ticks, smoke, EMTALA, and seed oil confusion

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1232 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare policy
  1. A new class of antibiotics has been approved for treating urinary tract infections, which is great news in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
  2. Measles cases are rising in several states, especially among unvaccinated children, highlighting the importance of vaccination during summer travel.
  3. Wildfire smoke from Canada is affecting air quality in many areas, so it's smart to check local air quality levels and take safety precautions when needed.

Foundational Steps Vital on the Road to Universal Health Care

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 379 implied HN points • 09 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Incremental changes in health care shouldn't be viewed negatively. They can be seen as essential steps that help us get closer to universal health care.
  2. The pandemic showed how unprepared many health systems were, revealing deep flaws that need fixing for better care in the future.
  3. Fighting for universal health care means understanding the complex ties between health care and finance, as both sectors are deeply connected and affect each other's success.

Here's what we're getting ourselves into

Your Local Epidemiologist • 2286 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy
  1. Many people think natural things are always good, but that's not true. Some natural things can be harmful, like germs that cause diseases.
  2. It's important to rely on science rather than just the appeal of nature. Some human-made medicines save lives, even when natural solutions sound better.
  3. We need policies that look at the real issues affecting health, not just ones that follow popular but incorrect ideas about nature. Ignoring the complexities can lead to more health problems.