Podcasts about fixing healthcare

In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine the rapid advance of generative AI, along with the growing conflict between medicine's mission to heal and doctors' need for financial security. The conversation begins with a question now echoing across every profession: Will AI replace highly trained workers? In medicine, Dr. Pearl argues, the answer is less about replacement than redefinition. Drawing on recent changes in software development, he explains how “vibe coding” has allowed programmers to stop writing much of the code themselves and instead use generative AI to build, test and refine applications from plain-language instructions. Rather than feeling diminished, many coders report greater satisfaction because AI has taken over the repetitive, error-prone work and left them more time for problem-solving. Pearl sees a similar possibility in healthcare. Like coding, medicine relies on years of training, structured reasoning and repeatable processes. Chronic disease management offers the clearest example. Hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol are leading causes of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure, yet proven treatments often fail because doctors lack the time to monitor patients continuously and adjust medications quickly. With home devices, physician-set targets and generative AI support, care could shift from occasional office visits to ongoing management, helping more patients achieve control while freeing physicians to focus on complex cases. The second half of the episode turns from technology to mission. Using Tim Cook's legacy at Apple as a case study, Pearl examines what happens when values and financial incentives collide. Cook's tenure produced extraordinary business results, but critics have questioned whether some of his choices conflicted with his own values and Apple's public statements around privacy, dignity and human-centered technology. Pearl uses that as background for a similar question about medicine: What happens when doctors, who train to help and heal others above all else, feel increasingly forced to make career decisions shaped by money? For generations, medicine was understood as a calling. Today, most physicians no longer own their practices. Many now work for hospitals, health systems, insurers or private equity-backed groups, while others have moved into concierge or direct primary care models. Pearl stresses that these choices are rational. But the financial upside comes with psychological and moral consequences that are rarely discussed — and that may shape the future of physician fulfillment. For more, tune into this month's episode and check out the links below. Helpful links The AI Revolution In Coding Offers A Preview Of Medicine's Future (Forbes) What Tim Cook's Legacy Teaches Doctors About Money And Mission (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #217: GenAI, physician fulfillment & the future of medical practice appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl probe the facts beneath healthcare's biggest headlines. Today's show examines the accelerating progress of generative AI, the political turmoil inside America's leading health agencies and the infectious disease threats testing the nation's public health readiness. The conversation opens with a listener question about how close generative AI is to matching clinicians. Dr. Pearl explains that the technology is advancing faster than he predicted in ChatGPT, MD, with recent research showing an OpenAI model outperforming experienced physicians on emergency room triage and management in text-based clinical cases. He cautions that medicine is more complicated than written scenarios but argues that the trajectory is clear: before today's incoming medical students finish training, generative AI tools are likely to be used in emergency rooms across the country From there, the episode turns to the resignation of former FDA commissioner and Dr. Marty Makary, a two-time Fixing Healthcare guest. Pearl describes Makary as a respected clinician and patient-safety expert who found himself caught between scientific rigor, political pressure, industry opposition and public health critics. His departure, along with other leadership upheaval at FDA, CDC, NIH and HHS, raises a larger concern about whether America's once-trusted scientific agencies can regain their independence and credibility. Here are the other major storylines from episode 107: RFK Jr. removes preventive-care leaders. Pearl criticizes the firing of two respected co-chairs of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, warning that prevention policy may be pushed away from scientific evidence. The surgeon general nomination moving toward confirmation. Nicole Safier appears more confirmable than Dr. Casey Means because her vaccine views are closer to the scientific mainstream. A hantavirus outbreak raises public health concerns. A cruise ship outbreak involving the Andes virus appears to have spread person-to-person, causing at least 13 cases, several severe illnesses and three deaths. The U.S. remains vulnerable to fast-moving outbreaks. Pearl says the slow federal response to hantavirus shows how weakened public health capacity could become dangerous if a highly lethal virus were also easily transmissible. Tick bites are rising sharply. ER visits related to tick bites have climbed well above typical levels, driven in part by warmer temperatures and the spread of deer ticks into the Midwest and South. Ebola exposes the cost of global health cuts. A new Ebola strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo has no vaccine or effective treatment, and the outbreak was recognized only after spreading for weeks. USAID and WHO cuts increase risk to Americans. Pearl argues that reducing global public health support does not put “America first” because viruses ignore national borders. Patients should be more concerned when doctors avoid AI entirely. Pearl says he would worry more about clinicians who refuse to use reliable generative AI tools than those who consult them regularly. Opioid overdose deaths are falling but remain devastating. New CDC data show overdose deaths down for the third straight year, but annual fatalities still total roughly 70,000, with overdoses remaining the leading cause of death among adults ages 18 to 44. Vaccine safety data are being suppressed. Pearl closes by describing blocked FDA and CDC research showing COVID and shingles vaccines to be safe and effective, warning that political censorship undermines trust and harms patients. Tune in for more fact-based analysis and practical perspective on the healthcare policies, technologies and trends shaping medicine today. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post MTT #107: How politics is weakening America's public health defenses appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl probe the facts beneath healthcare's biggest headlines. Today's show examines the accelerating progress of generative ... The post MTT #107: How politics is weakening America's public health defenses appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

How can interoperability, policy, and technology come together to solve some of healthcare's most stubborn challenges? On episode 108 of Astonishing Healthcare, host Justin Venneri sits down with Brendan Keeler, Interoperability Practice Lead at HTD Health and author of the popular Health API Guy Substack. Brendan shares his journey from working at Epic Systems to becoming a leading voice in healthcare interoperability, offering insights into the intersection of policy, technology, and workflows.Together, they explore the current state of interoperability in healthcare, the impact of CMS rulemaking on prior authorizations, and the challenges of modernizing entrenched systems of record. Brendan also highlights the importance of empathy in solving healthcare's complex problems and shares his thoughts on the future of digital identity and patient data access.Key TakeawaysInteroperability is about ubiquity, not just standards. While digital standards like FHIR and NCPDP are important, true interoperability requires widespread adoption across all stakeholders to ensure seamless data exchange.CMS rulemaking is driving change in prior authorizations. New regulations aim to digitize and standardize prior authorization processes, reducing manual burdens while potentially increasing overall transaction volumes.Modernizing healthcare infrastructure is a monumental challenge. Systems of record like EHRs and claims processing platforms are deeply entrenched, making change costly and complex. Leaders often opt for incremental improvements, such as layering AI on top, rather than full-scale replacements.Empathy is key to solving healthcare problems. Bridging the "empathy gap" by making complex issues like benefit design and regulation accessible to non-experts is essential for attracting talent and driving innovation.Digital identity is foundational for the future of healthcare. Strong identity verification systems unlock trust and enable secure, seamless data sharing between patients, providers, and payers, paving the way for better outcomes.Related ContentHow to obtain Rx data and what to do with itReplay - Unified Care Navigation: A Critical Component of the Future of Health Benefits DesignAH064 - Empowering Plan Sponsors: Data Access & Analysis, with Bridget MulvennaJudi Health Policy Update – It's a Tangled Web of ProgressDisclaimerThis podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed are those of our guests, do not constitute professional advice, and may not represent Judi Health's/Capital Rx's position on any matters discussed. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the content; information is subject to change and may not be updated.

Your healthcare benefits could be quietly draining $4,000 per employee every year while your broker profits from the status quo. Donovan Pyle, CEO of Health Compass Consulting and author of Fixing Healthcare, exposes the hidden incentive conflicts that cost US employers $325 billion in annual waste. Built for entrepreneurs scaling their business while protecting what they have built, this episode covers: why fiduciary-based advice is the most critical shift in benefits strategy, the two broker questions every founder must ask, how healthcare analytics becomes a competitive weapon for talent retention, and why better coverage and lower costs are not a trade-off. Pyle reveals how one organization saved $3.6 million by replacing a single vendor.  No act of Congress required.

In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, Drs. Robert Pearl and Jonathan Fisher explore three questions that reach across medicine, leadership and life itself: What legacy do physicians leave behind? How does mindset shape health and longevity? And can doctors still find fulfillment as medical practice shifts from independence to employment? The conversation begins with Tim Cook's legacy at Apple, using his tenure as CEO to ask a larger question about values, mission and compromise. Pearl and Fisher examine whether legacy is something others assign after a career ends or something professionals create daily through their choices, actions and alignment with their deepest values. For physicians, the question becomes especially personal when financial, organizational or career decisions collide with the promise to put patients first. Midway through, the discussion turns to longevity and the science of mindset. Drawing on research from Yale and Fisher's work in Just One Heart, the two physicians explore how beliefs about aging can influence physical function, cognitive health, inflammation and long-term well-being. Fisher explains why optimism is not merely a pleasant attitude but a physiologic force that can shape stress hormones, inflammatory pathways and the daily behaviors that determine health. Finally, Pearl and Fisher examine one of the biggest structural shifts in modern medicine: the movement from physician-owned practices to employment by hospitals, health systems and insurers. Fisher notes that independent doctors may report lower burnout, but autonomy is no longer guaranteed when administrative burdens, call schedules and financial pressures consume the practice of medicine. Employment offers support and stability, but often at the cost of control. By the end, the episode connects all three themes: legacy, health and professional fulfillment are rooted in purpose. Whether through family, patient care, mission trips, mentoring or the daily work of medicine, Pearl and Fisher suggest that doctors may live longer, healthier and more meaningful lives when they preserve the mission that brought them to medicine in the first place. For listeners who connected with Fisher's reflections on burnout, autonomy and the search for renewed purpose in medicine, his upcoming ASPIRE physician retreat offers a deeper opportunity for reflection and recovery. Co-facilitated with Dr. Robyn Tiger, ASPIRE is a CME-accredited retreat designed exclusively for healthcare professionals, taking place June 12-14 at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. Use code ASPIRE15 for 15% off registration. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart' (Jonathan Fisher's newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD' (Robert Pearl's newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl's newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #216: An unfiltered look at what legacy means in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl are revisiting a past episode of Diving Deep while Dr. Pearl travels and keynotes events around the world. And like last week's replay, this conversation was selected for a reason. Originally recorded more than three years ago, this episode explores two issues that remain central to the future of American medicine: how healthcare leaders respond to technological change and whether the nation can finally move beyond fee-for-service reimbursement. Looking back now, the discussion feels strikingly current. Many of the opportunities Dr. Pearl identified at the time still exist today. Generative AI has advanced dramatically. Remote monitoring tools are more powerful and accessible than ever. And healthcare leaders continue to acknowledge the need for better chronic disease management, prevention and lower-cost care delivery. Yet despite these advances, many of the nation's biggest healthcare problems remain unresolved. U.S. quality outcomes still lag peer nations. Life expectancy remains years shorter than in comparable countries. And healthcare costs continue rising at rates that far exceed inflation, wage growth and GDP. Throughout the episode, Dr. Pearl argues that these failures are not primarily technological. The tools to improve care already existed — and continue to improve rapidly today. The greater challenge is leadership itself: helping clinicians embrace change, aligning incentives around patient outcomes and building the operational systems required to make better care possible at scale. The conversation also revisits capitation and value-based care, themes that have resurfaced repeatedly in recent Fixing Healthcare episodes. Dr. Pearl explains why fee-for-service reimbursement continues to reward volume over outcomes and why meaningful progress in affordability will require shifting financial incentives toward prevention, chronic disease control and long-term patient health. Revisiting this episode now offers a useful perspective on the past several years of healthcare transformation: technology has accelerated, but the deeper structural changes required to improve affordability and outcomes have moved far more slowly. Helpful links The Anatomy Of Healthcare Leadership: A Mind For Technology (Forbes) Healthcare Leadership: Following The Money Can Lead To Positive Change (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #215: Revisiting healthcare leadership, technology & capitation appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Yes, it's all discussed here! And how to add more houses for first-time homebuyers! Almost forgot that topic too! It's all important, including the alien stuff. Listen in.

For the next two weeks, Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl will be replaying past episodes of Diving Deep while Dr. Pearl travels and keynotes events around the world. But these aren't random reruns. They were selected for a reason: to highlight just how quickly technology is advancing and how slowly healthcare is adapting. This week's flashback revisits a July 2024 conversation recorded shortly after OpenAI released GPT-4o, a major leap forward in generative AI at the time. Less than two years later, the pace of change is striking. Capabilities that once felt groundbreaking now seem primitive compared to what today's AI tools can accomplish for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations. At the same time, the episode's broader themes remain remarkably current. Dr. Pearl and Jeremy discuss the future role of generative AI in medicine, how these tools could improve diagnosis and patient monitoring and why healthcare institutions often struggle to embrace transformative technology quickly. The episode also examines another issue that remains unresolved today: the high cost of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic. Dr. Pearl explains why these highly effective obesity treatments remain financially out of reach for many Americans despite growing demand and expanding clinical use. Revisiting this conversation now offers a useful reminder: technology can advance extraordinarily fast, but healthcare systems, incentives and policies often lag far behind. Helpful links:  OpenAI's Rule-Shattering GPT-4o Update Will Be Lifesaving, Too (Forbes) Wegovy And Ozempic Are Overpriced By 400-500% — Here's A Quick Solution (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl's newsletter) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #214: Revisiting GLP-1 prices and ChatGPT’s early leap forward appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au sits down with Jay Fajardo, serial entrepreneur and CEO of BetterClinic, straight from Manila, Philippines. Jay discusses his return to the founder's seat at age 58, driven by the massive paradigm shift of the Artificial Intelligence supercycle. We dive deep into how AI is completely transforming digital healthcare by eliminating doctor burnout and drastically reducing administrative "pajama time" from 40% to 10%. Jay also reveals why AI makes being a solo founder an absolute superpower, how cloud tools are changing the venture capital landscape, and the looming impact of AI on the Philippine BPO industry. If you are building a startup in Southeast Asia or are fascinated by the future of AI health tech, this is a masterclass in adapting to technological shifts. 00:00 - Introduction & The AI Supercycle 01:55 - The Shift from Ecosystem Builder to AI Founder 04:26 - Why AI is a "Superpower" for Experienced Founders 05:10 - Fixing Healthcare & Reducing Doctor Burnout 08:44 - Eradicating "Pajama Time": AI Scribes & Clinic Workflows 10:52 - A Hybrid Go-To-Market Strategy for HealthTech in SEA 14:43 - The Rise of the Solo Founder Movement 18:29 - Age vs. Experience: Building Startups in Your 50s 20:00 - The Future of AI in Medicine (An AI Assistant?) 22:50 - AI's Looming Threat to the Philippine BPO Industry 23:40 - 3 Key Takeaways Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jay-fajardo-betterclinic Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Send us Fan MailIs American healthcare collapsing?In this clip from our episode "How AI Could Save a Collapsing Healthcare System," host David E. Williams and Dr. Robert Pearl, Author of ChatGPT MD, break down why the current system is financially unsustainable and why physicians have never had the tools to fight back. Until now.Listen to the full episode here

In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dissect two issues that are often discussed separately but are deeply intertwined: how Americans can live longer, healthier lives and how the nation can make healthcare more affordable. The conversation begins with longevity. As interest in lifespan and “healthspan” grows, Dr. Pearl challenges three widely held beliefs that, in his view, are holding Americans back. First, the idea that physical and cognitive decline is inevitable with age. New research suggests that nearly half of older adults improve over time, particularly when they maintain a positive outlook and stay physically and mentally active. Second, the belief that longevity can be “hacked” through supplements, peptides and other quick fixes. Despite a $50 billion market and widespread adoption, Pearl explains that most of these interventions lack strong clinical evidence in humans. And third, the assumption that prevention can wait until middle age. Updated cardiovascular guidelines show that earlier screening and intervention, particularly around LDL cholesterol, can dramatically reduce long-term risk. From there, the discussion shifts to the financial side of healthcare. Pearl argues that improving population health is the most effective way to reduce costs, but that meaningful change will also require a fundamental redesign of how care is delivered. Drawing on behavioral research, he introduces a central concept: healthcare leaders tend to solve problems by adding more resources (staff, beds, technology) when better outcomes often require subtraction first. The second half of the episode applies this “subtraction before addition” framework across the healthcare system. In outpatient care, Pearl describes how the traditional small physician office has become increasingly inefficient in an era dominated by chronic disease and administrative complexity. He proposes larger, integrated models that share staff, leverage generative AI and shift from calendar-based visits to continuous, need-based care. In emergency departments, he outlines how segmenting patients by clinical severity could reduce wait times, improve outcomes and lower costs by treating low-risk cases through primary care pathways. And in inpatient settings, he points to hospital-at-home programs as a way to safely care for a significant share of patients at lower cost and with better outcomes. Taken together, this episode teaches that Americans can extend both lifespan and healthspan by rejecting outdated assumptions and focusing on proven behaviors. At the same time, healthcare affordability will not improve by continuing to add more of the same. It will require eliminating inefficiencies, redesigning care delivery and replacing outdated models with ones better suited to modern medicine. For more, tune into this month's episode and check out the links below. Helpful links New Studies Show Americans Are Thinking About Longevity All Wrong (Forbes) The More We Add To U.S. Healthcare, The Worse It Gets (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #213: Longevity myths, healthcare costs & why medicine must subtract to improve appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Isaiah Granet, co-founder and CEO of Bland, for a sharp and eye-opening conversation about one of the most overlooked bottlenecks in healthcare: the phone call. Bland now handles 3.5 million phone calls a week, has raised over $100 million, including a $40 million Series B, and is backed by Emergence Capital, Scale, and Y Combinator. Isaiah brings a refreshingly honest take on what it actually takes to get voice AI into production in healthcare, why most vendors are just talking about it rather than doing it, and why the security risks hiding in third-party AI dependencies should be keeping every healthcare CIO up at night. In this episode, they talk about: Most people call a call center because they are at the end of the line and cannot solve their problem any other way The best voice AI systems conform to the caller, not the other way around Intake is the fastest path to ROI for health systems deploying voice AI for the first time Bland tracks emotional sentiment, call escalation rates, and a unique metric called utterances to measure patient experience quality Bland does not use OpenAI or any third-party LLM under the hood, meaning PHI never touches an outside vendor Health systems should demand that calls go live within 30 days and measurable automation within 60 days A single third-party dependency, three steps removed from a vendor, recently led to a class action lawsuit Always declare that it is an AI agent on the call; deceptive practices destroy the trust that voice AI depends on The CIO role is becoming one of the most important in any healthcare organization, as AI decisions multiply A Little About Isaiah: Isaiah values community, family, and impact above all else. He believes that building for impact is what makes life. In addition to being the cofounder and CEO of Bland, he also sits on the board of the nonprofit he founded, the San Diego Chill.

Send us Fan MailAmerican employers now spend over $25,000 a year to cover a single family, and chronic disease is driving the system toward collapse. Yet medicine is still built around a doctor's office visit every three to four months.Dr. Robert Pearl, former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, Stanford professor, and author of ChatGPT MD, joins host David E. Williams to make the case that generative AI is the only tool that can shift medicine from episodic to continuous care, and why without it, the chronic disease crisis will break American healthcare entirely.

This special Organic Growth Podcast was recorded live at the McGuireWoods Healthcare Private Equity & Finance Conference. Revenue doesn't disappear—it gets stuck. In this episode, Brian Plamondon of SuperDial explains how AI is transforming revenue cycle management by automating payer communication and clearing long-standing bottlenecks.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl probe the facts beneath healthcare biggest headlines. Today's show features an in-depth look at sweeping federal budget cuts, the expanding (and often misunderstood) impact of GLP-1 medications and what's destabilizing health coverage. The conversation opens with a stark warning. Dr. Pearl reviews the president's proposed 2027 budget, which includes a $15.8 billion reduction in healthcare spending. He explains why cuts to Medicaid, NIH research and global health programs could have consequences that extend far beyond the next fiscal year, potentially slowing innovation, increasing patient risk and shifting costs to states and families. From there, the episode turns to one of the most asked-about topics from listeners: GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. While these medications clearly produce meaningful weight loss and improve outcomes in conditions tied to obesity, Dr. Pearl cautions that many of the broader health claims attributed to them may simply reflect the benefits of weight loss itself, not unique properties of the drugs. Throughout the episode, an underlying truth: scientific progress continues but policy decisions, pricing dynamics and system design may limit who benefits (and at what cost). Here are the other major storylines from episode 106: Federal health cuts threaten long-term progress: The proposed budget reduces overall healthcare funding by 12.5%, cuts NIH support by $5 billion and consolidates public health agencies. Global health funding drops sharply: International health spending is being cut nearly in half, while continued withdrawal from the World Health Organization leaves the U.S. more vulnerable to future pandemics. CDC leadership signals a policy shift: The nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz as permanent CDC director suggests a move back toward a more traditional, science-driven approach to vaccines. RFK Jr. softens vaccine stance amid political pressure: In congressional testimony, the HHS secretary publicly acknowledged the safety and effectiveness of the measles vaccine. GLP-1 drugs deliver clear weight loss and major benefits: Studies show 10-20% weight reduction, along with approximately 20% improvements in kidney and cardiovascular outcomes. Many GLP-1 “breakthroughs” may reflect weight loss alone: Evidence linking these drugs to reduced cancer risk, improved cognition or lower addiction rates remains fuzzy at best. Exercise rivals the impact of breakthrough drugs: A large study shows vigorous physical activity reduces risks of dementia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death at levels comparable to or greater than GLP-1 outcomes. Stress does not directly cause cancer: Pearl explains that while many Americans believe stress leads to cancer, the real risk comes from behavioral responses such as increased smoking and alcohol use. Concierge medicine expands access for some: Patients who can afford annual fees gain faster access and more time with physicians, but the model reduces availability for others. China rapidly closes the drug development gap: New data show China's share of global pharmaceutical research rising to over 32%, nearly matching the United States. Exchange coverage declines and risk pools worsen: Millions may lose insurance due to subsidy changes, premium nonpayment and shifts to high-deductible plans. Drug prices continue to rise despite reform efforts: Under the TrumpRx program, lower prices on select drugs have been offset by increases elsewhere, with new medications averaging $353,000 annually. Robotics and AI may arrive faster than expected: A dramatic improvement in robot race performance leads Dr. Pearl to revise his estimate for clinical adoption of robotic procedures. Tune in for more fact-based analysis and practical perspective on the healthcare policies, technologies and trends shaping medicine today. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post MTT #106: Trump’s 2027 budget & the other threats to U.S. healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl probe the facts beneath healthcare biggest headlines. Today's show features an in-depth look at sweeping ... The post MTT #106: Trump’s 2027 budget & the other threats to U.S. healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

OpenAI didn't need to convince patients to try generative AI. According to Dr. Nate Gross, Health of Health at OpenAI, 230 million people already use ChatGPT each week to interpret lab results, prepare for visits, understand diagnoses or ask health-related questions they didn't have time (or confidence) to raise in the exam room. But what about clinicians? On this episode of Fixing Healthcare, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr speak with Dr. Gross, who previously co-founded Doximity and Rock Health, about OpenAI's latest step: the release of ChatGPT for Clinicians, a new offering that brings healthcare-specific AI tools directly to individual providers, without requiring access through a large health system contract. In other words, the same capabilities previously limited to enterprise deployments are now being placed in the hands of front-line clinicians. But as Dr. Gross makes clear in this timely interview, the story of AI in medicine is much bigger than a single product. It's about how generative AI is beginning to reshape healthcare across three fronts at once: patients, clinicians and health systems. Key highlights include: Patients are already using AI at massive scale. Gross notes that roughly 40 million people turn to ChatGPT for help outside the clinical setting each day, often at night or between visits. They're using it to understand symptoms, interpret medical advice and navigate a fragmented healthcare system. Clinicians don't want another AI tool. They want less friction. From documentation and inbox overload to prior authorizations and evidence review, physicians are looking for ways to reduce administrative burden and focus on patient care. Generative AI, when applied well, can help “sweep the floor” of repetitive work. ChatGPT for clinicians expands access beyond health systems. Previously, OpenAI's healthcare tools were deployed through enterprise environments. This new release allows individual physicians, nurses and other providers to access clinical-grade AI tools directly, regardless of where they practice. Healthcare is shifting from “if” to “how” with AI. Health systems are no longer debating whether generative AI is real or ready. Instead, leaders are focused on how to deploy it safely, securely and in ways that improve care without introducing new risks. Fragmentation remains healthcare's biggest challenge. Patients often act as the “integration layer” between specialists, systems and settings. Gross sees AI as a potential tool to help synthesize information, coordinate care and improve communication across the system. The future of care extends beyond the clinic. From chronic disease management to hospital-at-home models, AI tools could help patients better understand and follow care plans in their daily lives, improving outcomes between visits, not just during them. Medical education and research are also evolving. Gross highlights OpenAI's work to personalize learning for clinicians and accelerate scientific discovery, including new AI models designed to support biology, genomics and drug development. Skepticism still matters. Despite the momentum, Gross emphasizes the importance of validation, clinician oversight and continuous feedback to ensure these tools are used responsibly and effectively. Dr. Pearl shares his thoughts. Pearl embraces Gross's three-part framework of patients, clinicians and health systems, but believes the greatest opportunity lies in transforming how care is delivered. From chronic disease management to AI-powered care in the home, he emphasizes that the real impact will come not from administrative gains, but from improving outcomes at scale—provided healthcare moves fast enough to keep today's challenges from becoming tomorrow's crises. There's much more in this conversation, including how healthcare leaders should think about AI in long-term planning and a deeper dive into the biggest opportunities that lie ahead. Tune in to hear what physicians, patients and health systems should expect from the next chapter of medicine. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the bestselling author of ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #212: OpenAI’s Nate Gross on ChatGPT’s next big move in healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, Drs. Robert Pearl and Jonathan Fisher join cohost Jeremy Corr to explore one of medicine's least discussed forces: how professional culture gradually reshapes physician identity. The conversation begins with relationships using an unlikely touchpoint: FX's Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. Using marriage, friendship, doctor-patient dynamics and colleague trust as a launching point, Pearl and Fisher examine how stress, burnout and emotional spillover affect the people clinicians care about both at home and at work. Fisher draws on his retreat work with healthcare professionals to explain why slowing down, reconnecting socially and stepping outside the clinical environment are often prerequisites for restoring empathy and perspective. Midway through, the discussion deepens into the powerful theme introduced through the popular SHOWTIME show Billions: the way workplace environments subtly redefine who people become over time. In medicine, that process can begin as early as the first weeks of training. Small acts of conformity, repeated decisions at the edge of one's values and cultural reinforcement gradually shift how physicians think, behave and ultimately define themselves. The result is a larger question that runs through the entire episode: How do clinicians preserve their humanity, relationships and deepest values inside a system that often rewards speed, hierarchy and productivity over reflection and connection? Finally, Jeremy's closing question on behalf of patients helps to push both physicians to confront a national reality: when specialist access takes months, compassion must be communicated quickly and system design must improve the patient experience itself. For listeners who connected with Jonathan’s discussion of physician recovery, reflection and emotional renewal, check out his upcoming ASPIRE physician retreat, a CME-accredited experience for healthcare professionals, taking place June 12-14 in Boone, North Carolina. Use code ASPIRE15 for 15% off registration. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart' (Jonathan Fisher's newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD' (Robert Pearl's newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl's newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #211: How medical culture slowly reshapes physician identity appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr connect two forces that are beginning to reshape the future of medicine: healthcare's worsening economic inefficiency and the rise of physician-built generative AI tools. The conversation opens with a provocative interpretation of the latest U.S. jobs reports. While healthcare has become the nation's primary engine of employment growth, Dr. Pearl argues that this is not a sign of strength. It is evidence that medicine continues to meet rising demand by adding labor instead of improving productivity. In his view, that failure to modernize is driving higher costs for employers, families and government programs while setting the stage for inevitable disruption. From there, the discussion shifts to what that disruption could look like. Pearl outlines how generative AI could improve chronic disease monitoring, reduce unnecessary hospital stays and detect inpatient decline earlier than current workflows allow. These advances, he argues, would lower costs not by rationing care but by improving outcomes. The second half of the episode turns to one of the most practical and exciting developments in generative AI: vibe coding. Here, Pearl explains how physicians can now use plain-English prompts to create customized digital tools that reflect their own clinical judgment and practice preferences. Rather than relying on static handouts or generic patient portals, doctors could build affordable applications that monitor patients continuously between visits and intervene earlier when problems arise. Taken together, the episode puts forth a clear thesis: healthcare's worsening economics are not a sign of resilience. They are a sign that medicine has failed to modernize. What's more: generative AI, especially through vibe coding, may be the most practical path to higher-quality, lower-cost care. For more, tune into this month's episode and check out the links below. Helpful links US Jobs Report Spotlights Healthcare's Inefficiency, Signals Disruption (Forbes) How Vibe Coding Will Reshape Medical Practice (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #210: Healthcare's productivity crisis & how vibe coding could help appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl balance two sides of American healthcare: the encouraging scientific advances that could help people live longer and healthier lives, and the growing affordability and trust crises threatening patients across the country. The conversation opens on an optimistic note. Dr. Pearl highlights new Yale research showing that aging is far less deterministic than many Americans assume. Rather than a steady and unavoidable decline, the study found that nearly half of adults over 65 improved physically, cognitively or both over a 12-year period. He pairs that story with new cardiovascular guidance from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, which shifts prevention toward a much longer time horizon and argues that earlier LDL management could prevent a significant share of heart attacks and strokes later in life. The episode then pivots to the mounting financial and institutional pressures facing patients, hospitals and public-health agencies. From rising medical debt and medication nonadherence to declining vaccine trust, hospital cost inflation and the political barriers keeping GLP-1 drugs unaffordable in the United States, the discussion captures both the promise and the fragility of healthcare in 2026. Here are the other major storylines from episode 105: Supplements fail the evidence test: Pearl reviews clinical trial data showing that commonly used supplements such as fish oil, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon and red yeast rice performed no better than placebo in lowering LDL, reinforcing the continued value of lifestyle interventions and low-cost statins. Medical costs continue to destabilize families: New Gallup-linked research shows that 82 million Americans are already making sacrifices to pay medical bills, from skipping meals to delaying retirement. Drug unaffordability worsens medication adherence: A new KFF survey finds that nearly 60% of Americans worry about affording prescriptions, with 43% reporting they have not taken medications as prescribed because of cost. Generative AI adoption surges among physicians: According to a new AMA survey, 81% of doctors now use generative AI in clinical practice, most commonly for documentation, literature summaries and chart support. Hospitals face intensifying economic pressure: The American Hospital Association reports that care delivery costs rose 7.5% last year, driven by higher labor expenses, drug prices, supply inflation and sicker patients. Trust in vaccine authorities continues to erode: Following the legal challenge to RFK Jr.'s overhaul of the federal vaccine advisory committee, new polling shows trust in federal vaccine recommendations has fallen sharply. Newborn preventive care is now affected by distrust: Pearl warns that refusal of vitamin K shots, hepatitis B vaccination and antibiotic eye ointment at birth is rising, reversing decades of scientific progress and reintroducing preventable newborn risks. Alzheimer's blood tests show progress, but not prediction: New FDA-cleared blood tests can help identify Alzheimer's disease as the likely cause of current dementia, but Dr. Pearl explains why they remain far less useful for predicting disease years before symptoms begin. The fax machine may finally be dying: In one of the episode's lighter moments, Dr. Pearl notes that CMS is moving to phase out fax-machine communication across HIPAA-covered entities, a long-overdue modernization step that could save taxpayers nearly $1 billion annually. Residency match reaches record size: The 2026 residency match was the largest in history, with more than 48,000 applicants competing for over 44,000 positions. Early heat waves carry serious health consequences: With unusual March heat across parts of the country, Dr. Pearl explains why early-season heat is especially dangerous, increasing risks of dehydration, kidney injury, cardiovascular strain and mental health emergencies. GLP-1 drugs go generic abroad while U.S. prices stay high: As Novo Nordisk's blockbuster GLP-1 medications go generic in India and other global markets, Dr. Pearl contrasts international pricing with U.S. costs and argues that congressional inaction on drug pricing remains one of healthcare's clearest failures. Tune in for more fact-based analysis and practical perspective on the healthcare stories shaping medicine today. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post MTT #105: New science on aging, rising medical debt & healthcare’s fax problem appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl balance two sides of American healthcare: the encouraging scientific advances that could help people live ... The post MTT #105: New science on aging, rising medical debt & healthcare’s fax problem appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Dr. John Whyte has spent his career at the intersection of medicine, media and public policy. Now, as CEO of the American Medical Association, he hears firsthand what physicians, patients and health leaders are most concerned about and what they expect from the future of healthcare. That perspective makes him an ideal guest for Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare with cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. This season's guests bring more than impressive résumés and large social-media followings. They bring insight into what people across the country are actually talking about: the fears they express, the questions they ask and the expectations they carry into exam rooms, boardrooms and online conversations. Whyte has held leadership roles at the FDA and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He later became chief medical officer at WebMD and chief medical expert for Discovery Channel. In each position, he has focused on translating complex medical issues into clear, actionable information. In this conversation, he shares what he is hearing now and why the answers will require both cultural and structural change. Key highlights include: Three concerns dominate for physicians. Whyte opens by identifying what he hears most often across the country: frustration with prior authorization and payment incentives in Medicare and Medicaid, anxiety about scope-of-practice changes, and uncertainty about how physicians should lead (rather than react to) the rapid rise of digital health and generative AI. Medicaid disruption and impact on children. Whyte explains that policy changes at both federal and state levels could leave vulnerable populations without coverage or access to care. He emphasizes that nearly half of U.S. children rely on Medicaid. Payment models and physician autonomy. The discussion explores tensions between fee-for-service, Medicare Advantage and value-based approaches. Whyte argues that physicians must retain meaningful choice in how they practice and get paid, even as consolidation and employment models reduce autonomy. Generative AI as “augmented intelligence.” Whyte notes that more than 80% of physicians now use AI tools professionally, largely for documentation and communication tasks. The real opportunity, he says, lies in improving diagnosis, personalization and continuous monitoring. Home as the future site of care. From wearables to smart diagnostic devices, Whyte envisions a shift away from episodic office visits toward continuous monitoring and preventive care. Outcome-based reimbursement. Pearl asks whether paying for outcomes could unlock broader adoption of AI-enabled tools. Whyte acknowledges the promise but highlights practical challenges, including patient complexity, burnout and the risk that efficiency gains could simply lead to higher patient volumes. The evolving physician-patient relationship in the AI era. With a growing share of patients using generative AI before appointments, Whyte encourages clinicians to view digitally informed patients as partners. Open dialogue, trusted sources and shared decision-making, he argues, will define effective care in the years ahead. There's so much more to this episode. Tune in to find out what physicians and patients should expect from the future of medicine. * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn The post FHC #209: What the AMA’s new CEO is hearing from doctors & patients right now appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Healthcare is broken… but not in the way most people think.Admin costs have passed $1 trillion annually, pulling doctors away from what actually matters, patient care.In this episode, we sit down with Jaymal Sony, Co-Founder of Insight Health, a company using AI to transform independent healthcare.Their approach is simpleAutomate the adminReduce the noiseGive doctors their time backWe go deep on:Where the healthcare system is really failing todayThe technical breakthroughs behind voice AI speaking directly to patientsWhat clinics are actually doing when they adopt AIWhy was Insight Health built by both clinicians and technologistsWho really buys AI in healthcare and what makes them say yesThis is not about replacing doctorsIt is about making them more effective

In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr sit down with cardiologist and mindfulness expert Dr. Jonathan Fisher for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, strategy and the future of physician influence in American medicine. The discussion begins with a challenge to a popular point of view: that empathy, transparency and trust make for an effective leader in medicine. While those qualities matter, Dr. Pearl argues that healthcare also requires strategic thinking, operational discipline and the ability to align people around a common direction. In medicine, says Dr. Fisher, many physicians are taught how to care for patients but not how to lead organizations. From there, the conversation expands into the deeper reasons doctors so often remain subordinate to administrators, why burnout makes strategy harder to execute and why the economics of healthcare continue to reward treatment more than prevention. Some of the key ideas discussed: Empathy is necessary, but not sufficient. Healthcare often treats empathy and trust as the highest forms of leadership. Pearl argues that great leaders also need strategic thinking, financial understanding and operational skill. Doctors are rarely trained to lead. Fisher and Pearl discuss how physicians are taught to avoid mistakes and follow established pathways, not necessarily to take strategic risks. Burnout undermines strategy. A burned-out workforce may struggle to understand, trust or implement leadership goals. Fisher notes that wellness programs can help individuals cope, but they cannot substitute for fixing the systemic forces driving exhaustion. Primary care remains undervalued. Pearl argues that fee-for-service medicine fails to reward prevention. Until payment models shift toward capitation and long-term disease control, primary care will continue to be under-supported despite its central importance. Strategy without implementation goes nowhere. The group explores the difference between setting a vision and making it real. Pearl argues that healthcare too often suffers from one or the other: plans with no execution or action without coherent strategy. Physicians need broader leadership development. To reclaim influence over the future of medicine, doctors will need more than clinical expertise. They will need training in finance, organizational behavior, incentives and the mechanics of large-scale change. The future of medicine will be collaborative. As generative AI takes on more algorithmic tasks, doctors who succeed will not be the ones who resist change but those who learn to combine clinical judgment, human connection and technological support. Pressure changes performance. Using examples from the Winter Olympics, Fisher explains how elite performers can “freeze” when stress overrides instinct. The same phenomenon can happen in medicine when clinicians are forced into high-stakes moments without the right preparation or support. Machines don't freeze. That observation leads to one of the episode's most provocative questions: if AI and robotics continue to improve, will certain technical tasks eventually be performed more reliably by machines than by humans under pressure? Competition should lead to unity, not division. In the closing segment, the discussion broadens from sports to society with a question from Jeremy Corr, offering the patient's point of view. Pearl argues that high-level competition should ultimately strengthen collective purpose, whether in athletics, healthcare or public life. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart' (Jonathan Fisher's newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD' (Robert Pearl's newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl's newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #208: Why empathy alone won’t fix healthcare leadership appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this episode of the One Dream Podcast, Paul Renner discusses his journey from military service to politics, emphasizing the importance of leadership under pressure. He highlights his commitment to parental rights, healthcare reform, and the need for data privacy in education, particularly concerning AI. Renner positions Florida as a beacon of freedom, advocating for individual rights and family values while critiquing the impact of Obamacare. He expresses a desire to trust individuals with their health decisions and to guard against fear-driven policies in governance, aiming to leave a legacy of freedom in Florida. Resources Mentioned Paul Renner for Florida Governor One Dream on Instagram: @onedream.podcast — DM us your detox questions Follow The One Dream Podcast:

America spends nearly double what the fourth-ranked country spends on healthcare per capita — and still ranks among the worst in outcomes. So what exactly are we paying for? In this episode of the Experiencing Healthcare Podcast, Jamie Preston and Your Health CEO Matt Staub examine what happens when healthcare gets treated like gasoline: something people expect to be available, can't easily compare on quality, and ultimately choose based on price or convenience. When brand and price stop mattering, the only differentiator left is how patients are made to feel — and whether they trust the person across from them enough to actually change. What you'll hear in this episode: Why Matt ranks service above outcomes and access — and the patient story that changed how he thinks about both The "Chick-fil-A problem": how your healthcare experience is now being compared to your best service experience anywhere, not just the clinic down the street What provider burnout really looks like when a clinician closes their notes at 11pm wondering if their patient listened How insurance billing creates distrust that bleeds directly into the patient-provider relationship — and what healthcare organizations can do about it Why the most caring thing a doctor can do sometimes feels like the worst customer service in the room If you've ever felt like a number in a waiting room — or if you've ever been the one trying to help someone who wouldn't listen — this conversation will stay with you. Press play.

In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Cor return to a question listeners have been asking for months: What role will generative AI realistically play in American healthcare? Dr. Pearl opens the discussion around three urgent threats that, if ignored, may soon become too large and too expensive to solve: The affordability cliff The chronic disease crisis The risk of training doctors for the wrong future This examination offers a stark warning about healthcare's lack of flexibility. Unlike most industries, medicine cannot quickly reconfigure its workforce, adopt new care models or cut costs without years of delay. That rigidity, Pearl argues, is what makes the current moment so dangerous. By the time healthcare leaders respond to major problems, those problems often have already deepened into crises. The episode's second half explores whether generative AI could help avert that future. Pearl argues that the technology is already capable of improving chronic disease management, reducing medical errors and extending care into patients' homes. The larger barrier is no longer technical but cultural. To illustrate that divide, Pearl uses HBO's hit show The Pitt to examine how medicine still frames AI as either a helpful tool or an existential threat rather than what it could be: a valuable clinical partner. He credits the show for capturing physicians' skepticism and enthusiasm but argues that it misses the more important question: not whether AI is perfect, but whether it performs better than clinicians working alone in a system already riddled with error. Looking further ahead, Pearl argues that when it comes to GenAI taking on clinical tasks once exclusive to humans, the Rubicon has already been crossed. Major health systems are beginning to use generative AI for clinical intake and treatment planning. Large technology companies are building patient-facing health tools tied to personal medical data. And states such as Utah are already testing whether AI can safely handle parts of chronic disease care without direct physician oversight. Taken together, these developments point toward a new future for medicine. Primary care physicians may spend less time on routine algorithmic tasks and more time on complex patients. Specialists may become more procedural as outpatient evaluation shifts. And health systems that want to benefit from these changes will need to move away from fee-for-service and toward value-based care. For more on these developments, tune into this month's episode and check out the links below. Helpful links Three Healthcare Threats That Will Soon Become Too Big To Solve (Forbes) What The Pitt Gets Right And Wrong About Generative AI In Medicine (Forbes) GenAI Will Replace Much Of What Clinicians Do — It's Already Happening (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #207: Three major healthcare threats GenAI can help solve appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl unpack a wide range of developments shaping healthcare in America today, including the TrumpRx drug discount program. From new legislation affecting telehealth and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to the rapid spread of measles and growing public concern about vaccine policy, this month's discussion highlights the policy decisions and scientific debates influencing medicine right now. The episode opens with the latest federal legislation passed to avert a government shutdown. While healthcare was not the central focus of this particular political battle, the bill contains several provisions that affect medical practice. These include extensions for telehealth coverage and hospital-at-home programs, reforms targeting PBM transparency and new requirements designed to address “ghost networks” in Medicare Advantage provider directories. Dr. Pearl explains that while these provisions represent incremental progress, they are unlikely to solve the larger problems driving healthcare costs and access challenges in the United States. Here are the other major storylines from episode 104: Healthcare costs remain nation's top concern: A new KFF poll finds that healthcare expenses rank above food, housing and utilities as the economic issue Americans worry about most. Prior authorization frustrations grow: Many patients report delays or denials of care due to insurance requirements, highlighting persistent tension between insurers, physicians and patients. Drug pricing debates continue: Pearl examines a new prescription drug website initiative and explains why it may have limited impact compared with broader policy proposals such as “most favored nation” pricing. Telehealth's uncertain future: Although the latest legislation extends certain pandemic-era flexibilities, the lack of a permanent solution leaves virtual care programs in limbo. PBM reforms move forward slowly: New policies aim to increase transparency and reduce incentives tied to drug list prices, though Pearl notes that meaningful change will depend on future implementation. Site-neutral payment gains attention: A provision requiring unique identifiers for outpatient services could pave the way for policies that eliminate higher reimbursement for hospital-owned facilities providing identical care. Measles outbreaks surge: Nearly a thousand cases have already been reported in 2026, with the overwhelming majority occurring among unvaccinated children. Trust in the CDC declines: Polling shows confidence in the agency has dropped significantly following changes to vaccine recommendations. Independent vaccine review groups emerge: Medical organizations and states are forming new committees to evaluate vaccine evidence as federal guidance becomes more contested. Early colon cancer deaths rise: The death of actor James Van Der Beek at age 48 highlights the growing incidence of colorectal cancer among younger adults and the importance of earlier screening. FDA confusion over a new flu vaccine: The agency initially declined to review Moderna's mRNA-based flu vaccine before reversing course and agreeing to evaluate it ahead of the next flu season. Younger Americans face worsening health trends: New claims data suggest chronic disease is appearing earlier among millennials and Gen Z, driven by lifestyle factors and reduced connection to primary care. Wearable data reveal health disparities: Apple Watch data show significant differences in resting heart rates across states, reflecting variations in lifestyle, access to care and public health conditions. As the episode concludes, Dr. Pearl warns that growing political conflict around vaccines and biomedical research risks undermining public trust in science. The consequences, he argues, could shape American medicine for decades to come. Tune in for more fact-based analysis and discussion of the biggest stories in healthcare. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn The post MTT #104: TrumpRx, rising measles cases & the politics of vaccine science appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl unpack a wide range of developments shaping healthcare in America today, including the TrumpRx drug ... The post MTT #104: TrumpRx, rising measles cases & the politics of vaccine science appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

What if the most expensive healthcare decisions aren't made in the boardroom — but in the exam room, when the wrong infection gets treated with the wrong antibiotic? In this episode of the Your Health University, Podcast, Jamie sits down with Madison Browning, a registered nurse in urology at Your Health, to talk about what proper urological care actually looks like, why it matters far beyond the individual patient, and how a strong, collaborative provider team is the difference between a patient thriving and a patient stuck in a revolving door of emergency room visits. What you'll hear in this episode: Why getting a UTI diagnosis right the first time has massive implications for patient health and system costs The role nurse practitioners play in specialized urology care — and why their expertise is often underestimated How the team-based model at Your Health empowers every provider to collaborate and deliver better outcomes The direct connection between outpatient urology care and reduced hospital stays, ER visits, and downstream Medicare and tax costs Madison's genuine gratitude for the team around her — and what it looks like when a healthcare culture actually works If you've ever wondered whether the healthcare system could do better — this episode is proof that it already is, one patient at a time. www.YourHealth.Org

Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare continues its shift away from the traditional top-down model of interviewing CEOs, policymakers and medical leaders to focus this week on something new, different and fascinating: listening to the generation that is inheriting this American healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr speak with Grace Lynn Keller, VP at Executive Podcast Solutions, former Miss America contestant and the show's first-ever Gen Z guest. Grace brings a rare vantage point: Professionally, she is immersed in conversations with healthcare executives. Personally, she is part of the generation that consumes health information through social media, wearables and AI tools. For healthcare professionals, the conversation offers an important lens on how Gen Z gathers health information, how they decide when to seek care and what they expect from clinicians, insurers and government leaders. One insight stood out immediately. When asked where she would turn first with a non-emergency symptom, Grace answered without hesitation: ChatGPT. Her answer signals how much the healthcare landscape is changing. While Gen Z may turn to generative AI for initial medical advice, that is only one piece of a broader shift. In this conversation, Grace outlines how her generation is redefining health, prevention and trust. Key insights include: Verification Over Blind Trust. Gen Z does not simply accept what it reads online. Grace describes a culture of cross-referencing, double-checking and comparing sources across platforms before acting. Prevention As Identity. Her generation emphasizes whole foods, ingredient awareness and minimizing processed products. Health is considered a long-term lifestyle investment rather than reactive medical intervention. Wearables As Standard Equipment. Smart watches and rings are commonplace. Continuous data on sleep, movement, heart rate and hormonal cycles shape daily decisions and reinforce prevention. Convenience And Cost Sensitivity. Time away from work, co-pays and scheduling delays influence care decisions. If reliable AI-based treatment were available for routine conditions, many Gen Zers would use it immediately. Mental Health As Mainstream. Therapy is normalized. Work-life balance is considered protective, not indulgent. “Mental health days” may frustrate older generations but are viewed as necessary boundaries by younger workers. Skepticism Of Bureaucracy. Insurance complexity is a major frustration. Deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and opaque pricing create confusion for first-time independent users. Demand For Transparency. Grace compares healthcare to e-commerce: if nearly every other industry offers clear pricing and frictionless purchasing, why not medicine? Alcohol And Cultural Moderation. Among her peers, alcohol consumption is more situational and less habitual. Health-conscious decision-making extends beyond diet and exercise. Education Gaps. Public school health education was limited largely to sex ed and anti-drug messaging. She sees schools as the only scalable venue to improve health literacy nationwide. There's so much more to this episode. Tune in to find out what the next generation of patients expects from doctors, nurses and healthcare leaders. Helpful links “From TikTok to Telehealth: 3 Ways Medicine Must Evolve to Reach Gen Z” (Fulcrum) “Why younger patients turn away from doctors & toward GenAI” (Fixing Healthcare podcast) “Healthcare Regulators' Outdated Thinking Will Cost American Lives” (Forbes) “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Doctors and Patients Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” (Pearl's newest book) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #206: What Gen Z expects from healthcare & why it matters appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr sit down with cardiologist and mindfulness expert Dr. Jonathan Fisher for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, culture and team performance, inspired by lessons from the movie F1. What begins as a discussion about racing quickly becomes a deep exploration of how high-performing teams operate under pressure. In the movie (and in real Formula 1 racing), success depends not on a single star driver but on flawless coordination, communication and shared accountability. The same, the trio argues, is true in healthcare where patient outcomes increasingly depend on the strength of teams, not individual brilliance. From there, Drs. Pearl and Fisher focus on how leaders are developed, how to handle disruptive personalities, how to align departments and how physicians can prepare for long-term career success in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape that includes the rise of generative AI. Some of the key ideas discussed: Healthcare is a team sport. Like an F1 pit crew, modern medical teams operate in high-stakes, time-sensitive environments. Excellence requires clarity of roles, rehearsal, debriefing and mutual trust not just individual skill. Leadership can be learned. Charisma helps, but effective leadership is less about personality and more about behavior. Empathy, emotional regulation and intentional communication are skills that can be developed with practice. Delivery often matters more than content. Fisher emphasizes the gap between what leaders intend to communicate and what their teams hear. Non-verbal cues (posture, tone, eye contact and “prosody”) often determine whether a message lands. Curiosity over judgment. When faced with disruptive or “toxic” behavior, leaders must stay regulated, address unacceptable actions clearly and then seek to understand the underlying drivers. Culture flows from leadership. If an entire department resists change, the issue often centers on the department's leader. Alignment requires clarity of values, expectations and consequences … and sometimes difficult conversations. Excellence requires transparency. High-performing organizations define standards, measure outcomes and make performance visible. Coaching and incentives must align with expectations. Physician leaders need training not just promotion. The group discusses how brilliant clinicians are often elevated into leadership roles without preparation, and why formal leadership development is essential for healthcare's future. Planning for succession matters. Pearl points out that great leaders build a “bench.” Teams should be structured to endure transitions, not collapse when one individual exits. The future of medicine will reward human skills. As generative AI takes on more algorithmic tasks, communication, empathy and leadership will become even more essential competencies for physicians. Throughout the episode, Dr. Fisher reminds listeners that leadership is not about dominance or perfection. It is about presence, self-awareness and the willingness to understand how others think, feel and respond. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart' (Jonathan Fisher's newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD' (Robert Pearl's newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl's newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #205: What ‘F1' movie teaches us about leadership in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl examine a sweeping set of developments shaping American healthcare. From the first state-approved use of generative AI to prescribe medications without human oversight to rising healthcare costs, from worsening vaccine misinformation to the stubborn persistence of preventable disease, this show focuses on biggest stories in medicine today. The episode opens with a groundbreaking and controversial pilot program in Utah that allows a generative AI system to renew prescriptions for chronic disease without physician involvement. From there, the conversation turns to the relentless rise in healthcare spending. New federal data show Americans now spend more than $15,700 per person annually on medical care, with costs growing twice as fast as the economy. While insurance coverage remains high for now, Pearl warns that expiring subsidies, Medicaid restrictions and rising premiums are already pushing millions out of coverage. For many families, healthcare affordability has become a top issue and, increasingly, a political fault line heading into the midterm election cycle. Here are more major storylines from MTT episode 103: Exercise as medicine for depression: A large meta-analysis finds that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication for many patients. Trump's healthcare plan fades quickly: Pearl explains why the president's proposal disappeared from the headlines. Measles returns in force: Cases are nearing 1,000 and outbreaks concentrated in under-vaccinated communities. Vaccine battles intensify under RFK Jr.: New appointments to federal advisory committees raise alarm among scientists, as anti-vaccine voices gain influence. Chronic disease remains America's top killer: Cardiovascular disease continues to claim nearly one million lives annually. Generative AI's biggest promise: Pearl makes the case that AI-driven, at-home monitoring could finally transform chronic disease management. Cancer trends turn ominous: Colorectal cancer deaths among Americans under 50 are rising sharply, becoming the leading cancer killer in this age group. Genetics vs. lifestyle revisited: New research suggests genetics may account for half of lifespan variation but lifestyle still determines how many of those years are lived in good health. High-deductible health plans: New data show cancer patients with high-deductible insurance have significantly higher mortality. GLP-1 weight-loss pills arrive: The first oral GLP-1 drug launches to record demand. A devastating flu season for children: Despite the availability of safe vaccines, pediatric flu deaths reach alarming levels among unvaccinated kids. As the episode closes, Dr. Pearl delivers a stark warning about the resurgence of pseudoscience in medicine. Tune in for more fact-based coverage and analysis of healthcare's biggest stories.   * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn The post MTT #103: Can generative AI safely prescribe medicine on its own? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl examine a sweeping set of developments shaping American healthcare. From the first state-approved use of ... The post MTT #103: Can generative AI safely prescribe medicine on its own? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

This Diving Deep episode with Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr looks at U.S. healthcare across three time horizons: past, present and future. The hosts use 2025 as a case study in disruption without reform, 2026 as a year of mounting pressure and near-term transition, and the coming decade as a period when generative AI will fundamentally reshape how medicine is practiced. Looking back at 2025 Dr. Pearl argues that despite political upheaval, executive orders, agency shakeups and constant headlines, American healthcare ended the year largely unchanged. Just more expensive and less trusted. He walks through five domains where chaos dominated but improvement failed to materialize. The throughline? Intense disruption produced little structural change in care delivery, affordability or outcomes. Turning to 2026 The conversation shifts from stagnation to pressure. Pearl identifies two forces that make inaction increasingly risky: the midterm elections and accelerating healthcare costs. He outlines how that pressure is likely to shape behavior across the system — not through sweeping reform, but through targeted, politically visible moves. Looking further ahead Pearl describes how generative AI could alter medicine at a profound level, especially through the convergence of AI and surgical robotics. He argues that autonomous surgery, once the realm of science fiction, is now technologically plausible and could upend long-standing hierarchies between cognitive and procedural specialties. Helpful links Healthcare In 2025: A Year Of Chaos, Confusion — But Little Improvement (Forbes) Healthcare In 2026: How Much Change Should We Expect? (Forbes) Will Your Next Surgeon Be A Robot? (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #204: Why healthcare chaos didn’t lead to change & what comes next appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

As part of Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare, which spotlights influential voices with large followings and direct insight into how real people experience medicine, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome back medical historian Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris for her third appearance on the show, this time joined by her husband and creative partner, illustrator Adrian Teal. Together, Lindsey and Adrian bring a rare combination of scholarly depth, storytelling and massive digital reach. Lindsey's work on medical history has captivated millions across books, television and social platforms, while Adrian's instantly recognizable art has built a massive following online. Their latest collaboration is the children's book Dead Ends: Flukes, Flops & Failures That Sparked Medical Marvels, which sits at the center of this wide-ranging and unexpectedly personal conversation. The episode begins with a deceptively simple premise: medicine advances not in straight lines but through failure. Lindsey explains her long-standing fascination with scientific dead ends and why medicine often hides them from public view. Dead Ends, she says, was written to show children (and adults) that changing guidance is not a sign of incompetence, but evidence of learning in real time. Adrian adds that humor, exaggeration and even “gross-out” visuals aren't just entertainment. They're how curiosity is sparked and how complex medical ideas become memorable. The discussion unfolds across centuries of medical missteps and breakthroughs. Lindsey and Adrian share favorite stories from the book, including early experiments with galvanism, the guillotine's unexpected medical legacy and how inventions routinely escape the intentions of their creators. One standout example is Martin Couney, an outsider who used a Coney Island sideshow to fund incubator care for premature infants. His invention would go on to save thousands of lives even though the medical establishment initially dismissed the technology. Shifting from history to the present, Lindsey and Adrian reflect on what past failures teach us about regulation, ethics and risk today. While modern safeguards exist for good reason (many historical experiments exploited vulnerable populations) the group wrestles with how to encourage responsible innovation without freezing progress. They also explore how public trust erodes when scientific uncertainty is poorly communicated, especially in a media environment where misinformation travels faster than nuance. The most personal segment arrives when Lindsey discusses her own breast cancer diagnosis, alongside Adrian's experience with prostate cancer. Their stories ground the episode firmly in Season 11's focus on lived experience. For listeners interested in how history, art and personal experience illuminate today's healthcare debates, this episode offers a vivid reminder that progress is rarely tidy and never inevitable. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these helpful links. Helpful links Children's book: Dead Ends: Flukes, Flops & Failures That Sparked Medical Marvels Book: The Butchering Art Book: The Facemaker ChatGPT, MD (Pearl's newest book) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #203: Dead ends, failures & the unlikely path to medical progress appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Dr. Robert Pearl's latest opinion poll, part of his “Monthly Musings” newsletter, asked readers about their health goals and habits for 2026 (note: studies show most Americans have already quit their resolutions for the year). The result? People want to eat better, workout more and lose weight. And yet, the behaviors that lead to those outcomes are cited as the most difficult things to maintain: good sleep, time management, stress reduction. In this episode, Pearls joins cohost Jeremy Corr and cardiologist and burnout expert Jonathan Fisher for an “Unfiltered” conversation about why so many resolutions, intentions and goals fail. The conversation quickly evolves into an evidence-based exploration of human behavior, motivation and the modern forces working against sustained change. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience and lived experience, the trio explores why knowledge alone rarely changes behavior, how digital environments hijack attention and emotion, and why willpower may be the most overrated concept in self-improvement. Along the way, the conversation touches on doom scrolling, burnout, fear, parenting in a digital age and the quiet erosion of habits that support mental and physical health. The result is a candid and deeply human examination of why change is so hard … and what might actually help. Some of the key ideas discussed: Resolutions don't fail because people are ignorant or lack willpower. Most people already know what they “should” do to improve their health or happiness. The real challenge is not information, but the gap between intention and action. Willpower is a fragile strategy. The group challenges the idea that success depends on moral strength or discipline. Instead, they emphasize designing environments and systems that make healthy choices easier. Doom scrolling as emotional regulation. Dr. Fisher describes how endless scrolling often isn't about boredom, but about managing discomfort, anxiety or feeling low. Identity shapes behavior more than goals. Habits are easier to sustain when they align with how people see themselves. Someone who identifies as “an athlete” behaves differently than someone who is merely trying to exercise more. Burnout is both systemic and personal. While organizational pressures matter, Jonathan argues that individual boundaries, values and behavior patterns also play a role in chronic exhaustion and disengagement. Fear is rising. Robbie reflects on the paradox of growing anxiety despite improvements in crime rates, employment and longevity — and points to social isolation as a key driver. Phones are changing how we relate to each other. Jeremy raises the now-familiar sight of groups sitting together while staring at screens. The three discuss what this means for connection, attention and the ability to tolerate boredom, especially for children watching adults model behavior. In classic Unfiltered fashion, the episode resists easy answers. Instead, it invites listeners to rethink how change actually happens: not through sheer determination, but through awareness, structure and a more honest understanding of human nature. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart' (Jonathan Fisher's newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD' (Robert Pearl's newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl's newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #202: Willpower, doom scrolling & the illusion of control appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr look closely at the stories and controversies shaping U.S. healthcare at the start of 2026. From a severe flu season and resurgent vaccine-preventable diseases to drug pricing, autism research and the growing role of AI in medicine, the episode offers a data-driven look at where American healthcare is headed. The show opens with warnings about infectious disease. A dangerous H3N2 flu strain is driving hospitalizations, particularly among children, while measles and whooping cough outbreaks continue to spread among unvaccinated populations. To Dr. Pearl, these trends do not appear random. They reflect falling vaccination rates, weakened public-health messaging and growing political interference at federal agencies tasked with protecting the public. From there, the conversation turns to vaccine policy itself. Recent changes at the CDC (including a sharply reduced childhood vaccine schedule and new recommendations against universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination) raise serious concerns. Pearl explains why comparisons to countries like Denmark (with its reduced vaccine schedule) are deeply misleading, and why abandoning universal vaccination in a fragmented U.S. healthcare system risks reversing decades of progress. Here's a look at other must-know stories from this episode of Medicine: The Truth: Positive vaccine evidence: New CDC data show significant reductions in emergency visits among children who received COVID vaccines, reinforcing their safety and effectiveness. Pandemic lessons for children: Pediatric obesity rose during COVID lockdowns, while mental health outcomes improved after schools reopened, underscoring the tradeoffs of prolonged closures. Drug pricing deals with manufacturers: The administration's agreements with pharmaceutical companies apply narrowly to government purchases and exclude many high-cost drugs, limiting their overall impact. First oral GLP-1 approved: The FDA cleared the first pill version of a GLP-1 weight-loss drug, offering convenience but likely remaining unaffordable until prices fall closer to $200 per month. Autism research update: Rising autism prevalence is driven largely by broader diagnostic criteria and awareness. Large studies continue to show no link to vaccines or acetaminophen, while new research points to strong genetic factors and distinct autism subtypes. ACA exchange subsidy uncertainty: Congress has yet to prevent looming premium increases for millions of exchange enrollees. Pearl argues for avoiding coverage cliffs and capping household contributions as a share of income. Polypharmacy in seniors: One in eight Medicare Part D beneficiaries now takes eight or more medications, increasing the risk of side effects, falls and hospitalizations in a fragmented system. New dietary guidelines: Federal recommendations now emphasize animal protein alongside stronger warnings against sugar and ultra-processed foods, a shift that may conflict with earlier public-health messaging. AI's expanding role in healthcare: OpenAI's tools increasingly integrate health data from electronic records and consumer apps, signaling how quickly generative AI is becoming part of medical decision-making. Medicare and AI oversight: Traditional Medicare is moving toward AI-assisted prior authorization for certain procedures, a response to fraud and low-value care that Pearl says is inevitable as costs continue to rise. Tune in to Medicine: The Truth for more fact-based coverage and analysis of healthcare's biggest stories. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post MTT #102: Vaccines under fire, rising disease & the cost of politics in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr look closely at the stories and controversies shaping U.S. healthcare at the start of 2026. ... The post MTT #102: Vaccines under fire, rising disease & the cost of politics in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

The Big Unlock · Jonathan Bush, Founder & CEO, Zus Health In this episode, Jonathan Bush, Founder & CEO of Zus Health, shares a bold vision for the next phase of healthcare transformation. Drawing on decades of experience, Jonathan argues that while EHR adoption is largely complete, today's systems remain fee-for-service–oriented, creating fragmented views of patients – what he describes as the “blind men and the elephant” problem. The result: clinicians still lack a complete, longitudinal picture of the patient and rely on repeated tests and “bags full of records.” Jonathan explains how Zus Health is re-architecting healthcare data by creating a longitudinal, always-on common patient record. Zus is an API-first platform built on an AI-enabled backbone that aggregates, structures, and continuously updates data across multiple EMRs. He emphasizes the power of network effects, where shared intelligence can eliminate redundant tests and unnecessary care. The conversation also explores why interoperability must move beyond regulatory compliance to become core infrastructure for value-based care, and how AI-driven summarization and agentic workflows can reduce clinician burden while enabling proactive, patient-centered care. Take a listen.

Mark Cuban approaches healthcare the same way he approaches every industry he enters: by assuming something essential is missing and then asking who benefits from keeping it that way. In American medicine, he believes that missing ingredient is transparency. Not better messaging, not smarter incentives, but simple visibility into how prices are set, who gets paid and who gets taken advantage of. Cuban is a lifelong healthcare outsider. He is a billionaire entrepreneur, NBA championship team owner and longtime Shark Tank investor. That's what makes him the perfect guest for Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare with cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. This season's guests have massive online audiences, but their value isn't just reach. It's their ability to listen closely to what millions of patients are experiencing, then translate those insights back into the broader medical conversation. Few guests embody that better than Cuban. He has quickly become one of the system's most incisive critics by paying attention to what patients, employers and clinicians repeatedly say is broken. That mindset led to the creation of Cost Plus Drugs, a pharmacy built on an idea that sounds radical only because healthcare has drifted so far from it. Show patients the actual cost of a medication, add a flat 15% markup and eliminate the opaque middlemen who thrive in the dark. In this conversation, Cuban explains how a cold email from a physician opened his eyes to how hidden pharmaceutical pricing had become and why opacity itself became the opportunity. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INTERVIEW Why drug prices are detached from reality. Cuban breaks down how widely used medications, including GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per month despite far lower manufacturing costs. The driver, he argues, is not innovation or scarcity, but a system dominated by pharmacy benefit managers whose rebate structures reward insurers and intermediaries while excluding patients. How patients bear the greatest financial harm. With concrete examples, Cuban explains how people in deductible phases, especially those on ACA plans, often pay full retail prices while rebates flow elsewhere. Costs are spread across millions of plan holders, but the financial pain lands on the people who actually need care. Why healthcare's complexity is intentional. From fax machines to prior authorization delays, Cuban argues that administrative friction is not accidental. It protects incumbents, drains clinician time and forces providers into the role of “subprime lenders,” all while patients struggle to navigate a system designed to obscure accountability. What he tells CEOs behind closed doors. Cuban outlines the first questions he asks corporate leaders about their pharmacy benefits, why most are not receiving the rebates they believe they are and how audits are often structured to reveal as little as possible. Transparency, he says, is the first step toward leverage. A blueprint beyond pharmaceuticals. The discussion extends into hospitals, insurance design and employer-based coverage, including Cuban's work on cost-plus wellness contracts that publish negotiated rates so others can replicate them. His goal is not dominance. It is forcing the system to respond by making its incentives visible. Throughout the episode, Cuban's message is blunt and consistent. Healthcare does not need more jargon, better marketing or marginal tweaks. It needs sunlight. Once pricing, incentives and risk are exposed, many of the system's most entrenched practices become much harder to justify. * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #201: Mark Cuban’s blunt diagnosis of what’s broken in healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this Diving Deep episode, the 200th of episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore three interconnected themes: The biggest driver of America's healthcare crisis. The transformative (and still largely untapped) potential of generative AI. The strategic leadership physicians must embrace if they hope to regain control of their profession and the care their patients receive. The show opens with a metaphor Pearl has returned to repeatedly in his writing: healthcare's “invisible gorilla.” Borrowed from classic research on inattentional blindness, the image captures how policymakers, employers and healthcare leaders fixate on insurance mechanics (premiums, subsidies, deductibles) while missing the far larger problem in plain sight: the soaring cost of delivering medical care itself. From there, the conversation traces how this cost crisis ripples across society. Employers struggle to absorb rising premiums. Workers face higher out-of-pocket costs and job instability. Rural hospitals teeter on the edge of closure. And short-term fixes — from benefit design changes to temporary bailouts — fail to address the underlying mathematical problem. The hosts then turn to generative AI, not as a billing or documentation solution, but as a clinical force that could reshape care delivery and tremendously lower costs. They examine how genAI could help clinicians manage exploding medical knowledge, prevent errors, personalize inpatient care and extend high-quality monitoring into patients' homes, particularly for chronic disease. Finally, the episode widens the lens to leadership and strategy. Drawing lessons from Nvidia and the technology sector, Pearl and Corr explore why medicine's fragmented, short-term responses have cost physicians influence and what it would take to rebuild leverage through collaboration, accountability and value-based care. Taken together, the episode sets out to answer a defining question: With pressure mounting across the healthcare system, will medicine act strategically or wait until the crisis leaves no other choice? Helpful links What Nvidia Can Teach Doctors About Strategy, Survival (Forbes) 5 Ways GenAI Will Transform Medicine — If Clinicians Embrace It (Forbes) US Healthcare's Biggest Problem: Overlooking The $5 Trillion Gorilla (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #200: Healthcare’s cost crisis, GenAI’s promise + medicine’s leadership gap appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Healthcare premiums keep rising, but plan quality often stays the same (or gets worse). In this conversation, Shaun Enders sits down with Donovan Pyle—CEO of Health Compass and author of Fixing Healthcare—to unpack why the employer-sponsored healthcare market functions the way it does. Donovan explains the "hidden supply chain" behind your healthcare spend, why broker incentives often conflict with employer outcomes, and how CEOs can start reclaiming wasted dollars by getting unbiased, fiduciary-aligned guidance and improving visibility into unit pricing. Key Topics Covered Why employer healthcare spend feels unstoppable, and why that belief is "trained" The healthcare supply chain and how lack of transparency drives waste How brokers were historically designed to function (and why incentives matter) Why networks can hide prices and distort the price/quality relationship The "discount off infinity" problem behind EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) Regulatory capture and why some states limit small-business options Certificate of Need ("CON") laws and how they restrict competition The shift toward fiduciary models (similar to what happened in retirement plans) Practical steps for CEOs: visibility, vendor stack, and unbiased advisory support Chapters / Timestamps (YouTube-style) 00:01 – Welcome + why this topic matters to Shaun (20 years of premium increases) 01:17 – The big numbers: employer-sponsored coverage, $1.3T spend, and the "waste" claim 02:03 – Why finance/HR teams aren't set up to understand healthcare procurement 03:54 – The broker dilemma: "the only voice you have" vs. conflicts of interest 05:29 – Why Donovan focuses on the employer-sponsored market (not Medicare/Medicaid) 07:27 – The origin story: the first U.S. insurance plan (1929) and what became Blue Cross 09:26 – Brokers as "retail distribution" and why costs rising helps the sell-side 11:59 – ACA, cost-plus dynamics, and why vertical integration changed the game 14:52 – Reframing healthcare: not one line item—a supply chain 16:31 – Shaun's parallel: higher education costs and "cracks in the veneer" 19:14 – The strategy universe expands once you get unbiased advice 21:21 – Cash pricing: why individuals sometimes get better pricing than big insurers 23:34 – Shaun's billing experience: allowed vs billed, even in integrated systems 25:35 – EOBs as marketing: "Island Speak" and the illusion of savings 29:40 – Small business reality in CA/NY/WA: limited options and why 34:50 – Certificate of Need ("CON") laws: regulating supply and blocking competition 42:07 – ACA subsidies: what's expiring and what the market may revert to 46:31 – The most practical step: get unbiased, fiduciary-aligned advice 51:16 – Parallels to financial services: commissions → fee-based fiduciary models 57:14 – Real example: PBM RFP leading to multi-million-dollar savings 59:18 – Bringing it back to purpose: time, meaning, and what drives Donovan 01:05:29 – Where to find Donovan + free executive summary roadmap https://assessment.healthcompassconsulting.com/tba Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9vEdj0XBOyI Connect with Shaun: www.CallTSG.com www.BusinessFinanceAndSoul.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunenders/ People / Organizations Mentioned Donovan Pyle – CEO, Health Compass; author of Fixing Healthcare Validation Institute – referenced as a place to find fiduciary-based firms RAND Corporation (2021 study referenced) – cash pricing / employer pricing dynamics David Goldhill – author of Catastrophic Care (chapter: "Island Speak") Harris Rosen – Rosen Hotels (Orlando), example of long-term employer healthcare strategy Resources Mentioned Free executive summary + roadmap: FixingHealthcare.com Book: Fixing Healthcare (Donovan Pyle) Book: Catastrophic Care (David Goldhill) Disclaimer This episode discusses healthcare financing and benefits strategy from an employer perspective. It is not medical, legal, or financial advice.

As Republicans face increasing pressure to put forth a healthcare solution, four in the party broke ranks with the rest and joined a Democrat-led discharge petition, which would force a vote on a three-year extension of COVID-Era Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of January. One of those Republicans, Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY), spoke to Bret alongside Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) last week to explain his support for temporarily extending the subsidies, despite the potential backlash it could bring from the rest of his party.    The discharge petition passed on December 17, 2025, although a vote on extending the ACA subsidies has not yet been scheduled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As 2025 comes to a close, we're flashing back to one of the year's most listened-to episodes of Fixing Healthcare. This week, a special reading from Dr. Robert Pearl's bestselling book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” This encore episode includes audio from Chapter 11, titled “The Road to AI-Empowered Healthcare,” followed by Chapter 11.5, a bold and thought-provoking response written by ChatGPT itself. Together, these chapters offer a vision of the future that, as Jeremy Corr notes, is “analogous to looking at a baby and trying to describe the adult who will follow.” Looking back, it's striking how prescient both the human author and large language model turned out to be. Their commentary on the economic, political and cultural roadblocks to AI adoption feels more timely than ever, especially amid today's headlines. In Chapter 11, Pearl lays out the promise of Healthcare 4.0, a future in which generative AI empowers patients and doctors alike to reduce inefficiencies, improve care and reclaim the human side of medicine. Chapter 11.5, penned by ChatGPT, offers a clear-eyed critique, cautioning against overreliance on tech and warning that change requires more than just innovation. It demands leadership. This flashback offers listeners a rare opportunity to hear a dialogue (human and machine) on what it will take to transform American medicine. HELPFUL LINKS ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine (Amazon) A list of Malcolm Gladwell's 25 book recommendations (link) Robert Pearl's Monthly Musings on American Healthcare newsletter (link) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #199: Revisiting ‘The road to AI-empowered healthcare' from ChatGPT, MD appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

After the Thanksgiving holiday, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr sit down for an “Unfiltered” discussion about gratitude with cardiologist and burnout expert Dr. Jonathan Fisher. While the discussion begins with an exploration of the science and value of gratitude, the episode then expands into an analysis of cultural trends in medicine, mental health, and the tension between individual autonomy and collective belonging. With insights drawn from emotion research, Jonathan's own experience, and even sci-fi television, this episode touches on everything from evolutionary psychology to electronic health records — and from Lord of the Rings to generative AI. Some of the key ideas discussed: Gratitude is a mindset, a personality trait and, most importantly, a practice. Drawiong on research from Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and others to explain how gratitude triggers upward emotional spirals, helping people tap into optimism, empathy and self-trust. When life is falling apart, gratitude alone isn't the answer. In moments of crisis, trying to force a feeling of gratitude can backfire. Instead, we should begin by choosing where to place our attention, cultivating stillness and gradually train our minds to experience positive emotions again. The real enemy of gratitude might be distraction. With much of our attention hijacked by devices, media and negativity bias, Americans today often lack the sustained focus required to feel or express authentic gratitude. There's wisdom (and warning) in a ‘hive mind.' The group discusses the Apple TV series Pluribus, in which a virus links humans into a hive mind of total empathy and consensus. While peaceful, the world loses all individuality, sparking a conversation about the tension between belonging and autonomy in medicine, society and self. A lesson from Samwise Gamgee: In a heartfelt final segment, Jeremy draws on Lord of the Rings to reflect on the importance of standing by loved ones in dark times. Jonathan responds with insight into isolation, empathy and the power of human connection — even when people seem lost. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart' (Jonathan Fisher's newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD' (Robert Pearl's newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl's newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #198: The surprising science of gratitude & the cost of conformity appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week's episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl examine a wide range of stories shaping American health. From new research on the lifesaving ... The post MTT #101: From measles outbreaks to GLP-1 hype, the data every patient should know appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

The Draper name is synonymous with Silicon Valley risk-taking. For decades, venture capitalist Tim Draper made bold bets on breakthrough technologies long before they went mainstream (see: Bitcoin). Today, two ... The post FHC #197: Artificial wombs & medical tourism – Draper siblings on healthcare's next wave appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

For this Thanksgiving week, we're revisiting an important and emotionally charged episode from the first season of “Medicine: The Truth.” = When this episode debuted in 2020, the podcast was ... The post FHC #196: Revisiting Thanksgiving 2020 at Covid's peak appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.