The hottest Healthcare Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics
Technically Optimistic 79 implied HN points 20 May 24
  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.
An Africanist Perspective 415 implied HN points 21 Apr 23
  1. The shortage of medical professionals in several African countries is a real concern, with low physician-to-patient ratios impacting healthcare accessibility.
  2. Banning the emigration of medical professionals may not address the root causes of the shortage. Instead, investing in expanding training, wages, and incentives locally could be a more effective solution.
  3. Emigration of high-skilled professionals, like doctors, can be viewed as exporting high-skilled services and can potentially benefit both the sending and receiving countries through remittances and skill development.
Beck of the Pack 196 implied HN points 05 Feb 24
  1. The New York Times is criticized for supporting irreversible surgeries on kids without informed consent.
  2. Financial motives are highlighted as a driving force behind radical medical treatments for children.
  3. Criticism is directed at individuals promoting irreversible procedures on kids without considering long-term consequences.
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American Inequality 393 implied HN points 07 Aug 23
  1. Alzheimer's is a major problem in the US, affecting millions and expected to double in the next 25 years.
  2. Inequality plays a significant role in Alzheimer's, with different communities and demographics being impacted differently.
  3. More focus is needed on training caregivers, analyzing data on minority communities, and educating about new drugs to address Alzheimer's inequalities.
Weight and Healthcare 559 implied HN points 15 Feb 23
  1. BMI limits in healthcare deny procedures to individuals based on their weight, attributing higher risks to higher weight individuals.
  2. These BMI limits perpetuate weight stigma by focusing on weight-based denials instead of improving care for higher-weight individuals.
  3. Patients can face denials of needed surgeries until they reach a certain weight, leading to dangerous delays and potentially fatal consequences.
OpenTheBooks Substack 646 implied HN points 07 Nov 24
  1. Dr. Fauci received $15 million for a security detail funded by taxpayers after retiring. This included things like a chauffeur and law enforcement support.
  2. The agreement for his security was unusual, raising questions about why a private citizen gets this level of protection when others do not.
  3. Fauci's security costs were justified by him, citing threats he's received, but it highlights how taxpayers are often unaware of where their money is going.
Not Boring by Packy McCormick 167 implied HN points 25 Jul 25
  1. The U.S. has launched an AI Action Plan focusing on innovation and building infrastructure to lead in artificial intelligence. This plan aims for faster and more flexible policies to keep up with rapid tech advancements.
  2. Google DeepMind's AI model called Aeneas helps historians understand ancient texts better by predicting missing information and suggesting dates. This tool can reshape how we connect with and interpret our historical past.
  3. A new male birth control pill, YCT-529, shows promise in blocking sperm production safely. This could provide men with more contraceptive options, balancing the responsibilities in family planning.
Weight and Healthcare 479 implied HN points 18 Mar 23
  1. Know the weight and size capacities of your equipment and facilities to provide better care to higher-weight patients.
  2. Understand the diverse needs of all patients and create protocols to ensure a positive experience for everyone, including those with disabilities and neurodivergence.
  3. Communicate openly and proactively with patients about accommodations, accessibility, and equipment capabilities to enhance their experience and educate them about available options.
HEALTH CARE un-covered 439 implied HN points 15 Aug 23
  1. Nonprofit hospitals are supposed to help their communities, but many are not meeting their legal obligations for charity care and community spending. They're holding onto large amounts of cash instead.
  2. A group of senators is raising concerns about how some nonprofit hospitals are abusing their tax-exempt status. They want clearer rules and stronger oversight to ensure hospitals give back to the community.
  3. Some hospitals focus too much on profits and expensive projects instead of helping poor patients. This is causing problems for those who really need care but aren't getting the support they should.
Weight and Healthcare 359 implied HN points 24 May 23
  1. The US Preventative Services Task Force's draft research plan on weight loss interventions lacks consideration for the long-term effectiveness of weight loss attempts.
  2. Small amounts of weight loss do not necessarily cause improved health outcomes - factors like behavior changes and access to healthcare may play a bigger role.
  3. Focusing on health-supporting behaviors rather than weight loss interventions could lead to more meaningful and less harmful outcomes for higher-weight individuals.
HEALTH CARE un-covered 419 implied HN points 17 Aug 23
  1. Elevance and other for-profit insurers are denying many care requests for Medicaid patients. In fact, Elevance has a denial rate over 34%, which is really high.
  2. Lawmakers are starting to investigate these denial practices more closely. Congress is looking into how insurers use 'prior authorization' to say no to needed treatments.
  3. In Ohio, Elevance is having contract disputes with hospitals, impacting Medicaid patients' access to care. This means patients might struggle to find alternative hospitals that will cover their treatments.
HEALTH CARE un-covered 559 implied HN points 01 Jun 23
  1. Seven health insurance CEOs made a whopping $335 million in 2022, which is 18% more than the previous record. Most of their earnings came from big stock buybacks by their companies.
  2. Molina's CEO earned more than half of the total amount, making $181 million, while the smallest companies made most of their money from taxpayer-funded programs like Medicaid.
  3. The increase in CEO pay is concerning, especially since it has happened while many Americans struggle with high medical costs and debts, indicating a focus on profits over patient care.
Weight and Healthcare 339 implied HN points 09 Sep 23
  1. Conflicts of interest exist among authors and funders, and data sources used lack adequate subjects and follow-up time to support recommendations.
  2. Surgery recommendations based on correlation between weight and health issues, rather than exploring confounding variables or comparing surgical interventions to health-supporting behaviors.
  3. Long-term safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery for children and adolescents is not fully supported by the limited data available, raising concerns about the validity of the recommendations.
Moly’s Substack 334 implied HN points 02 May 23
  1. China's urban areas vary from fancy to drab, without much in between due to rapid development and lack of government oversight.
  2. Chinese humor leans towards sarcasm and can be hard to translate, often involving puns and cultural references.
  3. Chinese beauty standards emphasize extreme slimness, reflecting societal norms but also influenced by body types.
HEALTH CARE un-covered 459 implied HN points 17 Jul 23
  1. UnitedHealth Group reported a big increase in revenue and profits, mainly from its pharmacy benefit business and taxpayer-funded programs. They made over $12 billion more than last year.
  2. The company saw significant growth in its Medicare and Medicaid programs, with enrollment in these government programs increasing faster than in traditional commercial plans.
  3. UnitedHealth's Optum division, which provides healthcare services, is growing rapidly, allowing the company to manage costs better and avoid paying out more in claims.
Disaffected Newsletter 579 implied HN points 14 May 23
  1. A Texas Democrat courageously switched sides to support a ban on certain medical treatments for children, showing strong conviction on this issue.
  2. In 2023, it seems tough to maintain a morally respectable stance as a progressive liberal Democrat, suggesting a significant shift in political dynamics.
  3. An Australian malpractice insurer is refusing to cover doctors who provide gender transition treatments for minors, highlighting ongoing concerns about such practices.
Weight and Healthcare 579 implied HN points 24 Dec 22
  1. Weight is not the direct cause of health issues, and mistaking correlation for causation can lead to harmful cycles in healthcare.
  2. Historically, fat people faced barriers like lack of insurance coverage and delayed care, impacting their health outcomes.
  3. Diet culture's focus on weight loss has often led to harmful practices without long-term benefits, perpetuated by the diet industry and healthcare providers.
Weight and Healthcare 319 implied HN points 02 Oct 23
  1. The post discusses a behind-the-scenes look at the American Medical Association's Ethics Podcast and the conversation around BMI-based healthcare denials and BMI issues.
  2. The speaker was pleasantly surprised to receive questions in advance for the podcast interview, which was noted as a relatively short interview.
  3. Access to the full content of the post requires being a paid subscriber.
Gradient Flow 139 implied HN points 22 Feb 24
  1. Generative AI in healthcare can transform patient care by providing personalized treatment suggestions, streamlining documentation, and enhancing communication.
  2. Generative AI enables the development of privacy-assured synthetic medical data for research and prediction of health outcomes through data analysis.
  3. Specialized models tailored to specific tasks through fine-tuning offer more efficient and accurate solutions compared to broader capabilities, highlighting the importance of personalized AI approaches.
The VC Corner 179 implied HN points 13 Jan 24
  1. Carta is facing accusations of unethical practices, which could impact its reputation in the industry. It's a reminder that businesses need to act ethically to maintain trust.
  2. To become a sales-focused founder, there are key steps to follow. Focusing on sales can help drive growth and success for startups.
  3. The outlook for healthcare in 2024 is being discussed. Understanding trends in healthcare can help investors and startups prepare for future opportunities.
HEALTH CARE un-covered 479 implied HN points 08 Jun 23
  1. CVS's Chief Financial Officer stated that the company will continue to find ways to profit even if regulations change. They seem more focused on profits than helping people with their healthcare needs.
  2. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) like CVS's Caremark are very profitable, and they control a major part of the market. This has sparked concern among lawmakers about the fairness of their practices.
  3. The current healthcare system allows companies to prioritize profits over patients, leading to higher costs and medical debt for many Americans. Lawmakers need to take action to protect the public.
Weight and Healthcare 659 implied HN points 25 Oct 22
  1. The author is celebrating the one-year anniversary of their newsletter, Weight and Healthcare, expressing gratitude to their readers.
  2. The author is seeking feedback for the future content of the newsletter, welcoming suggestions on post types and ways to enhance subscriber experience.
  3. The author credits Virginia Sole-Smith and her newsletter, Burnt Toast, for inspiring the creation of their own newsletter and providing essential support and advice.
imperfect offerings 259 implied HN points 04 Nov 23
  1. Generative AI can reshape relationships at personal and societal levels through its integration into everyday life and work.
  2. The use of AI in privatising public goods like healthcare and education raises concerns about data control, accountability, and the concentration of knowledge and power in the hands of few corporations.
  3. AI facilitates the privatisation of public services through the capture of expertise, turning professionals into consumers of recycled expertise and potentially diminishing the role of teachers and healthcare providers in favor of automated systems.
Letters from an American 25 implied HN points 18 Dec 25
  1. Republicans are split over extending ACA premium tax credits, with a few vulnerable GOP members joining Democrats to force a vote because letting the credits lapse would sharply raise premiums and cost millions their coverage while leadership backs a cost-cutting alternative.
  2. The administration is politicizing federal programs and science. It admitted withholding grants from Democratic-leaning states and is moving to cut or dismantle climate research at NCAR, raising public-safety and national-security concerns.
  3. Special counsel Jack Smith told Congress he has proof that the former president led a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election, and his subpoenas and closed-door testimony have escalated partisan attacks and deepened congressional fights over the investigations.
ASeq Newsletter 14 implied HN points 13 Jan 26
  1. Revenue grew to $85M in 2025, roughly 40% higher than the prior year. Despite that growth, the company likely still runs large losses and burns over $100M a year.
  2. The install base expanded to 450 systems (up 60%) and consumable shipments doubled, signaling stronger customer adoption. About 35% of new shipments are multi‑omics Aviti24s, so customers are taking the multi‑omics option.
  3. The product roadmap includes an IVD‑certified Aviti, a higher‑throughput benchtop instrument targeting $100 genomes, and multiomic workflows for FFPE and fresh frozen samples. These product moves could broaden the company’s addressable markets from diagnostics to high‑throughput genomics.
Software Snack Bites 10 implied HN points 16 Jan 26
  1. AI is an enablement shift, not a slow paradigm change — it's making people more capable right now because it’s easy to adopt and useful across skill levels.
  2. We’re still very early: most users treat AI as a simple answer engine, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for self-teaching, new creators, and deeper technical work to come.
  3. Don’t dismiss the momentum — value and spending can grow quickly along an S-curve, and monetization paths like ads, commerce, and healthcare are only beginning to emerge.
HEALTH CARE un-covered 359 implied HN points 20 Jul 23
  1. Elevance's profits for the second quarter were better than expected, making Wall Street investors very happy. The company is on track to earn even more this year than previously thought.
  2. The company spent less on patient care compared to previous years, which boosted their profits. However, this came at the expense of providing necessary care for low-income and vulnerable populations.
  3. Elevance is growing mainly through its Medicare and Medicaid programs, while its private insurance enrollment is declining. The growth in revenue comes from premium increases and government subsidies.
Weight and Healthcare 259 implied HN points 30 Sep 23
  1. The Edmonton Obesity Staging System classifies people based on health issues, but fails to prove the necessity or effectiveness of weight loss interventions for higher stages.
  2. The study authors have conflicts of interest in the weight loss industry, promoting a body-size-as-disease paradigm without concrete evidence of its benefits.
  3. Health-supporting behaviors like fruit/vegetable consumption and fitness were shown to be more important than weight management in improving health outcomes.
Cremieux Recueil 392 implied HN points 18 Dec 24
  1. Senator Chris Murphy made strong claims about healthcare causing deaths in the U.S. but lacked accurate data to back them up. It's important for public officials to use correct statistics when discussing serious issues.
  2. Many deaths in America are unrelated to insurance denials, especially for people over age 65 who are mostly covered by Medicare. This shows that the healthcare system isn't as profit-driven in these cases as Senator Murphy suggested.
  3. Studies have shown that expanding access to healthcare has only small effects on overall mortality. Claims about thousands of deaths caused by lack of care might be greatly exaggerated.
Men Yell at Me 462 implied HN points 05 Nov 24
  1. Women's anger is a big story in this election, especially about issues like abortion rights. Many women are voting based on how these issues affect their lives.
  2. Senior women who previously supported Trump are now favoring Kamala Harris due to frustration over new abortion laws. They remember the struggles before Roe v. Wade.
  3. The right to abortion is not just about healthcare; it's about women's autonomy and equality in society. This anger is pushing women to vote and demand change.