America’s history is complicated: When I toured Independence Hall years ago the guide noted the irony that in the same building where the constitution proclaiming freedom (while maintaining slavery) was signed, fugitive slaves would later be prosecuted for running away.

Medtronic shares near-even, after announcing FDA Approval of Altaviva, a minimally invasive implantable device which controls urgency incontinence. The device, the size of a usb, stimulates nerves to strengthen pelvic floor, much like acupuncture. news.medtronic.com/2025-09-19-M...

Like AHIP, CA, WA, OR and HI get out ahead of tomorrow's new RFK-appointed ACIP group meeting, setting their own vaccine standards for their respective states. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/h...

This is one of the things to remember about what happened: CDC Director Monarez' nomination was confirmed by Senate republicans. She was forced out 26 days after being confirmed.

Senate hearing with with ousted CDC Directeor Susan Monarez resumes. She says discussion with HHS Sec. RFK "was not a productive exchange."

@statnews.com reports Surgeon General nominee Casey Means disclosed over $250K in partnership/sponshorship revenue from supplement firms. Ethics committee says she pledges to sever partnerships if confirmed. www.statnews.com/2025/09/16/c...

Amazon to boost pay and cut cost of entry level health plan for warehouse workers: "lowering the cost to only pay $5 per week and $5 for copays, starting in 2026... (reducing) weekly contributions by 34% and copays by 87% for primary care, mental health, and most non-specialist visits"

That's a bold choice for supplement name...

While new ACIP is set to make its recommendations later this week, AHIP says “Health plans will continue to cover all ACIP-recommended immunizations that were recommended as of September 1, 2025, including updated formulations of the COVID-19... with no cost-sharing... through the end of 2026."

Remember when UNH told investors earlier this month it expects 78% of plans to be 4-star or more, while Humana was more glum at those health conferences? @modernhealthcare.bsky.social reports “accidentally disclosed every company’s preliminary rating in the file” to MA players according to sources.

Hard to believe anyone functions without a bank account in this day and age: "More than 5 million people still receive physical checks from the government, a group largely composed of seniors, people with disabilities, immigrants and others without bank accounts"

SPECIAL REPORT: A large swath of the U.S. currently does not have the basic, ground-level immunity necessary to stop the spread of viruses that had once receded into the past, a six-month NBC News investigation in collaboration with scientists at Stanford University finds.

$UNH and insurers lower. UnitedHealth's PBM Optum Rx announced increased brand drug reimbursement now in effect for 2,300 community and independent pharmacies; no details on how big an increase. www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/pos...

Saw him in person once and it made my heart flutter. This morning it is heavy. RIP to the Great Redford.

My cousin works in a hospital toxicology lab; she finds the over the top medical stuff on hospital shows annoying. I find the total lack of discussion about billing undermines the heroic plot lines for me.

I didn’t get a chance to ask Warren Buffett about UnitedHealth at the Squawk Box 30th celebration last week, but @cnbc.com’s Alex Crippen notes while Buffett’s endorsement has helped bring UNH to a 4-month high, Berkshire’s stake could still be underwater. cnb.cx/3VRAY8s

WSJ says UHG CEO Stephen Helmsley took a page from tech and pharmacy execs, meeting with the WH. Company tells CNBC “Public policy shapes health care across America, and it’s our responsibility to engage with the administration and Congress at all levels to improve patient access and affordability.”

Health insurers getting a boost from reaffirming guidance at health conference. CVS at 18-mo high; Centene scores best week in 3 years; UnitedHealth notching a 6-week win streak.

BREAKING: FDA plans to claim a link between child deaths and Covid shots, but sources warn it's unvetted data.

Have a similar tote I splurged on for $149

Bad Bunny, one of the biggest musical artists in the world, said he avoided the US in his tour because he thought ICE would set up ouside his shows.

Investment thesis vs real world experience: Conventional wisdom holds that Microsoft is more advanced on AI capabilities, while Apple is trying to catch up. But ever notice when you transition devices your iOS profile transfers smoothly, your Outlook stuff not so much?

UnitedHealth's update on expected MA plan stars rating helping to bring the stock near $350 for the first time since May, and giving a lift to peers, except Humana. In this case, the silence from the other major Medicare insurer seems to be spooking investors.

"The group brings together hundreds of grandparents nationwide who lived through diseases such as polio, tuberculosis and measles — illnesses once thought eliminated in the United States..." www.kgw.com/article/news...

I remember saying as much to my cousin who defected from Cuba in the 90s. She told me she and her friends had never seen MTV in Havana and they still loved Madonna. (They also loved Pink Floyd. This is when I learned not to profile music tastes.)

Congrats @statnews.com! Hard a to remember a time before STAT!

Talked to 23 people who suddenly have to pay huge tariffs or otherwise cannot get chainmail from Pakistan, yarn from France, retro computers from Japan, metal music from the Netherlands, DVDs from Germany, cosplay supplies, sunscreen, etc. www.404media.co/its-just-a-m...

We won't get the official star ratings from CMS until later this month, but the UNH news is lifting the MA group. UNH also affirmed its full year outlook, ahead of meetings with investors this week.

UnitedHealth shares on pace to open at a 4-month high on #StarRatings Company says 78% of members will be in ⭐⭐⭐⭐plans.

I'm for improving healthspan, but I wonder: Can most modern humans afford to live to 150? Not to mention, can society can afford to fund such long lives? Think about Social Security and other nations' pension systems already burdened by the big Boomer cohort...

ewwww - no thank you.

¡Si Señor! That’s how you do it. Alcaraz for the championship!! #USOpen

Attended a memorial service today celebrating a woman who lived a life of faith, kindness and grace towards those she loved and her community. It got me thinking about values. This piece nails it. We can’t relegate respectful discourse and regard for our institutions to the dust bin of history.

i.e. 13-figure comp to return to office full time?

Sen. Cassidy threads the needle while challenging Sec. RFK on his moves limiting COVID vaccine access, by saying President Trump deserves the Nobel Prize for pushing through Operation Warp Speed.

RIP to a giant.

With fate of enhanced tax credits up in the air, HHS to expand access to catastrophic plans on healthcare.gov during open enrollment this fall, “for consumers who are ineligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) or cost-sharing reductions (CSRs).”

Back in the olden 1900s teachers would warn that misbehavior would “go on your permanent record.” Today that’s everything on the web, public or not. My health care wonky brain wishes we could have a safe permanent interoperable EHR that can help alert on health care issues. We’re getting close…

In our post-privacy age someone has released the Spotify playlists of the powerful and famous. Wonder whether POTUS will be upset that none of his GOP colleagues seem to rock out to YMCA?

Fuzzy should audition to be Sesame Street's new Ice Cream Monster.

I wonder how they will deal with charges for congestion pricing boundaries, given that they're automatic... I had a yellow cab meter add a surcharge even though I purposely caught the taxi one block north of the boundary.

@ashleycapoot.cnbc.com takes a look at how Epic is betting its new assistants Emmie, Art and Penny will leave health care startups' AI bots in the dust. (Every notice how nobody names their AI assistants Hal?)

HHS is soliciting nominations for a new Health Advisory Committee which will report directly to Sec. RFK Jr. to look advise on "actionable" chronic disease prevention, advancing real-time data, improving Medicaid, modernizing MA risk adjustment. public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-16136.pdf

A New York state Department of Health employee who was charged with stalking and harassing family members of the slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been put on leave from his job.

President Donald Trump has been on a multimillion-dollar bond-buying spree since taking office, investing in debt issued by local authorities, gas districts and major American corporations.

The most important issue for parents is that insurers will pay for their kids’ vaccines. Certainly this fall, as part of 2025 plans they will. apple.news/AmH0yibxuTye...

I think the first TV I eventually bought looked like that one. My parents bought me a 13" set when I lived at home while I trained, because they couldn't stand my running commentary on the production of news shows; they asked me to watch by myself.

Back in the 1900's, I sewed up a few nice throw pillows and repurposed a poster and an old rug for my college dorm room, and found furniture via dumpster-diving when upper classmen moved out.

Soemtimes a Steve can be a Karen, too. (What happens when you ask for ChatGPT's manager?)

ELV shares off the morning highs.. on stars ruling.