The hottest Healthcare Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

Turns out even more of you are doctors (and nurses) than I expected

Unreported Truths • 43 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Many readers identify as healthcare professionals, with a significant portion being doctors and nurses. It's great to see so many engaged in the conversation about medical issues.
  2. There are concerns about the medical field focusing too much on procedures rather than promoting healthier lifestyles. This prioritization may be driven by financial considerations.
  3. Some healthcare professionals express distrust towards the research system and the influence of pharmaceutical companies. They feel that conflicts of interest may impact patient care and safety.

What I'm Reading: Cigna's 2022 earnings; ProPublica's prior authorization series

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Insurance companies like Cigna are making a lot of money by acting as middlemen in the drug supply chain, especially after acquiring pharmacy benefit managers.
  2. Cigna's profits increased significantly in 2022, partly because they paid out less for medical claims compared to previous years.
  3. Instead of lowering costs for customers, Cigna is using its profits to buy back its own stock, which primarily benefits shareholders.

Swimming from academe to your first industry role

The Recovering Academic • 79 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
💼 Business Healthcare
  1. Networking plays a crucial role in transitioning from academia to industry, helping bridge the initial gap from the shore to the first island.
  2. Storytelling and human connection can be powerful tools in job interviews, emphasizing the importance of building relationships beyond just technical skills.
  3. AI presents both challenges and opportunities in fields like medicine, where it can assist in data processing and diagnostic accuracy, while also raising concerns about human connection and empathy in healthcare.
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A decade-long look at how Big Insurance profiteers American taxpayers and the sick.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 399 implied HN points • 04 Apr 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Big insurance companies have grown a lot in size and profit over the last decade, primarily through mergers and getting more government contracts. They now make a lot of money, with profits reaching over $60 billion last year.
  2. Most of the increase in people under these insurance companies comes from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, not from private insurance. Taxpayers are indirectly supporting these companies even if they don't use their plans.
  3. Insurance companies are shifting more costs onto patients, leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses and making it hard for many to afford care. This is resulting in more people being underinsured and potentially struggling with medical debt.

Shaping Tomorrow's Healthcare Today: Be Part of the Amwell Team👩🏽‍⚕️

Black Tech Pipeline • 78 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Amwell is a leading telehealth platform connecting providers, insurers, patients, and innovators for high-quality, accessible care.
  2. Amwell values fostering an inclusive, diverse, and respectful work environment for personal and career growth.
  3. Amwell is actively hiring for various remote positions in the US, focusing on diverse roles like product management, technical program management, and engineering.

Should You Use AI to Diagnose Patients: Foresight and ChatGPT

AI for Healthcare • 78 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Using AI for diagnosing patients is not recommended yet due to lack of real-world healthcare testing.
  2. Foresight and ChatGPT are two AI models explored for patient diagnosis, with Foresight showing slightly superior relevancy performance.
  3. AI models like Foresight can be valuable in healthcare for decision support, patient monitoring, digital twins, education, and matching patients to clinical trials.

NYC's call to move retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan is being opposed by a 9/11 hero. She's backed by hundreds of retirees.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. A retired EMT, Marianne Pizzitola, is fighting against NYC's plan to move retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan. This change could hurt many retirees and reduce their healthcare coverage.
  2. Retirees are concerned that Medicare Advantage plans may limit the care they receive. These plans can require approvals for necessary treatments, which can delay or deny important medical care.
  3. The fight against the Medicare Advantage plan is uniting many retirees from different backgrounds and political views. They all agree that retirees deserve better healthcare options and shouldn't be forced into a plan that may not serve their needs.

Gas Chamber: An Industrial Accident at a Poop Science Lab

Eat Shit and Prosper • 159 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🔬 Science Healthcare
  1. Working with bacteria, especially in a lab, can lead to unexpected and funny situations. In this case, a vacuum chamber experiment led to an overwhelming smell due to fermentation gases.
  2. It's important to follow safety protocols, like weighing flasks, when handling materials in a centrifuge to prevent accidents.
  3. Despite the humorous mishap, the science behind using gut bacteria for mental health treatments shows promise and is an exciting field.

Good Vibrations, Bad Virus

Ladyparts • 259 implied HN points • 06 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Be cautious of the new Covid strain BA.5, which experts compare to viral meningitis and can lead to hospitalizations and deaths. Stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect yourself.
  2. Understand the potential impacts of BA.5 on the brain, including blood-brain barrier crossing, clot formation, inflammation, and neuronal damage. It's crucial to be aware of these risks for your health.
  3. Seek medical attention promptly if you experience hearing issues due to Covid or other reasons. Consulting a specialist like Dr. Babak Sadoughi can provide effective treatments like steroids and surgical interventions to restore hearing.

Can Labour Fix the NHS?

Comment is Freed • 92 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Labour needs to improve the economy and the NHS to win a second term. If people feel better financially and notice changes in healthcare, that would help their chances.
  2. Although Labour has increased the NHS budget, the challenges are much greater now. The NHS is struggling with long waiting lists and a demoralized workforce.
  3. The government aims to shift focus from hospital care to prevention and community health, but they often do the opposite. Past strategies haven't worked, and they need to really commit to a new approach.

What Cis-Male Pattern Baldness Can Teach Us About Weight Science

Weight and Healthcare • 299 implied HN points • 26 Feb 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Correlation does not equal causation - a fundamental principle in research that is often overlooked in weight science.
  2. Weight loss attempts commonly fail and can even result in long-term weight gain - focusing on weight as a health indicator may be misguided.
  3. Improving health in fat individuals may not necessarily require weight loss - addressing barriers to health and promoting overall well-being can be more effective.

Weight Stigma In Practice - The Gynecologist Should Not Be A BYOS Party

Weight and Healthcare • 299 implied HN points • 19 Feb 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Fat patients often face weight stigma in healthcare, being denied proper equipment and care based on their body size.
  2. Healthcare facilities should provide equitable care for patients of all sizes, including having necessary equipment like speculums and blood pressure cuffs.
  3. Fat patients deserve the same quality of care as thinner patients, without discrimination based on their body size.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #117

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 127 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. TSMC is successfully producing chips in Arizona, even better than in Taiwan. This could help boost U.S. manufacturing and support the new CHIPS Act funding.
  2. Arkansas has a lot of lithium, estimated to be 5 to 19 million tons. This is great news for the EV industry and America's push for clean energy.
  3. Science has made a retinal implant that helps restore vision to some blind patients. This shows how technology can genuinely improve people's lives.

Rationing Rights

Can We Still Govern? • 127 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Many people with disabilities and older adults face long waitlists for Medicaid home care services. These waitlists can last from a few years to over a hundred years, making it hard for them to get the help they need.
  2. The eligibility process for these services is often very confusing. Many families feel overwhelmed and may not even apply because they think it’s unlikely they will receive assistance.
  3. There are calls to make home and community-based services an entitlement. This means that anyone eligible should have the guaranteed right to get these services, making it easier for people with disabilities to live independently.

Unreported Truths has spoken

Unreported Truths • 35 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. The audience prefers writing over podcasting, with a clear majority saying they want more written content.
  2. There's a significant concern about the state of healthcare in America, with many feeling it's failing in ethical promises and effectiveness.
  3. The current healthcare crisis seems to contribute to growing distrust and cynicism in society, affecting people's views on other institutions as well.

Sequencing is Dead...?

ASeq Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Getting standard diagnostic tests, like a CT scan, can be easy, but getting more complex tests, especially for specific conditions, can be very hard and take a long time.
  2. There's a noticeable difference in how quickly patients can access basic medical procedures versus advanced genetic testing, which can be frustrating.
  3. Investors seem unsure about the future of sequencing companies, especially since many of them are not making profits or showing much growth.

Trump Was Right To Pull The United States Out Of The Corrupt World Health Organization

Unmasked • 75 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) has been seen as a positive move. Many believe the WHO was corrupt and not helpful during the COVID pandemic.
  2. The WHO made mistakes by misreporting COVID's mortality rate, which caused unnecessary panic. They also promoted measures like masking without solid evidence backing them up.
  3. Countries like Sweden showed that it was possible to stay open during the pandemic without lockdowns. The WHO's strict measures did not provide real public health benefits and had harmful effects.

Fat People, Healthcare, and Tax Dollars

Weight and Healthcare • 299 implied HN points • 31 Oct 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Addressing weight stigma often involves countering the argument that fat people's healthcare is funded by tax dollars.
  2. Claims about fat people's healthcare costs being higher are overstated, and health issues are driven by factors like weight stigma and healthcare inequalities.
  3. It's important to challenge the flawed assumptions behind the 'fat people and my tax dollars' argument, which only serve to reinforce harmful weight stigma.

What If My Patient Wants To Lose Weight?

Weight and Healthcare • 279 implied HN points • 01 Dec 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Patients often desire weight loss because they've been influenced by healthcare practitioners and societal norms.
  2. Healthcare practitioners have a crucial role in shifting patient perspectives about weight loss and health.
  3. It's important for healthcare providers to address weight loss requests by educating on evidence-based alternatives and supporting patients in their health goals.

The New York Times still won't cover covid honestly

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 200 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Improving air quality did not stop COVID19 in Kindergartens. No evidence shows that upgrading air quality reduces seasonal respiratory viruses effectively.
  2. Masking may not be necessary in 2024. Few individuals are wearing masks as they are inexpensive and easily available online, suggesting a reduced need for them.
  3. The New York Times seems to be biased in covering COVID. It is important to accept life's risks, not wear masks unnecessarily, and focus on socialization and personal care.

The Great Horseshoe Crab Massacre

Ladyparts • 199 implied HN points • 03 Jun 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Mass shootings and societal injustices expose the influence of money on life and death decisions.
  2. The complexity of addressing societal issues can feel overwhelming, especially for marginalized groups.
  3. Finding small acts of resistance and unity, like the Great Horseshoe Crab Massacre, can offer hope and a path forward.

Land of the Rising Robot

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 05 Aug 21
🕹 Technology Healthcare
  1. Japan is a leader in automation and robotics, using technology to solve labor shortages due to its aging population. This means they create robots to do many jobs, helping to keep the economy strong.
  2. The country showcases its robotic innovations, especially during events like the Olympics, where robots assist in hospitality and care roles. This shows how much they trust and embrace technology in everyday life.
  3. Japanese robots are not just for work; they also help with caring for the elderly at home. This includes robots that can make life easier and safer for seniors, proving that technology can improve quality of life.

Help - My Colleague Thinks Weight Loss is a Magical Fix-All!

Weight and Healthcare • 239 implied HN points • 15 Jan 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Assuming weight loss is a cure-all is a common yet harmful mistake perpetuated by the weight loss industry.
  2. Healthcare providers can do harm by focusing solely on weight loss as a solution without evidence-based interventions that suit the individual's needs.
  3. Thin people can also face similar health issues, so weight loss is not a guaranteed fix and all individuals deserve ethical treatment regardless of size.

NEW: Rep. Khanna, Rep. Pocan and I go after Medicare Advantage in The Nation

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 139 implied HN points • 28 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Medicare Advantage plans are designed to benefit insurance company shareholders rather than patients. This means they may prioritize profit over providing quality care.
  2. Patients on Medicare Advantage often need prior approval from insurers before getting treatment. This can delay care and make it harder to get necessary services.
  3. Real Medicare allows patients to see almost any doctor or hospital without needing referrals. In contrast, Medicare Advantage plans have stricter networks that can limit choices.

I'm Starting to Wonder if Maybe Trump DOESN'T Have an Amazing Health Care Plan

I Might Be Wrong • 9 implied HN points • 04 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. There's doubt about whether a solid healthcare plan from Trump actually exists, despite his repeated promises over the years. Many are starting to wonder if it’s just talk without a real plan.
  2. People are frustrated because Trump has waited so long to present a healthcare plan that seems amazing. It's hard to believe he hasn't done it when many expect something great.
  3. Some fear that if Republicans don't replace Obamacare with a good plan, they might rely on other issues to win elections. This possibility raises concerns about healthcare for many people.

Getting the Healthcare That Thin People Get

Weight and Healthcare • 179 implied HN points • 30 Apr 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare
  1. Question healthcare practitioners about treatment in thin individuals to receive equal, evidence-based care as a higher weight patient.
  2. Healthcare system needs a major paradigm shift to accommodate higher weight patients in terms of research, spaces, and training.
  3. Higher weight patients deserve research inclusive of all body sizes, accommodations in healthcare spaces, and doctors educated to work with diverse body types.

July 26, 2025

Letters from an American • 23 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. Recent actions by Republican senators show a split within the party over budget cuts and government funding. They are urging the release of education and health funds that the administration had withheld.
  2. As Trump's popularity sinks, some Republican lawmakers are starting to push back against his policies and decisions. They are trying to distance themselves from unpopular aspects of his agenda.
  3. There are concerns about how the administration is handling important issues, like health care recommendations and the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. This has led to tensions and disagreements within the government.

June 30, 2025

Letters from an American • 27 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. A new bill is cutting healthcare for millions and giving tax breaks to the wealthy, which many senators are calling immoral and cruel. They argue this will lead to more children going hungry and losing essential healthcare.
  2. Senator Angus King shared a personal story about how health insurance saved his life, emphasizing the importance of access to healthcare for everyone. He criticized the push to take away health insurance from people who need it.
  3. The recent tax cuts mainly benefited the rich and led to increased national debt, while the government is now trying to cut social support for the needy. Senators are speaking out, calling the legislation corrupt and harmful to the public.

Reasons to Be Grateful for Biotechnology

Asimov Press • 303 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🔬 Science Healthcare
  1. Insulin is now made by engineered bacteria instead of pancreas glands from animals.
  2. Gene-edited hens can lay eggs producing only female chicks, reducing male chick culling.
  3. Biotechnology advancements have led to solutions like a malaria vaccine and gene therapies for diseases.

Clinicians Hate NGS?

ASeq Newsletter • 72 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare
  1. Many doctors are not keen on genetic tests because they believe the tests do not change how patients are treated. This attitude makes it hard for patients to get the tests they need.
  2. It's not just about the cost of testing; the main issue is that doctors often don't like running tests if they feel there's no direct benefit to patients.
  3. To improve the situation, we need to raise awareness among doctors and patients about the benefits of whole genome sequencing, especially for those with rare diseases. Grassroots efforts can help push for more understanding and acceptance of these tests.

Will "Efficiency" Fix the Budget?

The Last Bear Standing • 74 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare
  1. The U.S. federal budget has big structural problems, like an aging population and increasing debt, making it hard to balance spending and revenue.
  2. Most of the budget goes to a few major areas like Social Security and healthcare, which are expected to grow, so simply cutting discretionary spending won't solve the deficit issue.
  3. Fixing these budget problems requires more than just efficiency cuts; it needs serious changes in laws and policies that are hard to achieve without widespread agreement.