The hottest Healthcare Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health Politics Topics

Doctors and patients raise alarm about prior authorization

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 319 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Prior authorization can cause major problems for patients, leading to delays or denials of necessary treatments. This can sometimes result in serious health issues or even death.
  2. A lot of doctors believe that the prior authorization process actually worsens care for patients. Most doctors say these requirements can make patients abandon their treatment plans.
  3. Insurance companies aren't really cooperating with doctors to fix these issues. This makes it hard for patients to access the care they really need.

The Cost of Changing Course

Dana Blankenhorn: Facing the Future • 79 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. America's economy is built on incentives favoring oil and gas, making it difficult to transition to renewable energy.
  2. Wealthy individuals and big corporations often benefit the most from government aid and investments, rather than the intended recipients.
  3. Challenges in implementing new policies arise due to resistance from established industries and fear of disrupting the capitalist system.
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Big Insurance in-fighting: why it's so important that Cigna is suing CVS

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 319 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Cigna is suing CVS to stop them from hiring a former executive, citing a non-compete agreement. This shows how competitive the big insurance companies are over valuable staff.
  2. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are key players in health insurance, making more money than some health plans. They act as middlemen between patients and drug companies, but their operations are often unclear.
  3. Both political parties are focusing on reforming PBMs because they're seen as raising drug costs. There's growing legal pressure and proposed bills aimed at improving transparency and fairness in their practices.

Neurotech Notables #2: Feb 2024

NEUROTECH FUTURES • 59 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. Neurotech industry news: Companies like Elemind, Brain Scientific, Healium, and more are making advancements in neurotechnology with new products and FDA clearances.
  2. Industry analysis and activities: Discussions and events are happening around topics like investing in neurotech startups, brain scanning technology, and advancements in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.
  3. Community engagement: Aside from the serious industry news, there are fun and interesting neuroscience-related studies and activities for people to enjoy, such as research on penguin microsleep and a neuroscience poetry contest for kids.

Understanding Weight Stigma in Healthcare Practice

Weight and Healthcare • 279 implied HN points • 19 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Weight stigma in healthcare is pervasive and harmful, affecting fat individuals at every level and it is rooted in racism and anti-Blackness.
  2. Different forms of weight stigma and bias exist, including intrinsic and structural biases, and these can lead to inequalities in healthcare access and treatment.
  3. Healthcare practitioners often display high levels of bias, which can harm higher-weight patients, and lack of accommodation for fat patients is a common issue that impacts their access to healthcare.

How to Get the Correct Size Needle for Vaccines As A Higher-Weight Person

Weight and Healthcare • 319 implied HN points • 31 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Higher-weight individuals might need longer needles for safe and effective vaccinations, including COVID-19 shots.
  2. Accessing the correct size needle can be a challenge, with providers sometimes unaware of the need for longer needles.
  3. Creating personalized cards and using a scripted phone call can help higher-weight individuals advocate for longer needles during vaccinations.

True Bipartisanship! America's Ruling Class Joins Hands to Say Violence Against the Ruling Class is Never the Answer.

JoeWrote • 192 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. There's a big divide in America between the working class who face tough healthcare choices and the wealthy elite who don't understand these struggles. Many people feel sympathy for those who resort to extreme actions out of frustration with the healthcare system.
  2. Regulations and profit-driven decisions in the healthcare industry often lead to people being denied medical care, resulting in serious consequences for families. The focus on profits can make it seem like lives are less important.
  3. While some defend the actions of healthcare executives as just following rules, many believe that this mindset excuses harmful policies. The working class wants accountability from those who benefit from a system that puts profit over people's health.

Stop telling fat patients to “just try” a too-small blood pressure cuff – Weight Stigma in Practice

Weight and Healthcare • 379 implied HN points • 25 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Using a too-small blood pressure cuff on fat patients can lead to inaccurate readings, potentially causing misdiagnoses of high blood pressure.
  2. Healthcare professionals should ensure they have properly-sized cuffs and appropriate training to provide accurate care for fat patients.
  3. Fat patients should be proactive in advocating for themselves during medical appointments to ensure proper blood pressure measurements are taken.

Reader Question - What's the Difference Between Weight-Neutral Health and Weight-Inclusive Health

Weight and Healthcare • 319 implied HN points • 27 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Weight-neutral health focuses on providing the same interventions to people of all sizes without using weight loss as a healthcare strategy.
  2. Weight-inclusive health aims to create interventions and practices that are developed for bodies of all sizes, including research, tools, equipment, and best practices.
  3. Inclusive care is essential not only for fat individuals but also for marginalized groups like people of color, trans and nonbinary individuals, cis women, and others.

Open Letter to Insurance Companies re: BMI-Based Incentives/Penalties

Weight and Healthcare • 339 implied HN points • 27 Jul 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Charging more for health insurance based on metrics like BMI can create financial inequalities and harm marginalized groups.
  2. BMI is not an accurate measure of health as people with the same BMI can have different health statuses.
  3. BMI-based incentives/penalties can potentially decrease health, disproportionately affecting People of Color and those with lower socioeconomic status.

Artificial intelligence and mRNA vaccines are not going to cure cancer

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 156 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Artificial intelligence and mRNA vaccines are not expected to cure cancer. Both technologies have limitations that make them less effective in treating this complex disease.
  2. Cancer therapeutic vaccines have been studied extensively, but only one has received FDA approval, and it shows only a slight benefit in survival. Overall, these vaccines often do not work as hoped.
  3. AI struggles to diagnose cancer accurately and often lacks the needed data to improve this. Simply detecting cancer is not enough; finding the right treatment for each specific case is much more complicated.

What Hasn’t Been Tried Yet in Medical Tourism

Hard Pivot • 117 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
💼 Business Healthcare
  1. Building an audience first can be a unique approach in medical tourism.
  2. Vertically integrating by owning clinics and hospitals could make sense in this industry.
  3. Unlocking new forms of supply, like tapping into patient-to-patient networks, could bring value in medical tourism.

The Role of AI in Healthcare

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. AI in healthcare helps improve patient care through predicting health trajectories, recommending treatments, guiding surgical care, monitoring patients, and population health management.
  2. Benefits of AI in healthcare include reducing errors, enhancing diagnosis, personalizing treatment, increasing adherence, and preventing disease, leading to cost savings and revenue generation.
  3. Challenges of AI in healthcare include data access, bias, scaling and integration, lack of transparency, and privacy, which can be addressed through improving data quality, standards, transparency, education, and collaboration.

Sunday Brunch for March 17

Xavi Benjamin • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. The TikTok ban poses serious concerns about government overreach and its impact on freedom of speech and internet control.
  2. There is a need for transparency and discussion about fast-tracked bills that could affect the American people, especially in areas like universal healthcare.
  3. Being informed about potential government actions and their implications is crucial for advocating for policies that align with individual beliefs and values.

Looking for your keys under the light

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 671 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🔬 Science Healthcare
  1. When searching for something, we tend to look where it is easiest to see, even if it might not be the best place to find it.
  2. This behavior can lead to wasting time and effort on ineffective or inefficient search strategies.
  3. It is important to be mindful of not getting stuck looking in familiar or visible places, but to explore all possibilities.

Friday Conversation - The Perfect Doctor's Appointment

Weight and Healthcare • 479 implied HN points • 21 Jan 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. The post discusses the challenges in healthcare appointments and what we wish practitioners would do differently.
  2. Being a paid subscriber adds the value of accessing exclusive content and the opportunity to request specific topics for the author to write about.
  3. The author expresses gratitude for the support of paid subscribers and welcomes suggestions and questions via the provided contact email.

Neurotech Takes The Stage At JPM 2024

NEUROTECH FUTURES • 59 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. Neurotech companies are focusing on new business models and innovation in care models, storytelling and fundraising, AI, data generation, and reputation-building.
  2. The 'killer app' for neurotech could be a reliable diagnostic test for Alzheimer's and investment in VR technology for mental health and wearables.
  3. Neurotech is impacting life sciences by advancing digital biomarkers for cognitive health, exploring treatments for Alzheimer's, and focusing on precision neurology and bioelectronics.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #129

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 129 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. Boom Supersonic has successfully tested its XB-1 jet, marking a big step toward commercial supersonic flights. This could cut flight times significantly, like from New York to London in about three and a half hours.
  2. DeepSeek's new AI model shows it's possible to train a top-level AI for much less money than before. This could make AI more affordable and accessible for various uses.
  3. Science Corp is experimenting with brain-computer interfaces that blend lab-grown neurons with animal brains. This technology could enhance brain function and offer new treatments for neural damage.

Abortion in Cuba vs US shows which country is truly democratic

Geopolitical Economy Report • 299 implied HN points • 23 May 22
🌍 World Politics Healthcare
  1. Cuba's healthcare system, including abortion rights, is free and enshrined in a constitution voted on by the people, in contrast to the US where decisions are made by unelected judges.
  2. Cuba's democratic process involves grassroots participation and direct input from the masses in debates and referendums, showcasing a more participatory form of democracy compared to the US.
  3. Socialism in Cuba has led to the full actualization of reproductive rights for women, emphasizing the importance of socialism in ensuring democratic and reproductive freedom for all.

Welcome to the cover-up for the cover-up

Unreported Truths • 77 implied HN points • 19 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Biden recently announced having prostate cancer that has spread, raising concerns about the seriousness of his health. This announcement comes amidst scrutiny of his mental fitness for office.
  2. There are questions about why Biden, being an elderly president with health risks, may not have had routine cancer screenings. His health choices have sparked discussions about medical responsibilities for those in high positions.
  3. People are increasingly skeptical of how the media handles Biden's health issues. Many are starting to push back against narratives that seem to downplay concerns about his declining health or to silence legitimate questions.

Op-Ed in Today's Daily Beast

Ladyparts • 299 implied HN points • 05 Aug 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. The author highlights the oxymoron of American healthcare and the need for a bigger platform to address it.
  2. The post urges readers to engage with the Op-Ed in The Daily Beast to learn more about the failures in American healthcare.
  3. There is a call to action for readers to subscribe to Ladyparts for further insights and a 7-day free trial.

Will Biden Pardon Fauci?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 153 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Biden might pardon Fauci, who is accused of perjury for his statements about gain of function research. This could set a worrying example for future public health leaders.
  2. Fauci's handling of the pandemic included many controversial decisions, like his advice on masks and school closures. Many believe he didn't provide enough scientific backing for these decisions.
  3. Justice isn't just about punishment; it serves to deter future wrong actions. Pardoning Fauci could lead to more reckless behavior in health leadership during crises.

Are Medicare and Medicaid Patients Required to Weigh-In?

Weight and Healthcare • 199 implied HN points • 09 Nov 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Medicare and Medicaid do not require patients to weigh-in at their appointments, despite common misconceptions.
  2. Physicians are incentivized to discuss weight and create treatment plans for patients with a BMI over 24.9 due to quality score impact on reimbursement.
  3. Patients on Medicare/Medicaid can opt-out of weigh-ins, and providers must exclude them from performance calculations, even though technical challenges may arise.

UX Roundup: Designers in Denial | 3 Levels of Corporate AI Use | AI Improves Medical Diagnosis | AI Math | Ideogram Character Consistency | Bad Study Methodology

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 40 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. Many UX designers are not adapting to AI advancements, which is important for their roles. Designers need to embrace new technologies instead of resisting them to stay relevant.
  2. Companies will evolve into AI-native organizations, making teams more efficient. This shift will change job paths, emphasizing skills over traditional career ladders.
  3. As AI takes over many design tasks, human skills like agency and strategic thinking become essential. Designers must adapt to focus on guiding AI effectively instead of just executing technical tasks.

The price of health insurance has increased 24% over the last year

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 299 implied HN points • 04 Oct 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Health insurance prices went up by 24% over the last year, which is a much bigger increase than most other expenses like food or gas.
  2. While the cost of medical services only rose by around 5.6%, health insurance continues to climb, indicating issues with insurers' pricing.
  3. Deductibles and out-of-pocket costs have also significantly increased, and future premium hikes are expected, putting more financial pressure on families.

Will RFK Jr make it all the way to HHS secretary?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 149 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. RFK Jr. is Trump's nominee for HHS secretary, but getting confirmed may be difficult. He needs support from Republicans and could face pushback from powerful corporate interests.
  2. While RFK Jr. has some popular views, like being against pollution and the influence of big pharma, he also has a mixed history that could be used against him during confirmation.
  3. Even if RFK Jr. makes it to HHS, he might struggle to implement major changes due to strong opposition from the system and media, which could slow down his agenda significantly.

Help Bring Colin Home

Karlstack • 130 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Colin is a 34-year-old man suffering from early onset Huntington's Disease, and he wants to return home to be with his family. His family believes that being at home will give him more comfort and dignity as he faces his illness.
  2. A fundraising campaign called 'Let's Bring Colin Home' is organized to cover legal costs and home care support. They want to help Colin transition from a care facility to his family's home, which requires financial assistance.
  3. The fundraiser highlights the importance of community support, as just a few donations can make a big difference. Even small contributions can help Colin receive the care he needs and improve his quality of life.