Posts by workweek
The Next Frontier of Weight Loss
Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug, tirzepatide, led to a max 22.5% weight loss—or 52 pounds—in adults with obesity or overweight. Some have described tirzepatide’s effects as the “equivalent of inventing nuclear fusion.” Bold statement. But I agree nonetheless that these clinical trial results are a BFD for public health. The Deets Tirzepatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist mixed with a…
Read MoreThe End.
Covid is still spreading through communities and is by no means “over.” However, this week, the government is likely to decide whether to extend the public health emergency (PHE). If the PHE isn’t renewed, what will the implications be? Implications for Hospitals, Clinicians and Providers Reimbursement ➡️ Medicare has increased reimbursement to hospitals by 20% for treating…
Read MoreThe Death and Life of the “Private Practice Physician”
BUSINESS The Death and Life of the “Private Practice Physician” Is the “private-practice physician” life dead? Around three out of four physicians are now employed by a hospital, health system or corporate entity (PE firm or health insurer). I’d answer, “dead.” For now… The DeetsThe percentage of hospital- or corporate-employed physicians increased 19% over the last three…
Read MoreA $300M Company that Offers Little Value
Metabolic health company Levels raised $38M in Series A funding at a $300M valuation. Despite its grandiose valuation, I think the company offers little value to “healthy” individuals. Background Levels is a metabolic health startup that uses continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to provide real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact metabolic health. “Metabolic health” is a…
Read MoreNurse Practitioner Independence
New York officially granted nurse practitioners (NPs) Full Practice Authority (FPA), allowing them to provide a wide range of services without supervision. NPs in 25 states now have FPA. The FPA granted to NPs may help increase access to healthcare as the U.S. faces a formidable physician shortage. “Full Practice Authority” means NPs can provide the full scope…
Read MoreThe Netflix of Antibiotics
The UK plans to use a subscription-based model for Pfizer and Shionogi to increase the supply of their powerful antibiotics. The government will pay the two companies $13M/year over the decade for a guaranteed supply of two drugs, cefiderocol and ceftazidime-avibactam. These drugs are known to treat drug-resistant bacteria infections, and we (the world) need more drugs…
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