In this episode of Health Further, Vic is joined by guest host Emily Evans to cover the rise in long-term unemployment, Trump’s criticism of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the struggles of working-class Americans in a K-shaped economy. They discuss potential Fed leadership changes, a housing supply push in New York, Apple’s $100 billion U.S. investment, and tax law changes spurring corporate spending. The conversation covers venture funding in autism care, cardiac imaging AI, IPO news, and AI-driven drug discovery, along with cuts to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine funding, legal challenges to Trump’s tariff powers, and opening 401(k)s to private assets. Payer updates include Blue Shield’s price tool, Oscar Health’s losses, Hy-Vee’s ICHRA plan, and UnitedHealth’s acquisition of Amedisys. They also explore Hinge Health’s earnings, Hims & Hers’ expansion, major pharma moves, fall prevention, AI in heart failure care, consulting disruption, OpenAI announcements, AI market manipulation, and the threat of AI-driven propaganda.

Links

0:57 Unemployed Americans Endure Longer Job Searches in a Cooling Market WSJ

6:43 Trump Seeks Bigger Overhaul at Labor Statistics Bureau, Adviser Says WSJ

7:48 Why the B.L.S. Regularly Revises Jobs Data NYT

12:35 Earning More but in Worse Shape: Hardship Overwhelms Many American Families WSJ

17:41 Trump Just Got a Fresh Shot at Bending the Fed to His Will WSJ

21:35 How an NYC Suburb Is Actually Managing to Bring Rents Down WSJ

25:10 Trump Announces Additional $100 Billion Apple Investment in U.S. NYT

27:53 Cash Windfall From Trump’s Tax Law Is Starting to Show Up at Big Companies WSJ

31:15 Positive Development Rakes In $51.5M To Grow Developmental Therapy Model for Autism MedCity News

32:50 Ultromics nets $55M to boost its AI ultrasound software for detecting hidden heart failure Fierce Healthcare

35:28 Heartflow pumps up IPO plans to $300M Fierce Healthcare

36:08 OpenAI-backed Chai raises $70mn for AI-driven drug discovery FT

38:22 Kennedy Cancels Nearly $500 Million in mRNA Vaccine Contracts NYT

42:57 Trump’s Tariffs Questioned by Appeals Court WSJ

48:06 Trump to Sign Order Easing Path for Private Assets in 401(k)s Bloomberg

51:19 Blue Shield of California launches new prescription price transparency tool for members Fierce Healthcare

52:27 Oscar Health misses estimates in Q2, plans layoffs and inks Hy-Vee-branded ICHRA plan Fierce Healthcare

56:15 UnitedHealth, Amedisys to sell off facilities in settlement with DOJ Fierce Healthcare

58:46 Hinge Health beats Wall Street expectations on revenue in first public earnings Healthcare Dive

59:06 Hims & Hers stock falls 12% on revenue miss as company plots expansion into lab testing, longevity Fierce H

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Vic and Marcus are joined by Dr. Eric Stecker, cardiologist, professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University, and co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Insight Health. They explore the origin story of Insight Health, how generative AI inspired its creation, and what sets their AI apart from typical ambient note-taking tools. The episode covers AI-driven patient intake, EHR integration, improving efficiency in clinical care, reducing physician burnout, and how AI assistants can gather nuanced medical histories and support post-visit follow-ups. Dr. Stecker explains how the platform is being used in real-world clinics, its quality assurance safeguards, and what’s next as AI expands into pediatric care and diagnostic support. They also discuss Insight’s business model, physician satisfaction metrics, and the broader vision of transforming population health through scalable clinical automation.

LinkedIn - http://bit.ly/3Hdbq1X

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In this episode, Vic and Marcus unpack a week of major policy and economic shifts, focusing on Trump’s healthcare tech and crypto rollouts. They discuss his revamped cabinet strategy, GDP swings, tariff deals with the EU and Japan, and dissent at the Fed over rate cuts. Topics include nearly $1B in AI scribe funding, a new federal health tech initiative, and a value-based care infrastructure platform. They cover Trump’s pressure on drug pricing, the compounding threat to pharma, and several AI/VC trends. Other topics include organ donation ethics, FDA leadership changes, corporate earnings, humanoid robots, and SEC crypto policy reversals.

Links 

4:24 U.S. Economy Rebounds in Second Quarter WSJ

7:32 Trump and EU Reach Tariff Deal, Avoiding Trade War WSJ

8:04 - Fed Holds Rates Steady, but Two Officials Back a Cut WSJ

11:02 With Ambience’s new mega-round, AI scribes have announced nearly $1 billion in funding this year Stat

16:56 Arbital Health lands $31M to build out infrastructure layer for value-based risk contracting Fierce Healthcare

17:49 Charta Health picks up $22M to revamp manual chart review with AI Fierce Healthcare

18:29 White House and CMS to launch Health Tech Ecosystem Initiative to expand use of digital health with a focus on consumers Fierce Healthcare

25:32 Trump Administration Weighs Patent System Overhaul to Raise Revenue WSJ

31:50 Medicare Part D Drug Plan Premiums Set to Rise WSJ

35:25 White House Letter to Pfizer X

38:42 Vinay Prasad departs FDA amid conservative criticism, controversy over Sarepta gene therapy Fierce Healthcare

40:40 The Rural Health Transformation Fund: What States and Providers Need to Know (and Do) Now. 80 Million-Substack

43:12 On Eve of Tariff Deadline, Trump’s Trade War Faces Key Court Test NYT

45:45 Humana Raises 2025 Outlook as Revenue Tops Estimates WSJ

46:42 UnitedHealth Continues to Struggle as Rising Medical Costs, Shortfalls Affect Business WSJ

48:59 CVS Health hikes 2025 profit outlook as Aetna insurance business improves Fierce Healthcare

49:35 Cigna affirms outlooks as Evernorth Health Services drives growth Modern Healthcare

50:22 Federal judge blocks Arkansas law barring pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies in state AP

52:09 HCA raises 2025 guidance despite softening volumes Healthcare Dive

52:28 UHS posts softer-than-expected volumes for second consecutive quarter Healthcare Dive

52:52 Teladoc Health Q2 revenue declines 2%, slightly beating Wall Street estimates Fierce Healthcare

53:35 U.S. Opens Antitrust Investigation Into NewYork-Presbyterian NYT

55:06 Novo Nordisk Shares

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Vic and Marcus open with updates on their personal healthcare experiences and transition into breaking news on Trump’s 15% tariff deals with Japan and likely Europe. They analyze economic indicators suggesting a possible recession and unpack the national security fallout from a zero-day SharePoint cyberattack linked to Chinese actors. The hosts cover major AI investments in healthcare, including Aidoc’s $150M raise and AbsoluteCare’s $135M value-based care expansion. They discuss policy shifts, including Trump’s AI action plan, a bipartisan push to equalize Medicare reimbursement, and proposed legislation requiring hospitals to disclose NICU capabilities. Earnings hits from Molina, Oscar, and UnitedHealth are examined, alongside leadership changes at CHS amid Medicaid reimbursement cuts. They explore growing investments in Ethereum, Trump’s $2B Bitcoin buy-in, and the crypto-ification of corporate treasuries. AI safety risks are highlighted with OpenAI's role in a user's delusions, while Google’s Gemini AI integrates with G Suite. The episode wraps with a powerful essay from primary care doctors urging inclusion in Maha healthcare reform and Amazon’s controversial acquisition of a wearable that listens to your entire day.

Links

2:34 Trump’s New Trade Standard Takes Shape With 15% Tariff Deal WSJ

3:54 Japan Trade Deal and European Talks Send U.S. Stocks Higher WSJ

4:43 U.S. Leading Indicators Show Economic Clouds Gathering WSJ

6:11 Microsoft Alerts Firms to Server-Software Attack WSJ

8:29 Microsoft links Sharepoint ToolShell attacks to Chinese hackers Bleeping Computer

9:49 Clinical AI company Aidoc lands $150M backed by General Catalyst, Nvidia's venture arm Fierce Healthcare

10:42 Robotics Startup Dash Bio Sprints to New Financing WSJ

11:47 Value-Based Provider AbsoluteCare Raises $135M for Market Expansion BH Business

14:11 AI Talent Frenzy Is a Mixed Bag for VCs WSJ

16:32 White House releases AI Action Plan, looks to speed adoption in healthcare Fierce Healthcare

23:55 Bill Would Force Hospitals to Warn If They Aren’t Equipped to Save Premature Babies WSJ

26:43 Bipartisan bill aims to ensure parity between reimbursement in MA, traditional Medicare Fierce Healthcare

35:00 MAHA group makes hefty pitch backing Trump and RFK Jr.’s health agenda The Hill

37:12 Cost pressures limit Molina Healthcare during Q2 earnings, stock dips 4% Fierce Healthcare

37:32 Oscar Health cuts full-year guidance, estimates 2025 loss as ACA marketplace stumbles Fierce Healthcare

39:22 UnitedHealth confirms it’s under investigation by DOJ Healthcare Dive

42:43 Community Health Systems beats Q2 revenue, earnings estimates; CEO to retire Fierce Healthcare

47:52 Tenet raises 2025 expectations, but dodges questions about policy impacts Healthcare Dive

49:15

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In this episode, Vic and Marcus cover a wide range of developments shaping the healthcare, economic, and tech landscapes. They begin with inflation concerns, interest rate policies, and Powell’s positioning, then dive into Starbucks' return-to-office mandate as a signal for white-collar layoffs and broader workforce trends. The conversation shifts to AI’s impact on productivity, rare earth material independence in the U.S., and startup funding in nurse scheduling and medical AI tools. They dissect the CMS’s proposed rule eliminating the inpatient-only list and its ripple effects across SaaS reimbursement, telehealth, and digital therapeutics. The pair also examine policy shifts affecting Medicare, Medicaid, and cell and gene therapy pilots. Payer market turmoil, hospital M&A dynamics, and pharma’s contrasting success round out the business update. They close with reflections on U.S.-China AI competition, regulatory loopholes in talent acquisitions, and how stablecoin and voice AI advances could transform healthcare.

Links:

3:57 - Inflation Picks Up to 2.7% as Tariffs Start to Seep Into Prices WSJ

5:15 - Starbucks Tells White-Collar Workers to Come to the Office More—Or Take a Buyout WSJ

15:36 - America’s Biggest Rare-Earth Producer Makes a Play to End China’s Dominance WSJ

18:15 - M7 Health nabs $10M to modernize nurse staffing and scheduling Fierce Healthcare

20:17 - OpenEvidence raises $210M, unveils AI agents built for advanced medical research Fierce Healthcare

23:33 - Fellow Health: $24 Million Series B Raised For Expanding Male Reproductive Test Offerings Pulse 2.0

24:32 - CMS Eliminating the Inpatient Only (IPO) List CMS website

29:04 - Trump 2.0 backs digital health in proposed CY2026 physician fee schedule rule Fierce Healthcare

34:11 - CMS officially names participants in Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model Fierce Healthcare

36:18 - F.D.A. Panel to Reassess Hormone Therapy Warnings NYT

40:08 - Elevance Health lowers 2025 guidance amid cost pressures in ACA, Medicaid markets Fierce Healthcare

41:17 - Centene, Elevance, Molina squeezed as exchanges deteriorate Modern Healthcare

43:57 - Geisinger layoffs hit insurance division Modern Healthcare

44:43 - Nonprofits ChristianaCare, Virtua Health explore merger Health Care Dive

46:00 - M&A Quarterly Activity Report: Q2 2025 KaufmanHall

47:46 - Private-Equity Firms Bain and Kohlberg Make Another Big Bet on Biopharma Industry WSJ

48:35 - Trump Says 200% Pharma Tariffs Are Coming. Wall Street Shrugs. WSJ

50:03 - J&J Raises Full-Year Outlook After Beating Profit Expectations WSJ

53:17 - Upended by Meth, Some Communities Are Paying Users to Quit NYT

57:32 - Crypto rises on renewed optimism House will pass key stablecoin le

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Vic and Marcus return to break down the implications of the massive bill just passed by the Trump administration. They examine its sweeping impact on Medicaid, hospitals, and insurers, discuss how the new QSBS 2.0 changes benefit VCs, and question the future of nonprofit healthcare. The episode also covers market trends including meme stock speculation, private equity distributions, a surprising acquisition by Samsung, and Robinhood’s push to tokenize private equity. Finally, they warn about the growing financial risks in senior care communities.

Links

5:00 - Stock Funds Rose 10.1% in Second Quarter WSJ

6:17 - 8:17Meme Stocks and YOLO Bets Are Back and Fueling the Market’s Rally WSJ

8:17 - 8:57Steady Hiring Added 147,000 Jobs to U.S. Economy in June WSJ

8:59 - Trump Delayed Reciprocal Tariffs After Bessent Wanted More Time on Deals WSJ

10:51 VC Fund Performance Q1 2025 Carta

14:43 H1 2025 market overview: Proof in the pudding Rock Health

15:47 QSBS 2.0 is Here LinkedIn

22:11 - How the reconciliation bill will shake out for hospitals and the healthcare industry HFMA

32:54 - New taxes to hit hospitals as a result of the budget reconciliation bill HFMA

39:56  - We’re Leaving Delaware, And We Think You Should Consider Leaving Too A16Z website

43:43 - More Pressure Mounts on Health Insurers as Costs Continue to Rise WSJ

44:30 - HCSC launches rebrand for its Medicare unit as 'HealthSpring' Fierce Healthcare

45:31 - CVS Omnicare ordered to pay $949 million in government fraud case Healthcare Dive

47:36 - Samsung to acquire digital health firm Xealth Healthcare Dive

49:40 - Symplr acquires AMN Healthcare's staff scheduling software for $75M Fierce Healthcare

50:38 - Merck to Buy Verona Pharma in $10 Billion Deal WSJ

51:20 - She Paid $1 Million to Join a Senior Facility. Its Bankruptcy Wiped Her Out. WSJ

57:18 - Robinhood Wants to Redo Wall Street on the Blockchain Gizmodo

1:02:03 - SEC Chairman Paul Atkins on public vs. private markets CNBC

1:03:36 - Making America the Crypto Capital of the World  X

1:06:01 -  As an M.D, here's my 100% honest opinion and observations/advices about using ChatGPT Reddit

1:09:01 - Elon Musk’s xAI launches Grok 4 alongside a $300 monthly subscription TechCrunch

1:14:28 - Microsoft Touts $500 Million AI Savings While Slashing Jobs Bloomberg

1:15:32- Meta Hires Top Apple AI Expert, Continuing Zuckerberg’s Recruitment Push WSJ

1:17:23 - Zuck's Eleven Spyglass

1:18:03 - How Nvidia Became the World’s

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In this episode, Vic and Marcus cover a packed week of developments across AI, healthcare, finance, and policy. They break down Eric Cass’s keynote at HFMA on AI risks and optimism, discuss GenAI’s real-world implications on labor and politics, and explore the financial market's response to Middle East ceasefires and Federal Reserve positioning. They examine major investments like Abridge’s $300M raise and new startups automating clinical and insurance workflows, while unpacking RFK Jr.’s wearable health proposal and CMS’s drug pricing transparency push. They also introduce a new Web3 segment, highlighting stablecoin regulation, Fiserv’s partnership with Circle, and tokenized SpaceX shares through Republic. Finally, they review healthcare job cuts, upcoming legislation turmoil, and Walgreens’ operational shifts.

Links

8:50 - Stocks Hover Near Records, Oil Prices Recover Some Ground WSJ

10:09 - Powell Reaffirms Wait-and-See Posture on Rate Cuts WSJ

12:57 - U.S. Regulators Move to Ease Financial Crisis-Era Bank Capital Rules WSJ

13:45 - Abridge, Whose AI App Takes Notes for Doctors, Valued at $5.3 Billion at Funding WSJ

15:06 - Voice AI company SuperDial picks up $15M series A to automate insurance calls  Fierce Healthcare

15:58 - Introducing Mandolin: AI Teammates for Healthcare Greylock website

16:49 - Juniper Genomics Raises $4.6M for Whole-Genome Embryo Screening Platform Fem Tech

17:42 - ForSight Robotics raises $125M to trial cataract eye surgery platform Fierce Healthcare

18:27 - Precision Medicine Firm Caris Breaks Bio IPO Drought, Raising $494M for Cancer Analysis Tools MedCity News

19:24 - Medicaid changes don't meet Senate rules in 'big, beautiful bill' says parliamentarian NPR

22:42 - HHS Secretary Kennedy, CMS Administrator Oz Secure Industry Pledge to Fix Broken Prior Authorization System HHS website

25:40 - RFK Jr.'s Public Health Plan? Get Every American to Buy a Wearable Device PC Mag

30:21 -33:28 Oz hints at impending CMS rule to force drug price transparency Healthcare Dive

33:28 - Executive insight from Aetna, Anterior, Ascendium and more

37:16 - HFMA’s Ann Jordan announces new tools to quantify the performance of healthcare 

41:55 - Vanderbilt University Medical Center announces up to 650 layoffs Axios

42:37 - American Hospital Association launches 'seven-figure' ad campaign against Medicaid cuts Fierce Healthcare

45:23 - Walgreens Sales Rise on Healthcare and Costs Cuts Ahead of Going Private WSJ HFMA Annual Recap: HFMA

46:13b - New Data Shows Just How Powerful the Next Weight-Loss Drugs May Be NYT

47:09 - Hims & Hers Stock Drops More Than 30% After Novo Nordisk Breakup WSJ

48:08 - Novo Nordisk inks partnership with WeightWatchers to broaden We

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In this episode, Marcus and Vic break down the Federal Reserve’s indecision on rate cuts, mass tech layoffs accelerated by AI, and why startups no longer need as much capital. They discuss major VC moves in healthcare, including Tennr, Sword Health, and Nabla, along with General Catalyst’s hospital acquisition. The episode also covers Medicaid cuts, fractures in the Republican party, and the Supreme Court’s decision on gender-affirming care. Plus, stablecoins get a bipartisan boost, AI companions for seniors show promise, and tensions rise between OpenAI and Microsoft over cloud exclusivity and IP rights.

Links

0:51 -  The Fed Waits Out the Tariff Economy WSJ

3:50 - The Biggest Companies Across America Are Cutting Their Workforces WSJ

6:01   - Amazon CEO Says AI Will Lead to Smaller Workforce WSJ

12:19 - Microsoft Plans to Cut Thousands More Employees WSJ

13:49 - Tennr clinches $101M to build out AI that automates patient referral process Fierce Healthcare

16:30 - Sword Health lands $40M, launches AI-based mental health solution Fierce Healthcare

18:36 - Nabla banks $70M series C to build out agentic AI for clinical workflows  Fierce Healthcare

19:20 - Ohio Greenlights First-Ever Venture-Capital Hospital Acquisition WSJ

20:42 - Senate Bill Would Make Deep Cuts to Medicaid, Setting Up Fight With House NYT

27:46 - AHIP 2025: Insurer coalition vows to fight Trump budget bill to final hour Fierce Healthcare

28:44 - Supreme Court upholds Tennessee ban on gender affirming care for minors Fierce Healthcare

32:37 - Senate passes GENIUS Act despite crypto corruption concerns Axios

42:30 - Humana’s cautious defense of Medicare Advantage Healthcare Dive

44:59 - Episource ransomware attack leaked patient health data Healthcare IT News

45:18 - Ascension agrees to acquire Amsurg to expand ambulatory surgery reach Healthcare Dive

45:26 - Headspace Launches Insurance-Covered Therapy Direct to Consumers HIT Consultant

46:03 - Eli Lilly to Acquire Verve Therapeutics for Up to $1.3 Billion WSJ

46:25 - A Cutting-Edge Cancer Therapy Offers Hope for Patients With Lupus NYT

47:41 - The Friendly Caller Who’s Helping Seniors Feel Less Lonely WSJ

49:34 - Abridge launches gen AI tool for inpatient clinicians, adds outpatient orders feature Fierce Healthcare

50:16 - UHS partners with Hippocratic AI to launch AI agents Healthcare Dive

50:42 - OpenAI wins $200 million U.S. defense contract CNBC

52:12 - OpenAI and Microsoft Tensions Are Reaching a Boiling Point WSJ

56:59 - Microsoft prepar

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In this episode, Vic and Marcus welcome back Tarun Kapoor to discuss the evolution and real-world implementation of AI in healthcare. They explore the lessons learned from Wobo, a digital therapeutic tool, and its regulatory challenges. Tarun shares insights on the future of ambient listening and vision in clinical settings, the rising need for AI infrastructure and oversight, and the shifting standard of care where not using AI could soon be seen as negligent. They also discuss workforce transformation as digital agents emerge, and Tarun reflects on his next steps after 17 years at Virtua Health.

Tarun Kapoor LinkedIn

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In this episode, Vic and Marcus discuss their recent selection committee experience, shifting political dynamics affecting tech companies like Uber and Tesla, and the implications of increasing political polarization on consumer behavior. They analyze the economic outlook, including job reports and inflation, and the potential impact on interest rates. The conversation shifts into venture news with funding rounds for health tech and wearable startups, including Guide Health, Somnia, and Eli Health. They break down major healthcare policy updates, such as Marty Makary’s FDA reforms and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s abrupt reorganization of the vaccine advisory committee. The episode wraps up with insights on AI innovation, including Google's AI missteps, Oracle's push into healthcare cloud services, the future of nuclear energy, and Meta's strategic investment in Scale AI.

5:00 - Hiring Slowed in May, With 139,000 New Jobs WSJ

7:09 - Muted May Inflation Defies Tariff Fears WSJ

9:29 - Bonds Rally, Stocks Slip After Inflation Data WSJ

10:28 - Ryght AI raises seed to shrink clinical trial timelines Axios

11:36 - Autonomize AI gets $28M for health agents Axios

12:53 - Emory Healthcare invests $10M in Guidehealth as it ramps up value-based care collaboration Fierce Healthcare

13:31 -  Somnee raises $10M for smart sleep wearable Axios

15:21 - Eli Health raises $12M for hormone tracking Axios

16:43 - Priorities for a New FDA JAMA

20:00 - RFK Jr.: HHS Moves to Restore Public Trust in Vaccines WSJ-Op

25:33 - RFK Jr. names 8 new members to CDC's vaccine advisory committee after purging entire panel Fierce Healthcare

32:10 - Hospitals rail against 'inadequate' pay bump, mandatory TEAM participation in IPPS comments Fierce Healthcare 

33:10 - Humana to Back Curbs to Medicare Advantage Billing Practices WSJ

35:10 - Cigna rolling out new tech tools to simplify the member experience Fierce Healthcare

35:54 - HHS watchdog accuses CVS Medicare Advantage plan of upcoding Healthcare Dive

37:37 - BCBSM eliminates 600 jobs; Molina lays off Virginia health plan employees Fierce Healthcare 

39:00 - For Patients With Rare Blood Cancer, New Drug Offers Relief WSJ

40:30 - These Diabetes Drugs Are Finding New Life as an Antiaging Hack WSJ

42:33 - IBM Has a Roadmap to a ‘Fault-Tolerant’ Quantum Computer by 2029 WSJ

43:59 - The Audacious Reboot of America’s Nuclear Energy Program WSJ

47:08 - Google Expands Buyout Program in Push to Ramp Up AI Spending WSJ

53:47 - Oracle Shares Jump as CEO Targets ‘Dramatically Higher’ Revenue Growth WSJ

55:10 - News Sites Are Getting Crushed by Google

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