Podcasts about American Medical Association

Credits: 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™   CME/CE Information and Claim Credit: https://www.pri-med.com/online-education/podcast/frankly-speaking-cme-472 Overview: The transition from hospital to home is a valuable period for patients and clinicians. In this episode, we discuss which patients require follow-up, what should be reviewed during these appointments, and when follow-up should take place to help improve patient outcomes. Episode resource links: Anderson, T. S., Herzig, S. J., Marcantonio, E. R., Yeh, R. W., Souza, J., & Landon, B. E. (2024, April). Medicare transitional care management program and changes in timely postdischarge follow-up. In JAMA Health Forum (Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. e240417-e240417). American Medical Association. Anderson, T. S., Wilson, L. M., Wang, B. X., Steinman, M. A., Schonberg, M. A., Marcantonio, E. R., & Herzig, S. J. (2025). Medication Errors and Gaps in Medication Discharge Planning for Hospitalized Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of general internal medicine, 1-10.   Balasubramanian, I., Andres, E. B., & Malhotra, C. (2025). Outpatient follow-up and 30-day readmissions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 8(11), e2541272-e2541272. Guest: Mariyan L. Montaque, DNP, FNP-BC Music Credit: Matthew Bugos Thoughts? Suggestions? Email us at FranklySpeaking@pri-med.com  The views expressed in this podcast are those of Dr. Domino and his guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pri-Med.

Credits: 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™   CME/CE Information and Claim Credit: https://www.pri-med.com/online-education/podcast/frankly-speaking-cme-472 Overview: The transition from hospital to home is a valuable period for patients and clinicians. In this episode, we discuss which patients require follow-up, what should be reviewed during these appointments, and when follow-up should take place to help improve patient outcomes. Episode resource links: Anderson, T. S., Herzig, S. J., Marcantonio, E. R., Yeh, R. W., Souza, J., & Landon, B. E. (2024, April). Medicare transitional care management program and changes in timely postdischarge follow-up. In JAMA Health Forum (Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. e240417-e240417). American Medical Association. Anderson, T. S., Wilson, L. M., Wang, B. X., Steinman, M. A., Schonberg, M. A., Marcantonio, E. R., & Herzig, S. J. (2025). Medication Errors and Gaps in Medication Discharge Planning for Hospitalized Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of general internal medicine, 1-10.   Balasubramanian, I., Andres, E. B., & Malhotra, C. (2025). Outpatient follow-up and 30-day readmissions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 8(11), e2541272-e2541272. Guest: Mariyan L. Montaque, DNP, FNP-BC Music Credit: Matthew Bugos Thoughts? Suggestions? Email us at FranklySpeaking@pri-med.com  The views expressed in this podcast are those of Dr. Domino and his guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pri-Med.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has released an updated statement recommending against gender surgeries for anyone under the age of 18. While the American Medical Association has issued a similar stance, other organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics—argue that healthcare decisions should remain between families and doctors, and that surgical options should stay on the table for minors. Earlier this week, plastic surgeon and star of Netflix's Skin Decision: Before and After, Dr. Sheila Nazarian, joined FOX News Rundown host Dave Anthony to explain why many in her field believe minors should not "go under the knife" for transition procedures. Dr. Nazarian raised alarms over the lack of long-term data regarding the effectiveness of these treatments, emphasizing her belief that evidence-based medicine must be the sole guide for treating gender dysphoria in children. She also discussed the professional risks of speaking out, noting that many in the medical community fear political backlash for questioning current standards of care. We often have to cut our interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear this conversation in its entirety. Today on a Fox News Rundown Extra, we share our full interview with plastic surgeon Dr. Sheila Nazarian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has released an updated statement recommending against gender surgeries for anyone under the age of 18. While the American Medical Association has issued a similar stance, other organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics—argue that healthcare decisions should remain between families and doctors, and that surgical options should stay on the table for minors. Earlier this week, plastic surgeon and star of Netflix's Skin Decision: Before and After, Dr. Sheila Nazarian, joined FOX News Rundown host Dave Anthony to explain why many in her field believe minors should not "go under the knife" for transition procedures. Dr. Nazarian raised alarms over the lack of long-term data regarding the effectiveness of these treatments, emphasizing her belief that evidence-based medicine must be the sole guide for treating gender dysphoria in children. She also discussed the professional risks of speaking out, noting that many in the medical community fear political backlash for questioning current standards of care. We often have to cut our interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear this conversation in its entirety. Today on a Fox News Rundown Extra, we share our full interview with plastic surgeon Dr. Sheila Nazarian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has released an updated statement recommending against gender surgeries for anyone under the age of 18. While the American Medical Association has issued a similar stance, other organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics—argue that healthcare decisions should remain between families and doctors, and that surgical options should stay on the table for minors. Earlier this week, plastic surgeon and star of Netflix's Skin Decision: Before and After, Dr. Sheila Nazarian, joined FOX News Rundown host Dave Anthony to explain why many in her field believe minors should not "go under the knife" for transition procedures. Dr. Nazarian raised alarms over the lack of long-term data regarding the effectiveness of these treatments, emphasizing her belief that evidence-based medicine must be the sole guide for treating gender dysphoria in children. She also discussed the professional risks of speaking out, noting that many in the medical community fear political backlash for questioning current standards of care. We often have to cut our interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear this conversation in its entirety. Today on a Fox News Rundown Extra, we share our full interview with plastic surgeon Dr. Sheila Nazarian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Editor's Summary by Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Editor in Chief, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editor of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from February 7-13, 2026.

Part 2 of a 2-part episode on Information Blocking From a December 2025 WEDI virtual spotlight, a panel of health IT leaders break down the current state and the future of regarding information blocking, and how organizations can stay compliant while moving interoperability forward. The panel: Rebekah Fiehn, Strategic Partnership Developer, American Dental Association Andrew Tomlinson, Senior Director, Regulatory & International Affairs, AHIMA Arna Meyer, Technical Product Manager, Stedi Alisa Kuehn, VP, General Counsel & Privacy Officer, Indiana Health Information Exchange Chelsea Arnone, Director, Federal Affairs, CHIME Sasha TerMaat, EHRA's Information Blocking Compliance Task Force The moderator is Jeff Coughlin, Director, Federal Affairs, American Medical Association

The medical community is finally realizing that transgender surgeries are harming America’s children. Recently, both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Medical Association released statements recommending gender-affirming surgeries be delayed until adulthood, but what does this mean for the issue as a whole? Is change happening? Host Casey Harper is joined by American Parents Coalition’s Alleigh Marre, and The Washington Stand’s Joshua Arnold to discuss the new research and mentality shift we are seeing in the medical world.

The medical community is finally realizing that transgender surgeries are harming America's children. Recently, both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Medical Association released statements recommending gender-affirming surgeries be delayed until adulthood, but what does this mean for the issue as a whole? Is change happening? Host Casey Harper is joined by American Parents Coalition's Alleigh Marre, and The Washington Stand's Joshua Arnold to discuss the new research and mentality shift we are seeing in the medical world.

The medical community is finally realizing that transgender surgeries are harming America’s children. Recently, both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Medical Association released statements recommending gender-affirming surgeries be delayed until adulthood, but what does this mean for the issue as a whole? Is change happening? Host Casey Harper is joined by American Parents Coalition’s Alleigh Marre, and The Washington Stand’s Joshua Arnold to discuss the new research and mentality shift we are seeing in the medical world.

Dr. Tiffany Schatz of the Christian Medical and Dental Association addresses the recent settlement in a lawsuit by Fox Varian against doctors who did so-called gender reassignment surgery on her as a minor and the recent position statements by both The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Medical Association questioning the wisdom of youth gender medical practices.  Rob Dayton, author of "100XLife: A Daily Practice," reminds us that just like our bodies need resistance and stress to strengthen, similarly God uses the adversities in our lives for growth if we are looking to Him and follow His ways.  Let's go to His gym! The Reconnect with Carmen and all Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Kevin B. O'Reilly, “8 wins for doctors, patients in latest federal budget deal,” February 3, 2026, https://www.ama-assn.org/health-care-advocacy/federal-advocacy/8-wins-doctors-patients-latest-federal-budget-deal, American Medical Association. Selena Simmons-Duffin, “With an ACA fix uncertain in the Senate, Republicans replay old health care fights,” February 2, 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/02/02/nx-s1-5695766/aca-enhanced-premium-subsidies-republicans-democrats, NPR. Shannon Schumaker, et al. “KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs, Expiring ACA Tax Credits, and the 2026 Midterms,” January 29, 2026, https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-health-care-costs-expiring-aca-tax-credits-and-the-2026-midterms/, KFF Health News. Ashley Kirsinger, et al. “KFF Health Tracking Poll: Prior Authorizations Rank as Public's Biggest Burden When Getting Health Care,” February 2, 2026, https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-prior-authorizations-rank-as-publics-biggest-burden-when-getting-health-care/, KFF Health News. Paige Twenter, “A $20,500 cap on federal student loans will strain PA workforce: Survey,” February 4, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/hospital-physician-relationships/a-20500-cap-on-federal-student-loans-will-strain-pa-workforce-survey/, Becker's Hospital Review. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

1. SAVE America Act (Election Law & Voter ID) Core Argument The SAVE America Act would: Require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote Require photo ID to vote Democrats are portrayed as unanimously opposed, preventing passage due to the Senate’s 60‑vote threshold. Strategic Claim Cruz argues Republicans should: Force a “real” filibuster (continuous floor speeches) Make Democratic opposition politically and physically costly He frames Democratic resistance as intentional rather than procedural. Public Opinion Framing Polling is cited (CNN, Pew) to claim: Broad bipartisan and multiracial support for voter ID Democratic leadership (especially Chuck Schumer) is accused of ignoring their own voters. 2. Voter Fraud & Ballot Harvesting Claims Presented Ballot harvesting is described as: A system that enables fraud, especially among elderly or vulnerable populations Democrats are accused of: Supporting policies that increase fraud opportunities Reversing recommendations from the Carter–Baker Commission There is justification for: Photo ID laws Restrictions on mail-in voting Limits on third-party ballot collection 3. Somali Welfare Fraud in Minnesota Central Allegation Massive welfare fraud in Minnesota tied to programs serving the Somali immigrant community. Figures cited include: Up to half of $18 billion in welfare spending allegedly lost to fraud Disproportionately high welfare participation rates among Somali households Democratic state officials are accused of: Knowing about the fraud Allowing it to continue for political gain Silencing whistleblowers Stolen welfare funds indirectly finance al‑Shabab, a terrorist organization 4. Medical Policy Shift on Gender Surgeries for Minors Key Development The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Medical Association are described as: Reversing prior support for “gender‑affirming surgeries” for minors Now recommending deferral until adulthood Causal Explanation The reversal is attributed to: A high‑profile malpractice lawsuit by a detransitioner Legal and financial risk to medical institution Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editor's Summary by Linda Brubaker, MD, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editors of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from January 31-February 6, 2026.

This is a 2-part episode: From a December 2025 WEDI virtual spotlight, a panel of health IT leaders break down the current state and the future of regarding information blocking, and how organizations can stay compliant while moving interoperability forward. The panel: Rebekah Fiehn, Strategic Partnership Developer, American Dental Association Andrew Tomlinson, Senior Director, Regulatory & International Affairs, AHIMA Arna Meyer, Technical Product Manager, Stedi Alisa Kuehn, VP, General Counsel & Privacy Officer, Indiana Health Information Exchange Chelsea Arnone, Director, Federal Affairs, CHIME Sasha TerMaat, EHRA's Information Blocking Compliance Task Force The moderator is Jeff Coughlin, Director, Federal Affairs, American Medical Association

TDC Podcast topics - Ryan Routh, the dork who tried to assassinate Trump finds out his fate, dad finds out his kids middle school took him out to protest ICE and he's pissed, what's going on with the Marxist teachers union these days?  Amy has a new theory on the Karen Read story, the American Medical Association reverses course on trans surgeries, landmark judgement awards $2M to a detransitioner in a malpractice lawsuit, the first of MANY hopefully, it doesn't sound like good news regarding the health of Lions safety Kerby Joseph and his bad knee, email and much more.

4:20 pm: Josh Findlay, Director of the National Election Protection Project at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, joins the show for a conversation about in piece in Townhall about why America should use voter ID.4:38 pm: Senator Chris Wilson joins the program to discuss why the Utah Legislature is working so hard on judicial transparency during the current session and responds to criticism from the state's bar association.6:05 pm: Representative Paul Cutler joins Rod and Greg for a conversation about his proposed legislation to require people gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to undergo government training about what they must tell voters.6:38 pm: Dr. Kurt Miceli, Chief Medical Officer for Do No Harm, joins the show to discuss how the American Medical Association has now followed the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in condemning gender-affirming surgeries on children under 19 years of age.

Josh opens the show by breaking down a major ruling that truly “follows the science,” as the American Medical Association backs off its previous support for sex-change procedures for minors. He explains what this shift means for the broader movement—and where the fight goes from here. Next, Josh dives into the latest census numbers and why blue states could be in serious trouble moving forward. He lays out how population changes are reshaping the Electoral College map—and why Democrats may soon be forced to confront some hard truths about the country they claim to represent. Josh then turns to the newest developments in the Jeffrey Epstein case, warning that anyone hoping for real accountability or justice may be disappointed by what ultimately comes out. To close, Josh discusses the SAVE Act and why Democrats are once again landing on the wrong side of public opinion—especially on voter ID, where a strong majority of Americans, including Democrats and Republicans alike, believe showing ID to vote is simply common sense.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful episode of The Whole Body Detox Show, host David DeHaas of Living Waters Wellness Center sits down with Dr. Ann Hester, board-certified internal medicine physician and lifestyle medicine expert, to expose the hidden role of toxins, plastics, and modern living in today's chronic disease epidemic.Dr. Hester breaks down the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, a science-backed framework now endorsed by the American Medical Association, and explains how these pillars can help prevent, treat, and even reverse conditions like type 2 diabetes, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and cancer risk.In this episode, you'll discover:What the six pillars of lifestyle medicine really are and why they matterHow plastics, microplastics, endocrine disruptors, and household chemicals impact hormones and inflammationWhy food preparation methods (high heat, frying, charring) create toxic compounds like AGEsHow sleep, stress, movement, and human connection directly affect healing and disease reversalPractical ways to reduce toxic exposure in food, water, cookware, personal care products, and packagingWhy whole-food, plant-predominant nutrition is foundational for long-term healthThe difference between lifespan vs healthspan and how to protect your brain and vitalityThis episode connects modern medical science with real-world detox strategies, showing how small daily changes can dramatically shift health outcomes. If you're serious about reducing inflammation, avoiding unnecessary medications, and reclaiming your health naturally, this is a must-listen conversation.Ready to reduce inflammation and detox your body naturally?Visit livingwaterscleanse.com to watch the Four Natural Laws of Healing video, explore real success stories, or call 208-378-9911 to learn whether colon hydrotherapy or the 10-Day Healing Retreat is right for you.If this episode helped you, leave a Google review and share the one thing you learned from today's show.Listen to the Whole Body Detox Show on all major podcast platforms and take the next step toward lasting health.Support the show Ready for your healing journey?Visit our website: www.LivingWatersCleanse.com Or give us a call at: (208) 378-9911Stem Cell Activation Patches:www.StemCellPatch.netGet your Supplements and Natural Body Products Here:www.livingwaterscleanse.com/supplementsQI-Shield EMF Devices:Protect your whole home or office with a touric shield from EMF's. 1. QI Shield Covers 16'x16' 2. QI Home Covers 50' x 50' 3. QI Max Covers 250'x250'Click on link and enter Livingwaters in discount code section during checkout Magnesium Soaks:Follow us on our socials: Living Waters Wellness CenterBitChute: www.bitchute.com/livingwaterswellnessRumble: www.rumble.com/l...

This week, we're in Pennsylvania discussing the Bucks County Killings. Then we'll talk about the murder of a young mother. Buckle up and join us on this dark and twisted ride through the Keystone State. Be sure to subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and leave a review, or email us at unitedstatesofmurder@gmail.comFollow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Sources: ⁠July 2017 Pennsylvania Murders (Wiki), Philly Burbs, American Medical Association, The Lost Boys of Bucks County, Cosmo DiNardo Philly Mag, People Mag, Murder of Rebekah Byler, ABC NewsMusic by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠

We have learned a lot about extended spectrum coverage of prophylactic antibiotics for cesarean section. The landmark C/SOAP trial randomized 2,013 women undergoing nonelective cesarean delivery to azithromycin 500 mg IV plus standard prophylaxis versus placebo, demonstrating a 51% reduction in the composite outcome of endometritis, wound infection, or other infection. Adjuvant Zmax (plus standard first-generation cephalosporin) is now recognized as evidence-based antibiotic coverage for intrapartum cesarean, cesarean with ruptured membranes, and patients with obesity. This last patient characteristic comes from the ERAS latest update. But what is ZMAX is not available? Is there an evidence-based peri-op alternative in these cases? Does Gent and Clinda cover mycoplasma/Ureaplasma? What about postop flagyl? Listen in for details. 1. Tita AT, Szychowski JM, Boggess K, et al. Adjunctive Azithromycin Prophylaxis for Cesarean Delivery. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2016. 2. Yang M, Yuan F, Guo Y, Wang S. Efficacy of Adding Azithromycin to Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Caesarean Delivery: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 2022. 2. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 199: Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Labor and Delivery. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2018. Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics 3. Martingano D, Nguyen A, Nkeih C, Singh S, Mitrofanova A. Clarithromycin Use for Adjunct Surgical Prophylaxis Before Non-Elective Cesarean Deliveries to Adapt to Azithromycin Shortages in COVID-19 Pandemic. PloS One. 2020. 4. Valent AM, DeArmond C, Houston JM, et al. Effect of Post–Cesarean Delivery Oral Cephalexin and Metronidazole on Surgical Site Infection Among Obese Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2017. 5. Wood, G. E., et al. "In Vitro Susceptibility of Mycoplasma genitalium to Nitroimidazoles." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 6. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/mycoplasmagenitalium.htm

In 1994, Oregon voters passed the Death with Dignity Act, which legalized physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. Since then, it has become legal in 4 more states, including New Mexico, where the state court ruling that it is constitutional is under appeal. Is it, in the words of the American Medical Association's code of ethics, "fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer"? Will these laws lead to a slippery slope, where the vulnerable are pressured to choose death and human life is devalued? Or do we need to recognize everyone's basic right to autonomy, the right to end pain and suffering, and the right to choose to die with dignity? ARGUING YES: Peter Singer: Co-Founder of the Effective Altruism movement; Author of “The Most Good You Can Do" Andrew Solomon: Author of “Far From the Tree”, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University ARGUING NO: Baroness Ilora Finlay: President of the British Medical Association, Member of the House of Lords Daniel Sulmasy: Prof. of Medicine and Ethics at University of Chicago, Member of the Presidential Bioethics Commission Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates  Join the conversation on our Substack—share your perspective on this episode and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for curated insights from our debaters, moderators, and staff. Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and TikTok to stay connected with our mission and ongoing debates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Editor's Summary by Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Editor in Chief, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editor of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from January 24-30, 2026.

Linda Brubaker, MD, and Christopher C. Muth, MD, Deputy Editors of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, discuss articles published from January 17-23, 2026.

Episode Summary By Concierge Medicine Today JANUARY 2026 - Concierge medicine and direct primary care didn't just grow — they surged more than 80% in five years. Headlines are spinning this as a threat to access and equity. But is that the full story? In this episode, the Editor-In-Chief of the industry's trade publication, Concierge Medicine Today, author and Host, Michael Tetreault, breaks down the latest national research and explains what's really happening beneath the surface. This isn't about luxury medicine. It's about physician burnout, broken reimbursement models, administrative overload, and doctors quietly redesigning their careers to survive. You'll hear why this shift is less about "escaping responsibility" and more about reclaiming sustainability, why corporate ownership is rising fast, and why concierge medicine didn't create the primary care shortage — it exposed it. If you care about the future of medicine, physician retention, and building healthcare that actually works, this conversation matters.

To unpack this, John Maytham is joined by Tayla du Plessis, Dietician at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, who helps us understand why BMI can be misleading for some people, and where it still plays a useful role. While organisations like the American Medical Association acknowledge BMI’s limitations, they also stress that it remains a helpful screening tool when used alongside other health indicators — not in isolation. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can Therapists Start a Union? The Antitrust Trap, the Shadow Committee, and the Economic Strangulation of American Psychotherapy Analyzing America's Healthcare Regulations and Their Effect on Us: Why the Law Prevents Therapists from Organizing While Allowing a Private Committee to Fix Prices for the Entire Medical System https://gettherapybirmingham.com/can-therapists-start-a-union-spoiler-alert-they-cant/ The Monthly Rage Thread If you hang around therapist forums long enough, you will see it happen. It operates with the regularity of the tides. Someone posts a thread, usually after receiving a contract from an insurance company offering 1998 rates for 2025 work, and asks the obvious question: “We are the ones providing the care. The system collapses without us. Why don't we just all go on strike? Why don't we form a union and demand fair pay?” It is a logical question. In almost every other sector of the economy, workers who feel exploited band together to negotiate better terms. Screenwriters shut down Hollywood to get paid for streaming residuals. Auto workers walk off the line. Teachers fill the state capitol. Nurses at major hospital systems have successfully unionized and won significant concessions. So why, in the midst of a national mental health crisis, does the mental health workforce remain so politically impotent? The answer is not that we lack will. It is not that we lack organization. The answer is that for private practice therapists, forming a union is a federal crime. This is not a political manifesto. It is an analysis of the bizarre regulatory environment that governs American healthcare, a system of antitrust laws, shadow committees, and bureaucratic classifications that effectively strips clinicians of their bargaining power while empowering the corporations that pay them. If you want to understand why corporate tech monopolies are ruining therapy, or why the corporatization of healthcare feels so suffocating, you have to understand the legal straitjacket we are all wearing. And you have to understand the one group that is allowed to set prices, the one group exempt from the rules that bind the rest of us. Part I: You Are Not a Worker, You Are a Standard Oil Tycoon The primary reason therapists cannot unionize dates back to the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was designed to prevent massive corporations like Standard Oil from colluding to fix prices and destroy the free market. It prohibits “every contract, combination… or conspiracy, in restraint of trade.” The law was a response to genuine abuses: companies buying up competitors, dividing territories, and coordinating prices to gouge consumers who had no alternatives. Here is the catch: In the eyes of the federal government, a private practice therapist is not a “worker.” You are a business entity. Even if you are a solo practitioner struggling to pay rent in a subleased office, seeing clients between crying in your car and eating lunch at your desk, the law views you as the CEO of a micro-corporation. You are classified as a 1099 independent contractor, not a W-2 employee, and that distinction makes all the difference in the world. If two workers at Starbucks talk about their wages and agree to ask for a raise, that is “collective bargaining,” which is protected by the National Labor Relations Act. But if two private practice therapists talk about their reimbursement rates and agree to ask Blue Cross for a raise, that is “price-fixing.” It is legally indistinguishable, in the eyes of the Federal Trade Commission, from gas stations conspiring to raise the price of unleaded. It sounds absurd, but the FTC takes it deadly seriously. When independent contractors organize to demand higher rates, when they share information about what they are being paid and coordinate their responses, they are engaging in horizontal price-fixing, one of the most serious violations of antitrust law. The Sherman Act provides for criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The law that was meant to break up monopolies is now used to prevent social workers from asking for a cost-of-living adjustment. The irony is crushing. The same regulatory framework that prevents two therapists from discussing their rates allows massive insurance conglomerates to merge repeatedly, concentrating buyer power in fewer and fewer hands. UnitedHealth Group, for example, has acquired dozens of companies over the past two decades, becoming the largest healthcare company in the United States. When they offer a “take it or leave it” contract to providers, they do so with the full knowledge that fragmented, legally prohibited from organizing therapists have no counter-leverage. The antitrust laws, designed to prevent monopoly power, have created a system where sellers are atomized and buyers are consolidated. Economists call this “monopsony,” and it is precisely the market distortion the Sherman Act was supposed to prevent. Part II: The Day the “Learned Profession” Died For a long time, doctors and lawyers thought they were exempt from these laws. They argued that they were “learned professions,” not mere tradespeople, and therefore above the grubby laws of commerce. They believed that their ethical obligations to patients and clients set them apart from the rules that governed steel mills and meatpacking plants. Medicine was a calling, not a business, and surely the government would not regulate the sacred doctor-patient relationship as if it were a commercial transaction. That illusion was shattered in 1975 by the Supreme Court case Goldfarb v. Virginia State Bar. The case involved lawyers, not doctors, but its implications cascaded through every licensed profession in America. The Goldfarbs were purchasing a home and needed a title examination. The Virginia State Bar had established a minimum fee schedule for such services, and every lawyer they contacted quoted the exact same price. They sued, arguing that this fee schedule was illegal price-fixing. The Supreme Court agreed. In a unanimous decision, the Court ruled that professional services, including legal and medical advice, are “trade or commerce” subject to antitrust laws. The “learned profession” exemption, which had been assumed but never explicitly established in law, was declared a myth. “The nature of an occupation, standing alone,” the Court wrote, “does not provide sanctuary from the Sherman Act.” This ruling was intended to lower prices for consumers by preventing lawyers from setting minimum fees, and in that narrow sense it was a good thing. But in healthcare, it had a catastrophic side effect: it made it illegal for doctors and therapists to band together to resist the pricing power of insurance companies. The “learned profession” exemption is dead. We are now just businesses, and businesses are not allowed to hold hands. This creates the illusion of progress: we have “free market” competition among providers, but monopsony power among payers. It is a market where the sellers are forbidden from organizing, but the buyers are allowed to merge until they are too big to fail. The result is not a free market at all. It is a market designed to transfer wealth from one class (providers) to another (insurers and administrators), with the law itself serving as the enforcement mechanism. Part III: The Cartel in the Basement If therapists cannot collude to set prices, surely nobody else can, right? Wrong. There is one group in American healthcare that is allowed to meet in a room, decide what every doctor's time is worth, and set prices for the entire industry. It is called the RUC, the AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee. And understanding the RUC is the key to understanding why talk therapy is dying in the medical model, why psychiatrists abandoned the couch for the prescription pad, and why your insurance company offers you a ghost network of providers who never answer the phone. The Birth of a Shadow Government To comprehend the current crisis in mental health economics, one must excavate the foundations of the physician payment system. Prior to 1992, Medicare reimbursed physicians based on a system known as “Customary, Prevailing, and Reasonable” charges. Under this system, physicians were paid based on their historical billing charges. It was inherently inflationary; it rewarded those who raised their fees most aggressively and created wide geographic disparities for identical services. In response to spiraling costs, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, mandating a transition to a fee schedule based on the resources required to provide a service. This birthed the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale. The intellectual architecture for this system was developed by a team of economists at Harvard University, led by William Hsiao. Hsiao's team sought to create a “unified theory” of medical value, attempting to quantify the “work” involved in disparate medical acts, comparing the cognitive intensity of a psychiatric evaluation with the technical skill of a hernia repair. The Harvard study was revolutionary. It promised to level the playing field, suggesting that cognitive services, the thinking and talking that comprises primary care and mental health, were vastly undervalued relative to surgical procedures. Had Hsiao's original recommendations been implemented purely, the income gap between generalists and specialists might have narrowed significantly. But the administrative complexity of assigning values to over 7,000 Current Procedural Terminology codes overwhelmed the Health Care Financing Administration. Into this administrative vacuum stepped the American Medical Association. The AMA, fearing that the government would unilaterally set prices, proposed a “partnership.” They would convene a committee of experts to maintain and update the relative values, providing this labor-intensive service to the government at no cost. The government accepted. Thus, in 1991, the RUC was born, not as a government agency, but as a private advisory body with unparalleled influence over public funds. The Architecture of Control The RUC's claim to legitimacy rests on its status as an “expert panel.” But a structural analysis of its composition reveals a profound bias that mimics the governance of a cartel designed to protect incumbent interests. The committee consists of 32 members, but power is concentrated in the 29 voting seats. Of these, 21 seats are appointed by major national medical specialty societies. The distribution is not proportional to the volume of services provided to Medicare beneficiaries, nor is it proportional to the physician workforce. Instead, it is frozen in a historical moment that favored high-technology specialties. Primary care physicians, who perform roughly 45 to 50 percent of Medicare work, hold approximately 4 to 5 seats, giving them about 17 percent of the vote. Procedural and surgical specialties, including surgery, radiology, and anesthesiology, hold 15 to 18 seats, giving them roughly 60 percent of the vote despite performing only 35 to 40 percent of Medicare work. The American Psychiatric Association holds a single seat. One seat. This lone representative must negotiate with a supermajority of specialists, neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, radiologists, and ophthalmologists, whose financial interests are often diametrically opposed to the valuation of cognitive work. The cartel dynamic is enforced by a statutory requirement of budget neutrality. The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is a zero-sum game. If the total relative value units projected for a given year exceed the budget, a “scaler” is applied to reduce the conversion factor, effectively cutting everyone's pay. Therefore, any proposal to increase the value of psychotherapy, which would increase the total RVU spend, effectively asks every surgeon in the room to take a pay cut to fund the raise for psychiatrists. Given that a two-thirds majority is required to pass a recommendation, the procedural bloc holds absolute veto power over any redistribution of wealth. The Secret Chamber A hallmark of cartel behavior is the restriction of information. For nearly two decades, the RUC operated in near-total secrecy. While recent years have seen minor concessions to transparency, such as the publication of vote totals, the core deliberative process remains opaque. RUC meetings are private. The public, the press, and even non-RUC physicians are largely barred from attending the deliberations where billions of tax dollars are allocated. Participants, including the specialty advisors who present data, must sign strict non-disclosure agreements. These agreements prevent them from discussing the specific tradeoffs, deals, or arguments made within the chamber. A former RUC participant described these agreements as “draconian,” designed to insulate the committee from public accountability. The Government Accountability Office and the Center for American Progress have noted the inherent conflict of interest. The individuals setting the prices are the same individuals who receive the payments. Unlike a regulatory agency, where officials are salaried and divested of industry assets, RUC members are practicing physicians whose personal incomes are directly tied to the decisions they make. This secrecy serves a functional purpose: it allows for “logrolling.” A representative from Orthopedics might support an inflated value for a Cardiology code in exchange for Cardiology's support on a Knee Replacement code. This “I'll scratch your back” dynamic creates an upward pressure on procedural values that excludes those outside the dominant coalition, specifically primary care and mental health. The Antitrust Shield Why has the Department of Justice not broken up this cartel? The legal shield is the Noerr-Pennington Doctrine. This Supreme Court doctrine establishes that private entities are immune from antitrust liability when they are petitioning the government. Because the RUC technically only “recommends” values to CMS (that is petitioning), and CMS “decides” (that is government action), the RUC is protected by the First Amendment right to petition. This legal loophole allows the RUC to operate with monopolistic characteristics without fear of prosecution, provided CMS continues to go through the motions of “reviewing” the recommendations. And CMS accepts those recommendations over 90 percent of the time. Because private insurance companies generally base their rates on Medicare, this private committee effectively sets the price of healthcare for the entire country. If independent therapists did this, if they gathered in a room and agreed on what their services should cost, they would face criminal prosecution. But because the RUC operates under the fiction of “advising” the government, it is protected. The same regulatory framework that criminalizes therapist solidarity provides cover for industry-wide price coordination by the most powerful medical specialties. Part IV: The Mechanics of Suppression To control a market, one must control its currency. In American medicine, that currency is the Relative Value Unit. Every medical service, from a 15-minute therapy session to a heart transplant, is assigned a total RVU value. This value is the sum of three components: the Work RVU, which accounts for physician time, technical skill, mental effort, and judgment; the Practice Expense RVU, which covers overhead costs like rent, staff, and equipment; and the Malpractice RVU, which reflects professional liability insurance costs. The Work RVU, which comprises roughly 50 to 55 percent of the total value, is determined by RUC surveys. When a code is flagged for review, the relevant specialty society distributes a survey to a sample of its members. These respondents are asked to estimate the time and intensity of the service compared to a “reference service.” This methodology violates several principles of statistical validity. The surveys are voluntary and distributed by the specialty societies themselves. The respondents are typically those most active in the society and most invested in maximizing reimbursement, advocates rather than neutral observers. The sample sizes are often shockingly small; RUC surveys frequently rely on fewer than 50 or 70 respondents to set the price for services performed millions of times annually. A sample of 30 orthopedic surgeons might determine the value of a procedure costing Medicare billions. The Time Arbitrage The most critical variable in the RUC equation is time. The Work RVU is conceptually derived from the formula: Work equals Time multiplied by Intensity. Therefore, inflating the time estimate is the most direct route to inflating the price. Independent studies by RAND and the Urban Institute, often using objective data like Operating Room logs, have consistently shown that the RUC overestimates the time required for surgical procedures. A procedure valued by the RUC as taking 60 minutes may, in reality, take 30 minutes. This creates an arbitrage opportunity. If a gastroenterologist can perform a “60-minute” colonoscopy in 20 minutes, they can effectively perform three procedures in the time allotted for one. They bill for three hours of work in one hour of real time. This “efficiency gain” is captured entirely by the physician as profit. Psychotherapy cannot utilize this arbitrage. CPT codes for psychotherapy are explicitly time-based in their definition. Code 90832 requires 16 to 37 minutes. Code 90834 requires 38 to 52 minutes. Code 90837 requires 53 minutes or more. A psychiatrist cannot perform a 60-minute therapy session in 20 minutes; doing so constitutes fraud. Therefore, the revenue of a psychotherapist is capped by the linear passage of time. They can sell, at maximum, roughly 8 to 10 units of labor per day. A proceduralist, aided by RUC-inflated time assumptions, can sell 20 or 30 units of “RUC time” in the same day. This structural discrepancy creates a widening income gap that no amount of “hard work” by the therapist can close. It is not a market failure. It is market design. The “Thinking” Penalty The RUC's bias is not merely structural; it is philosophical. The committee, dominated by surgeons and proceduralists, consistently values “doing things to people,” cutting, scanning, injecting, far more highly than “talking to people,” diagnosing, counseling, managing complex chronic conditions. This creates a regulatory environment that functions as a de facto wealth transfer from cognitive care to procedural care. In 2013, a major revision of psychiatry codes exposed this bias in stark relief. Previously, psychiatrists used codes that bundled the medical evaluation with the psychotherapy. The new system required psychiatrists to bill an E/M code for the medical management plus an “add-on” code for psychotherapy. While intended to improve transparency, this change exposed psychotherapy to the raw mechanics of the RUC's valuation bias. By isolating the “therapy” component, the committee could subject it to rigorous cross-specialty comparison. And the committee, dominated by surgeons, views “talking to a patient” as low-intensity work compared to “operating on a patient.” The economic signal was clear. This created the 15-minute med check culture not because psychiatrists stopped caring, but because the regulatory environment made relational care financial suicide. It effectively “illegalized” the practice of deep, slow psychiatry for anyone who wanted to take insurance. Part V: The “Messenger Model” and Other Legal Fictions When therapists ask about collective bargaining, lawyers will often point them to the only legal loophole available: the “Messenger Model.” In this model, a third party (the messenger) acts as an intermediary between a group of providers and an insurance company. The messenger takes the insurance company's offer and conveys it to each therapist individually. Each therapist must then make a unilateral, independent decision to accept or reject it. The messenger is strictly forbidden from negotiating. They cannot say, “The group rejects this.” They cannot say, “We want 10% more.” They cannot advise the therapists on what to do. They can only carry messages. This is why “Independent Practice Associations” are often toothless. In the 2008 case North Texas Specialty Physicians v. FTC, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals made clear that if an IPA actually tries to leverage its numbers to demand better rates, it violates antitrust laws. If it follows the messenger model, it has no leverage. It is a “heads I win, tails you lose” regulatory structure designed to protect payers, not providers. The only exception is “clinical integration,” where providers genuinely merge their practices, share infrastructure, and accept joint financial risk. But this requires substantial capital investment and essentially means ceasing to be an independent practitioner. It is a legal pathway available mainly to large physician groups and hospital systems, not to solo therapists working out of rented offices. Part VI: Market Distortions and the Flight to Cash When a cartel sets a price below the market equilibrium, suppliers exit the formal market. This is precisely what has happened in psychotherapy. Mental health providers generally have lower overhead than surgeons. They do not need MRI machines or sterile surgical suites. And they face high consumer demand; the national mental health crisis ensures a steady stream of people seeking services. This gives them an “exit option” that proceduralists do not have. They can refuse to accept insurance and operate as cash-only businesses. The statistics are stark. Nearly 50 percent of psychiatrists do not accept commercial insurance, compared to less than 10 percent of other specialists. A 2023 survey indicated that 64 percent of private practice therapists planned to increase their cash-pay rates. Research published in Health Affairs Scholar found that patients are 10.6 times more likely to go out-of-network for mental health care than for medical/surgical care. This mass exodus is a rational economic response to RUC-suppressed rates. If the RUC says an hour of therapy is worth $100 via the RVU-to-dollar conversion, but the market demand is willing to pay $250, the provider will leave the RUC-controlled sector. They are not abandoning their profession; they are abandoning a pricing regime that values their work at less than half its market rate. Ghost Networks The RUC's pricing failure creates “Ghost Networks,” directories filled with providers who are ostensibly “in-network” but are functionally inaccessible. They are either full, not accepting new patients, retired, have moved, or simply do not respond to inquiries from insurance-based patients because the administrative burden of prior authorizations and clawbacks outweighs the suppressed fee. This is not a “shortage” of providers in the absolute sense. There is no shortage of therapists in private practice. There is a shortage of therapists willing to work at the RUC-determined price point. The insurance directories are graveyards of phantom availability, creating the illusion of access where none exists. The Cost Paradox The central thesis of the RUC's defenders is that they “control costs.” By strictly managing RVUs, they claim to save taxpayer money. In psychotherapy, this logic backfires catastrophically. By suppressing reimbursement rates to a level that drives providers out of the network, the RUC forces patients into the cash market. The theoretical in-network cost might be a $20 copay with the insurer paying $100. The actual out-of-network cost is $250 cash out-of-pocket, paid in full by the patient. Thus, the “cost of therapy” for the consumer skyrockets. Therapy becomes a luxury good, accessible only to those with disposable income. For the poor and middle class, the “cost” is effectively infinite, because the service becomes inaccessible. The RUC's cost-control measure for the system becomes a cost-multiplier for the patient. It shifts the financial burden from the risk pool, where it belongs, to the individual, where it causes maximum harm. The Signal to Students The RUC sends powerful economic signals to medical students making career decisions. When a student observes that a dermatologist or radiologist can earn $500,000 working regular hours, while a psychiatrist earns $240,000 handling emotional trauma and on-call emergencies, while a primary care doctor earns even less, the choice is clear for those motivated by financial security. The undervaluation of cognitive codes discourages the best and brightest from entering mental health and primary care. The cartel's pricing structure creates a perpetual labor shortage in the fields most needed for public health, while creating a surplus in high-margin procedural specialties. We then wonder why there are not enough psychiatrists, why primary care is in crisis, why mental health access is collapsing. The answer is in the price signal, and the price signal is set by a committee of proceduralists meeting behind closed doors. The Hands Are Tied The question “Why can't therapists start a union?” is not just a labor question. It is a window into the broken soul of American healthcare. We have built a system where a secret committee of proceduralists can legally fix prices to favor surgery over therapy, but a group of social workers cannot band together to ask for a living wage. We have utilized laws meant to break up Standard Oil to break up the solidarity of caregivers. The same regulatory framework that criminalizes therapist coordination provides legal cover for industry-wide price coordination by the most powerful medical specialties. The result is a regulatory environment that drives doctors crazy, burns out therapists, and leaves patients navigating a fragmented, assembly-line system that was never designed to heal them. It was designed to process them. Until we confront the legal architecture of this system, the RUC, the Sherman Act, the 1099 trap, we will remain powerless to change it. And the reality of therapy is that quick fixes, whether in treatment or in policy, usually end up costing us more in the end. Some states are beginning to push back. New York and California have implemented strict network adequacy standards requiring mental health appointments within 10 business days. These regulations force insurers to expand their networks, which means they must attract providers, which means they must raise reimbursement rates above the RUC/Medicare floor. It is effectively a state-level override of the RUC cartel, forcing capital back into the mental health labor market. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has long advocated for stripping the RUC of its power, proposing the use of empirical data, tax returns, payroll records, practice invoices, to set values automatically. But these are patchwork solutions to a systemic problem. The fundamental issue remains: we have created a healthcare system that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. We have engineered a system where the only way to survive is to stop acting like a healer and start acting like a factory. And we have wrapped this system in a legal framework that criminalizes resistance while protecting the status quo. The hands are tied. But at least now we can see the ropes. Bibliography For those interested in the primary sources and legal texts that underpin this analysis, the following external resources provide high-trust verification of the claims made above: Goldfarb v. Virginia State Bar, 421 U.S. 773 (1975): The Supreme Court decision that ended the “learned profession” exemption from antitrust laws. Read the Oyez Summary. The Sherman Antitrust Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1–7): The foundational text of US antitrust law prohibiting restraint of trade. Read the Document at the National Archives. North Texas Specialty Physicians v. Federal Trade Commission (5th Cir. 2008): A key ruling establishing that independent physicians cannot collectively bargain on fees without financial integration. Read the Court Opinion. FTC/DOJ Statements of Antitrust Enforcement Policy in Health Care (1996): The federal guidelines explaining the “Messenger Model” and the narrow exceptions for clinical integration. Read the Guidelines (PDF). The RUC (AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee): The AMA's own description of the committee structure and its role in valuing physician work. Visit the AMA RUC Page. “Special Deal” by Haley Sweetland Edwards (Washington Monthly, 2013): An investigative deep-dive into how the RUC operates and its impact on primary care vs. specialty pay. Read the Investigation. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA): The law governing the right to unionize, which specifically excludes independent contractors. Read the NLRA. Laugesen, Miriam J. Fixing Medical Prices: How Physicians Are Paid. Harvard University Press, 2016. The definitive scholarly analysis of the RUC's history, structure, and influence on American healthcare pricing. Government Accountability Office. “Medicare Physician Payment Rates: Better Data and Greater Transparency Could Improve Accuracy.” 2015. GAO's critical analysis of RUC methodology and conflicts of interest. Center for American Progress. “Rethinking the RUC.” 2015. Policy analysis of the RUC's structural bias against primary care and cognitive services. Health Affairs Scholar. “Insurance Acceptance and Cash Pay Rates for Psychotherapy in the US.” 2023. Empirical research on out-of-network utilization in mental health care. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). “Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System.” 2024. Annual policy recommendations including proposals for reforming physician fee schedule methodology. Joel Blackstock, LICSW-S, is the Clinical Director of Taproot Therapy Collective in Hoover, Alabama. He specializes in complex trauma treatment and writes at GetTherapyBirmingham.com.  

Editor's Summary by Linda Brubaker, MD, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editors of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from January 10-16, 2026.

Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we delve into a landscape marked by rapid transformations and strategic maneuvers that are reshaping the industry.Novo Nordisk is at a pivotal point under the leadership of CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar. The company is navigating a significant transition, focusing on reclaiming its leadership in the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) market. This is crucial as GLP-1 receptor agonists are central to diabetes and obesity treatments, areas where Novo Nordisk aims to solidify its presence amidst fierce competition.AstraZeneca is setting ambitious targets, aiming for $80 billion in revenue by 2030. Their confidence is buoyed by strong Phase 3 clinical trial performances, particularly in oncology and rare diseases, underscoring the importance of a robust and successful pipeline. AstraZeneca's acquisition of Modella AI marks an integration of advanced AI models into oncology R&D operations, aligning with industry trends leveraging AI for drug discovery processes. By incorporating AI technologies, AstraZeneca aims to revolutionize precision medicine approaches within oncology treatments.Travere Therapeutics finds itself at a critical juncture with the FDA's delayed decision on Filspari (sparsentan) for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). This potential approval could tap into a significant market opportunity, but the delay highlights regulatory challenges that can impact timelines and revenue forecasts.Gilead Sciences continues to strengthen its position in HIV treatment with lenacapavir's approval for bi-annual dosing. This advancement not only enhances patient compliance but also positions Gilead advantageously for strategic partnerships. Their strategic positioning post-approval of lenacapavir for HIV prevention marks a milestone, emphasizing innovation's role in drug formulations.Leo Pharma's pursuit of partnerships in rare dermatological diseases reflects a broader trend towards specialization and diversification into niche markets. Meanwhile, Ionis Pharmaceuticals is gearing up to launch Tryngolza (olezarsen) for new indications, doubling their sales projections and demonstrating confidence in their RNA-targeted therapy.Caldera's emergence with significant funding points to ongoing investor interest in innovative biotech ventures, particularly those involving cross-border collaborations like their licensed drug from China for inflammatory bowel disease. Cross-border collaborations such as Caldera's venture into inflammatory bowel disease treatments are becoming more prevalent, integrating innovations from different regions to accelerate novel therapy availability for complex diseases.Illumina's efforts to navigate export challenges with China highlight geopolitical factors influencing biotech operations and global supply chains. They are actively working to stabilize their business environment while supporting academic research initiatives. Illumina's collaboration efforts with China amidst geopolitical tensions further demonstrate complexities within international trade relations affecting scientific collaborations.The American Medical Association's investment in "precision education" using data analytics exemplifies how technology is reshaping healthcare education and practice, aiming to enhance outcomes by tailoring learning experiences.AbbVie has committed $100 billion to U.S. research and development over the next decade, focusing on biologics and autoimmune disorders. This substantial investment underscores their commitment to innovation while seeking competitive edge enhancements through tariff exemptions.On clinical fronts, significant advancements are being made in therapies targeting rare diseases such as Sentynl Therapeutics' FDA approval for Zycubo—a novel protein therapy addressing Menkes disease—highlightSupport the show

Andrew Humberman BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Andrew Huberman, the Stanford neuroscientist and Huberman Lab podcast powerhouse, has been lighting up timelines and headlines with his signature blend of brain science and no-nonsense health advice over the past few days. Fox News reports he jumped into the nutrition wars by endorsing the Trump administrations bold new food pyramid on X, praising its meat-and-fats-at-the-top rethink as spot on if you tweak it with more veggies and low-sugar ferments like sauerkraut, while confessing his aversion to shrimp and milk. This nod to HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jrs Make America Healthy Again push drew cheers from experts like ex-FDA commissioner David Kessler and the American Medical Association, positioning Huberman as a key voice in the real food revolution thats already sparking policy buzz with potential to reshape American diets long-term.Hot on its heels, Huberman dropped a marathon guest episode on January 12 titled How to Overcome Addiction to Substances or Behaviors with Stanford psychiatrist Dr Keith Humphreys, diving deep into everything from psychedelics and ibogaine to AA meetings, social media traps, and GLP-1 drugs for booze cravings, as detailed on the Huberman Lab site. Its a timely powerhouse amid rising addiction talks, blending hard science with practical tools that could influence recovery protocols nationwide.On the personal front, Prismedia ai spotlighted Hubermans latest health routine reveal, where he demystified cold plunges as a morning mood-and-focus booster timed to cortisol spikes, but just one arrow in a quiver stocked with freebies like sunlight and movementno ice bath dogma required. Earlier in the week, around January 6, Hindustan Times covered his Instagram viral on a 90-year-old grandpas flawless 20 push-ups, crediting lifelong daily effort, family joy, and a fun-hard-work mindset from colleague Dr Alia Crum. No confirmed public appearances or business moves popped up, but his X posts and podcast dominance keep the gossip mills churning on whether hes eyeing that Protocols book preorder for a wellness empire expansion. All verified from these outlets; nothing speculative herejust Huberman owning the health convo like always.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

I don't have to remind anyone who listens to this podcast that the cost of MS disease-modifying therapies is obscenely high. And we're not just talking about relatively new medications. Older medications -- some decades old -- continue to increase in price without any rational explanation for why or how.   On January 2nd, we lost a true warrior in the ongoing battle to lower the price of prescription drugs when David Mitchell, the founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, passed away.   I met David in 2018 at a National MS Society Public Policy Conference, and he was a guest on Episode 31 of RealTalk MS.  This week, I'm re-sharing the conversation we had in 2018. We'll also tell you about an international workshop that represents the initial steps in developing a global research agenda to end MS. We're explaining how AI is about to have a major impact on healthcare. And we'll share the American Medical Association's brief to Congress, making the case for extending access to telehealth. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're remembering David Mitchell  :22 The first steps toward a global research agenda to prevent MS were just published  1:02 Doctor AI will see you now  5:45 The American Medical Association asks lawmakers to extend access to telehealth  10:27 David Mitchell in his own words  12:41 Share this episode  27:56 Next week  28:16 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/437 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Patients for Affordable Drugs https://patientsforaffordabledrugs.org PAPER: Toward a Global Research Agenda for Preventing Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585251398381 AMA BRIEF: The Case for Permanent Telehealth Policy and Expanded Access to Virtual Care https://ama-assn.org/system/files/issue-brief-telehealth-policy-expanded-access-to-virtual-care.pdf ChatGPT Health https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 437 Guests: David Mitchell Privacy Policy

Editor's Summary by Linda Brubaker, MD, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editors of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from January 3-9, 2026.

Dr. Travis Morrell, chair of Colorado Principled Physicians and a senior fellow at Do No Harm Medicine, joins me to pull back the curtain on what he calls the "medical mafia"—the intricate web of organizations led by the American Medical Association that manufactures the illusion of consensus on controversial medical practices, particularly pediatric sex trait modification.We explore how the AMA maintains its power despite only 15% of American doctors being members. The answer lies in a government-mandated monopoly: the AMA holds the copyright on CPT codes—the procedural codes every healthcare provider in the country must use to bill insurance and Medicare. This generates hundreds of millions in revenue annually, which the AMA then uses to lobby politicians, influence other medical organizations, and train activists within specialty societies to align with their positions.Travis explains how this money flows into shadow organizations like Race Forward to push diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that ultimately tie back to gender ideology in medicine. We discuss the physical harms of cross-sex hormones on women—including vaginal atrophy, pelvic floor dysfunction, and incontinence affecting over 95% of female patients on testosterone—and why Travis compares these effects to female genital mutilation. We also discuss what everyday people and physicians can do to push back against this institutional capture, and why speaking up—even privately—is a moral duty.Travis Morrell, MD, MPH, is a dad, husband, and physician. A lifelong learner to a fault, his postgraduate medical training in five specialty departments and medical leadership gives him a broad perspective of his profession. He is published in the top journals of multiple fields and in popular media. Dr. Morrell is a Senior Fellow at Do No Harm Medicine. He is Chair of Colorado Principled Physicians, a grassroots organization of physicians promoting evidence-based medicine and classical liberal values.The X thread mentionedX: @MorrellMDmphProtect Kids ColoradoColorado Principled PhysiciansStop the Harm Database[00:00:00] Start[00:00:46] Introducing Dr. Travis Morrell[00:09:30] The AMA's $450 Million Empire and CPT Code Monopoly[00:17:34] How the AMA Controls Other Medical Organizations[00:30:53] Who's Driving the Gender Ideology Agenda[00:44:35] Cross-Sex Hormones as Female Genital Mutilation[00:49:06] Physical Harms of Testosterone on Women[01:07:01] What Doctors and Patients Can Do[01:10:51] Why Doctors Alone Won't Save the Day[01:17:43] Compassion for Affected Kids and Families[01:18:47] Where to Find Dr. Travis MorrellROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2026 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Editor's Summary by Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Editor in Chief, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editor of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from December 20,2025, through January 2, 2026.

We begin with an exclusive interview with the sunburned sisters whose airport meltdown went viral. It's definitely not a situation you want to run into during your holiday vacation. Two sisters. getting arrested after a gate agent told cops one of them pushed her down. The sisters speak about what they say really happened. And traveling during the holidays is hard enough - along with worrying about severe winter weather, and all the germs, there's this - trying to keep your suitcase from getting stolen. As Les Trent reports, just as the numbers of travelers have gone up, so have the number of thefts. Plus, pickleball peril - as the sport's popularity continues to soar comes a warning. A new study by the American Medical Association finds more and more people are going to the ER with eye injuries.  Alison Hall with what you need to know. And the U.S. Surgeon General recently issued a major new advisory warning that drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting cancer. The news comes as "Dry January" - the challenge of giving up drinking for the first month of the New Year - is growing in popularity.   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Ozempic Weightloss Unlocked, where we dive into the latest news on Ozempic, from medical breakthroughs to lifestyle impacts.Ozempic, a glucagon-like peptide one receptor agonist, mimics a hormone that curbs appetite, slows stomach emptying, and boosts insulin, leading to significant weight loss. Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington show it helps people shed up to twenty percent of body weight over months by suppressing hunger.Exciting pill option now available. Reuters reports the Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk's twenty-five milligram oral semaglutide pill, branded Wegovy, for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight plus related conditions. In trials from Healthbanks, daily semaglutide pills led to nearly fourteen percent body weight loss over sixty-four weeks, versus two percent on placebo. AOL notes oral Wegovy users lost thirteen point six percent over fifteen months, cutting sick days in half.Beyond weight, new benefits emerge. University of Colorado Anschutz research highlights GLP-one agonists like Ozempic easing knee osteoarthritis pain and improving function in obese patients, per a Denmark and Canada trial.American Cancer Society explains most loss happens in year one, slowing after, with some regain upon stopping, so long-term use with diet and exercise is key. Older adults often quit early, per New York Times via American Medical Association, due to muscle loss or shortages, regaining weight.Pair with healthy habits for best results, listeners. Consult your doctor.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Subscribe for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Editor's Summary by Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Editor in Chief, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editor of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from December 13-19, 2025.

Today's podcast is titled “The Evolution of Socialized Medicine: Health Care Reform Today.” Recorded in 1994, Dennis McCuistion, former Clinical Professor of Corporate Governance and Executive Director of the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance at the University of Texas at Dallas, past president of the American Medical Association and World Medical Association and author of Code Blue: Health Care in Crisis Dr. Edward Annis and Commissioner of the Texas Department of Health, board-certified pediatrician Dr. David Smith discuss the need for public health infrastructure, tort reform, and the role and effectiveness of government versus market-based solutions. Listen now, and …

Recent research from the Journal of the American Medical Association serves to remind us of our need to be diligent in protecting our kids from experiencing trauma to their brains while playing sports. Using new imaging techniques, researchers at Columbia University have discovered that the area of the brain behind the forehead – known as the cerebral cortex – suffers the most damage from repeatedly heading a soccer ball. The practical result of this damage is a decline in cognitive function. In the past, you've heard us talk about the growing body of research regarding CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition leading to cognitive decline. If you want to learn more about CTE we suggest you check out the website of the concussion legacy foundation. Parents, we are called to steward the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our kids. Are you taking steps to insure that they won't engage in activities that put the gift of their God-given brains at risk? If not, take steps now.

Editor's Summary by Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Editor in Chief, Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editor, and Christopher W. Seymour, MD, MSc, Associate Editor of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from December 6-12, 2025.

A CDC panel recently reversed a decades-old recommendation that all babies in the U.S. receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Medical groups, including the Chicago-based American Medical Association, have denounced the new recommendations, calling them “reckless.” In the Loop talks about what this means for Illinois kids and families with Dr. Steven Flamm, hepatologist and professor of Medicine at Rush University and Dr. Marielle Fricchione, pediatrician and chair of the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Dr. Lasé Ajyai, pediatrician and Board Chair Elect of the American Medical Association, joins The Steve Gruber Show to discuss the upcoming flu season and how Americans can protect themselves from serious illness. Dr. Ajyai addresses controversial thoughts and skepticism surrounding the flu vaccine, especially in the wake of COVID-19, and explores why public distrust in vaccines has grown. She also shares the AMA's guidance on staying healthy, managing flu risks, and navigating vaccines.

Dr. Eithan Haim first became nationally known as the whistleblower on Texas Children's Hospital's secret pediatric gender program. After facing prosecution by the Biden Department of Justice and the prospect of ten years in prison, the surgeon was ultimately successful in his case and is now practicing medicine while continuing to expose ethical violations in pediatric sex trait modification.Today, we dive deep into the insurance fraud that enables gender clinics to operate—a layer of scandal beneath the already discredited evidence base for these interventions. Dr. Haim explains how medical billing codes work and reveals that clinics are routinely using false diagnosis codes to get insurance companies to cover hormones, blockers, and surgeries. We discuss the 95% rate of fraudulent "endocrine disorder unspecified" diagnoses found at one university gender clinic, how patients' sex is being falsified in medical records, and how the American Medical Association—with its government-mandated monopoly on medical coding—may be facilitating this fraud.What are the consequences of this scheme? Why would the AMA recommend coding mastectomies as "breast reductions"? How is this affecting insurance premiums for ordinary Americans? And where does Dr. Haim see all of this heading? This conversation will change how you understand the machinery behind gender medicine.Dr. Eithan Haim is a general and trauma surgeon in Greenville, Texas. In 2023, he served as the anonymous whistleblower who exposed Texas Children's Hospital for secretly continuing its pediatric gender program after publicly claiming it had shut down. Within 24 hours of the story's publication, the Texas Senate passed bipartisan legislation banning these interventions on minors.The Biden Department of Justice responded by charging Dr. Haim with four federal felonies, sending armed U.S. Marshals to his home on the morning of his surgical residency graduation. Facing up to 10 years in prison, he and his wife—an attorney—drained their savings to fight the charges. He was ultimately successful, with the case resolved in his favor.Dr. Haim now continues his work as a surgeon while raising awareness about fraud and ethical violations in pediatric gender medicine. He and his wife Andrea live outside Dallas with their young child.Follow him on X @EithanHaimDonate to his GiveSendGo[00:00:00] Start[00:01:29] Introduction to Dr. Eithan Haim[00:05:30] How medical billing codes work: CPT and ICD codes[00:09:30] 95% of gender clinic patients had fraudulent "endocrine disorder" diagnosis[00:14:45] Iatrogenic harm: treatment creates the condition listed in the diagnosis[00:19:45] The AMA's government-mandated monopoly on medical coding[00:24:15] AMA recommends coding mastectomies as breast reductions[00:34:00] The "alternative diagnosis codes" guide removed after exposure[00:39:00] Falsifying patient sex in medical records[00:49:00] Wildest case: male diagnosed with "agenesis of the cervix"[00:58:00] How this fraud affects healthcare costs for everyone[01:04:15] The disturbing romanticization of surgery among trans-identified youth[01:10:30] Why "adults can do what they want" doesn't apply to doctors[01:16:00] Where this is heading: criminal prosecutions[01:25:15] Dr. Haim's family and current work[01:28:15] Where to find Dr. Eithan HaimROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Editor's Summary by Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, and Christopher C. Muth, MD, Deputy Editors of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from November 22 - December 5, 2025.

Send us a textHey friends — this week, with the holidays in full swing, I wanted to bring you three research-backed strategies you can use to feel lighter — emotionally, mentally, and yes, physically — without rigidity, pressure, or perfection.This episode is all about top researched strategies, that coupled with awareness, and choosing yourself in the ways that truly matter and make a difference, particularly during the holidays. Take a listen and share the episode – even better, set up a buddy to implement the techniques with. Quotes of the Week:✨ “What most people don't realize is that food is not just calories: It's information… it communicates to every cell in the body.” — Dr. Mark Hyman✨ “Our modern lifestyle… disrupts our circadian rhythms and reduces the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.” — Satchin Panda, The Circadian CodeTake a listen — and let's move through this season with intention, clarity, and love. Citations1.    Sacks, F. M., Bray, G. A., Carey, V. J., et al. (2009). Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Journal of the American Medical Association, 360(9), 859–873.2.    Smith, J. D., Nguyen, T., Hall, K. D., et al. (2023). Protein and fiber intake and their effects on cravings and spontaneous snacking in adults: A randomized controlled trial. Nutrients, 15(4), 812–823.3.    Sutton, E. F., et al. (2018). Early Time-Restricted Feeding Improves Insulin Sensitivity, Blood Pressure, and Oxidative Stress Even Without Weight Loss in Men with Prediabetes. Cell Metabolism, 27(6), 1212–1221.Let's go, let's get it done. Get more information at: http://projectweightloss.org

Recorded live at HLTH, this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare takes you inside Health2047, the venture studio founded by the American Medical Association to tackle some of healthcare's gnarliest problems. Host Eric Glazer sits down with Warren Templeton, Managing Director at Health2047, to explore how the AMA is backing founders at the earliest stages to reshape physician workflows, chronic disease management, and data liquidity. Warren shares how Health2047 partners with science- and clinician-led startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, wrapping founders with commercial strategy, clinical and billing expertise, and an evergreen capital model that matches healthcare's longer time horizons. He also unpacks why humility and conviction are the two non-negotiable traits he looks for in founders. You'll hear real-world examples from Health2047's portfolio, including: Zing Health – a Medicare Advantage plan built for underserved communities, rooted in social determinants of health and community-based design Phenomics Health – an obesity phenotyping company born from a "failed" diabetes prevention bet, now helping match patients to the right GLP-1s, procedures, and care pathways ScholarRx – a global medical education platform partnering with the WHO to enable high-quality "tertiary care in the wild" for clinicians around the world Warren and Eric also dig into: Why traditional 5–7 year VC timelines often clash with healthcare reality How to balance breakthrough science with practical workflow integration and commercial viability The impact KPIs Health2047 tracks beyond IRR, including lives and care teams impacted If you're a founder, investor, or healthcare leader trying to build something that actually works in the real world—not just on a pitch deck—this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to design, fund, and scale the next generation of healthcare companies. Bio: https://health2047.com/leadership/warrentempleton/ References: Health2047's portfolio companies mentioned in the episode: Zing Health - https://www.myzinghealth.com/ Phenomics Health - https://www.phenomicshealth.com/ ScholarRx - https://scholarrx.com/ Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com. Visit our website:  www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com. Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shared-purpose-connect/

Liz and Rebecca cover Chiles v. Salazar, the case before the Supreme Court seeking to strike down a Colorado law banning mental health professionals from practicing "conversion therapy" on children. They explain the details of the case and discuss the hypocrisy of a ruling striking down the ban. They also recount the October 7th oral arguments, where the majority of justices signaled support for a ruling that will nullify state laws in half the country protecting LGBTQ youth from these discredited harmful practices.   Background Oral argument transcript Tenth Circuit Opinion  SCOTUSblog page Amicus briefs Americans United FFRF SCOTUSblog - "Does Colorado's "conversion therapy" ban violate free speech?" The Trevor Project - "Chiles v. Salazar: What you need to know about the U.S. Supreme Court case on conversion therapy" The American Psychiatric Association's position on conversion therapy  The American Psychological Association's position on conversion therapy The American Medical Association's position on conversion therapy  "LGBTQ Policy Spotlight: From Conversion "Therapy" Laws Protecting LGBTQ Youth" Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and X. Our website, we-dissent.org, has more information as well as episode transcripts.

Birth control is the latest battleground in a wave of online misinformation targeting young women — and doctors and reproductive health advocates are sounding the alarm about its impact. But this isn’t your typical fearmongering about birth control coming from Bible-thumpers or conservative men in suits. This new wave is coming from wellness influencers — the ones in matching pastel workout sets — who are linking a “balanced, natural life” with ditching hormonal birth control. Bridget explains to Stuff Mom Never Told You’s Samantha and Anney why this may look like a rebrand, but this kind of misinformation is just as harmful as ever. You can find more information about the safety and effectiveness of birth control in this article from the American Medical Association: https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/population-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-birth-control If you’re listening on Spotify, you can leave a comment there to let us know what you thought about this episode, or email us at hello@tangoti.com Follow Bridget and TANGOTI on social media! || instagram.com/bridgetmarieindc/ || tiktok.com/@bridgetmarieindc || youtube.com/@ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Brave Enough Show, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt and Cy Wakeman discuss:  The power of re-remembering  Finding your voice in your 50s  Reinventing yourself and leaving past versions behind   "At some point I started to realize I had lived a dream life. I am just not sure it was my dream." - Cy Wakeman    Cy Wakeman: Drama Researcher, NY-Times Bestselling Author and Leadership Consultant   I am a drama researcher, a career I discovered accidentally and have since quantified how much drama there is in the workplace. Our research has shown that the average employee spends nearly 2.5 hours per day in drama – gossiping, tattling, withholding buy-in, resisting change and stepping down from accountability.  Drama is emotional waste – any unproductive thought or behavior – and like any other waste in the workplace, I believe drama can be eliminated through great mental processes. My work is focused on giving leaders tools to recapture that emotional waste and upcycle it into results.  I started Reality-Based Leadership in order to teach leaders and individual contributors ways to lead in reality that diffuses drama in the workplace. We have formed that into an organization that does leadership development, speaking and training, and publishes unconventional tools and leadership programs to use to diffuse drama in the workplace.     Join our online community! The Table is a private, safe society for women physicians to gain work-life control. Sasha's community is off social media, a protected place for women to find out how to manage things like time management, gender bias, and navigating egos in the workplace. It's private, confidential, and the mentoring you have always wanted in a safe, closed environment. Join our community created for women physicians like you today! Invite Dr. Sasha to Speak at Your Next Event! Dr. Sasha Shillcutt is a top empowerment keynote speaker and Vice Chair of Strategy in the Department of Anesthesiology at the UNMC. In 2016, Sasha was awarded the national American Medical Association's Women Physicians' Inspiring Physician Award by her peers. Sasha's greatest passion is empowering and encouraging others to achieve well-being in their professional and personal lives. She speaks frequently to executives and leaders on the topics of professional burnout, resilience, and gender equity.   Follow Brave Enough:   WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN Join The Table, Brave Enough's community. The ONLY professional membership group that meets both the professional and personal needs of high-achieving women.

President Trump fires Fed Governor Lisa Cook; the White House targets flag burning for jail time; and we break a MAJOR story about the trans agenda at the American Medical Association. Click here to join the member-exclusive portion of my show: https://bit.ly/3WDjgHE Ep.2267 - - - Facts Don't Care About Your Feelings - - - DailyWire+: Go to http://DailyWirePlus.com, use code SUMMER, and save 40% on a new annual membership. My new book, “Lions and Scavengers,” drops September 2nd—pre-order today at https://dailywire.com/benshapiro Get your Ben Shapiro merch here: https://bit.ly/3TAu2cw - - - Today's Sponsors: PureTalk - Switch to PureTalk and start saving today! Visit https://PureTalk.com/SHAPIRO Home Title Lock - Go to https://hometitlelock.com/ben and use promo code BEN to get a FREE title history report and a FREE TRIAL of their Triple Lock Protection! For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty BAU, Artist of War - BAU, Artist at War, opens only in theaters, for a limited run beginning September 26th. Go to https://BAUmovie.com to watch the trailer, read about Josef's real-life journey, and find showtimes near you. Lean (Brickhouse Nutrition) - Get 25% off when you enter LABORDAY25 at https://brickhousenutrition.com Jeremy's Razors - Head to https://jeremysrazors.com/ben and join the flight for sanity. - - - Socials: Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3cXUn53  Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3QtuibJ  Follow on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3TTirqd  Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPyBiB - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices