Category: Public Health & Policy

Cryonics: advancements, ethics, and skepticism

Scientists have transitioned from crafting flying contraptions capable of moving massive payloads through unfriendly skies to exploring the vast expanse of the cosmos, affirming that the concept of impossibility holds no sway over their endeavors. Yet,…

Reducing political influence in health care: Building trust, transparency, and equity

In our hyperpolarized and political society, it seems everything has a political angle, including health care. I think that some of this conflict is unnecessarily but intentionally introduced by special interest groups to force a point, a change in pol…

Chiefs fan to gun violence advocate: How football and tragedy reshaped my mission

Those who know me well and even those who don’t are aware of my passion and commitment to the Kansas City Chiefs. As an avid fan who was born and raised in KC, I can assure everyone that there were many dark years and even decades prior to the cu…

Medical debt-driven homelessness

The fictional 2007 television story depicting the plight of a widow with two daughters who, as a family, became homeless due to medical debt incurred during her since-deceased husband’s health care, is an eye-opener and heartbreaking. However, no…

Health insurance CEOs face “prior authorization”: a taste of their own medicine?

A fictional monologue. You’ve reached the prior authorization denial appeal line for insurance CEOs. Case number, please. I’m sorry you’ve had to hold for over an hour, but we can’t proceed if we don’t have your case numbe…

Truth be told: We have a leadership crisis, not a health care crisis

In the annals of history, the transformative impact of a few courageous leaders has left an indelible mark, altering the course of nations and reshaping the face of societies. From the visionary leadership of figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mand…

Blame game in U.S. health care: Who’s responsible and what’s the solution?

The perception that our U.S. health care system is broken has become nearly fact among health care workers and the public alike. Many other countries are facing similar challenges, beyond the recent spotlight on our Canadian and British friends across …

High-deductible plans and chronic conditions [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, we sit down with Shirin Hund, an internal medicine physician, to explore the impact of high-deductible health plans on individuals with chronic medical conditions like diab…

From fee-for-service to value-based care [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Michael Poku, a physician executive, as we delve into the challenges and solutions for transforming the U.S. health care system. Explore how the fee-for-service model perpetuates healt…

The Federal SAVE Act: a beacon of hope for health care worker safety

It’s a narrative that has become disturbingly familiar: different health care providers, yet the same traumatic story. Ramon, an idealistic new nurse, was drawn to nursing to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the most vulnerable. But in an…