The hottest Patient Advocacy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Interested in health care? This is what you should be reading.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 13 May 22
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy
  1. Healthcare in the U.S. can be very expensive, even for people who have insurance. Many are struggling to pay out-of-pocket costs and are skipping necessary doctor visits or medications.
  2. People often turn to GoFundMe pages to raise money for their medical expenses. Sadly, those who are most likely to succeed in this fundraising are usually the privileged ones, making the problem worse for those in need.
  3. There are serious flaws in Medicare's prescription drug coverage, leading to high costs for many older Americans. Some can face over $10,000 a year on medications, which highlights the need for better healthcare solutions.

Millions of Americans can't afford their out-of-pocket costs. We want to tell those stories.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 99 implied HN points • 21 Sep 22
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy
  1. Many Americans struggle to afford their out-of-pocket healthcare costs, often leading them to delay necessary medical care. High-deductible health plans are making it harder for people to afford the care they need.
  2. The Affordable Care Act has a flaw, with high out-of-pocket costs causing many insured individuals to feel like they are 'functionally uninsured'. This means they have insurance but can’t afford to use it.
  3. Insurance companies continue to raise costs, which puts more financial pressure on families. Without action, more people will find themselves unable to afford their healthcare, even if they have insurance.

Here is what you need to know in healthcare this week.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 119 implied HN points • 27 May 22
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy
  1. Big Insurance companies have gotten very powerful and can make it hard for patients to get the care they need. They create many barriers, like high costs and complex approvals.
  2. Some healthcare organizations that once supported Big Insurance are now worried about its growing power and are asking the government to step in. They realize their previous choices contributed to the problem.
  3. Legislation is being introduced to limit the influence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and ensure patients have better access to medications. More people are speaking out about the negative impacts of PBMs on drug costs.

Free lecture in San Diego - How to read trials

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 40 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy
  1. There is a free lecture in San Diego about reading trials. It's a great opportunity for anyone wanting to learn how to understand trial results.
  2. The lecture is unique because it is not funded by pharmaceutical companies. This might give a more unbiased view on the information being discussed.
  3. Attending this lecture could help people become more knowledgeable about medical studies. It's a chance to ask questions and get clarity on trial data.

5 Questions With Dr. Asher Larmie (aka FatDoctorUK)

Weight and Healthcare • 79 implied HN points • 24 Nov 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Patient Advocacy
  1. Dr. Asher Larmie advocates for weight-neutral healthcare and body-affirming care, focusing on treating patients based on symptoms, not their weight.
  2. Challenging the weight-centric paradigm in healthcare, Dr. Asher Larmie highlights the dangers of anti-fat bias and the harm caused by prescribing weight loss.
  3. Dr. Asher Larmie emphasizes the importance of unlearning biased medical beliefs, promoting fair and equal healthcare for all patients, and educating healthcare professionals on weight-inclusive care.
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The $140 billion the New York Times says Americans owe in medical debt is just the tip of the iceberg.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 99 implied HN points • 21 Jul 21
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy
  1. Americans owe $140 billion in medical debt, but this number is likely much larger. Many people are also using credit cards to cover healthcare costs, which adds to the debt.
  2. A significant amount of medical debt comes from insured people, not just the uninsured. High deductibles make it hard for many to afford care even with insurance.
  3. High-deductible health plans can be risky, as they can lead to big out-of-pocket costs when people get sick. This situation needs more attention from lawmakers to protect individuals from financial ruin.

UnitedHealthcare is caught in a PR nightmare. Here’s what they did and how it'll soon be your nightmare.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jun 21
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy
  1. UnitedHealthcare plans to deny ER claims if their nurses decide patients weren't sick enough. This could leave many with unexpected bills after emergencies.
  2. The company's recent policy change sparked a major public relations crisis, leading to widespread backlash from doctors and healthcare organizations.
  3. Despite delaying the policy for now, UnitedHealthcare may implement it later, risking patient safety and putting profits over care.

The Impact of Long COVID

The Weekly Gazette • 19 implied HN points • 17 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Patient Advocacy
  1. Long COVID can cause serious, long-term health issues like fatigue and insomnia for many people, severely affecting their daily lives. It shows that COVID-19 can have impacts even after the infection is gone.
  2. Research on Long COVID is ongoing, but there is no single treatment available yet. Many patients end up managing symptoms on their own while waiting for better solutions.
  3. Long COVID has brought attention to other similar conditions, like chronic fatigue syndrome, which have also been underfunded. Patients are increasingly advocating for more research and treatment options.