The hosts discuss the current state of COVID since the end of the public health emergency, including updates on case and hospitalization rates, CDC recommendations for improving air quality, promising results on an Evusheld replacement, and vaccine plans for the fall. They also cover the latest news on the debt ceiling, and recent FDA approval of Paxlovid, the antiviral treatment for COVID.

“Researchers estimated that based on COVID rates in January, Paxlovid can lead to 1,500 lives saved and 13,000 hospitalizations averted each week in the United States,” says Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:23: Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, discusses with Steven the impacts of the debt-ceiling deal on COVID relief funds

01:45: Although health care cuts are concerning, the deal as currently constituted preserves funding for NextGen (working on the next COVID vaccines) and no cuts to Medicare or Medicaid have been made

04:11: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to paxlovid, a significant tool in the fight against COVID-19

05:27: Steven shares that COVID-19 is seeing a decrease across all metrics in all regions of the United States, according to the most recent surveillance data

07:19 - Steven details the new guidelines from the CDC for improved indoor air quality to reduce COVID-19 transmission

10:48: Steven announces the World Health Organization's recommendation for a one-strain booster targeting an Omicron subvariant for the fall

12:53: Zoe emphasizes the importance of staying home and using masks when sick, particularly for the immunocompromised

14:14: Steven shares studies indicating the risk of long COVID after a second infection is greatly reduced, with the risk being one in 40 for those over 16 years old and one in 165 for those under 60 years old

16:05: Zoe and Steven discuss the upcoming news about the COVID fall vaccine

16:43: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, our hosts shine a light on a critical issue affecting patients all over the U.S. – drug shortages. Shortages have been reported for hundreds of drugs, and here we cover why this is happening and what you can do. We also cover the latest news on Ohio legislation to protect patients from copay accumulator adjustors and movement on the federal PBM transparency bill.

“Drug shortages is not a new problem, but currently, there are hundreds of drugs in scarce supply and that's just hitting an all-time high for the U.S. It's a really scary place to be in if you don't know when the next shipment of your medication is going to be," says Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:10: Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF, discusses the recent progress of the House Energy and Commerce Committee advancing health policies for price transparency and increased scrutiny over pharmacy benefit managers

02:34: Zoe elaborates on the effects of drug shortages on patients, leading to delays in treatment, inadequate dosing, or even lack of access to essential medications

03:16: Zoe and Steven discuss the causes of drug shortages, including manufacturing issues, supply chain disruptions, high demand, and regulatory challenges

04:56: What is the impact of the generic drug market on drug shortages and how various factors are contributing to the issue?

06:29: Zoe discusses potential solutions to the drug shortage issue, such as the Biden administration's efforts, the FDA's role, and relevant Senate bills

07:43: Tips: What individuals can do if they're affected by drug shortages or want to prepare for a potential shortage

09:58: Zoe encourages listeners to advocate and share their experiences, emphasizing the importance of pushing for legislation that promotes access to medications

10:51: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently announced a new crisis that is unfolding – “the epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” The hosts discuss the impact of loneliness, the reasons for the rise in social isolation, and break down the framework for proposed solutions. This episode also covers the latest news on The Safe Step Act, and quick poll results on chronic illness patients’ plans to get the second bivalent COVID booster.

“A new report from the Surgeon General says that social isolation's effects on mortality are the equivalent of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,” says Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:47: "After over six years of hard work from patient and provider advocate communities around the country, the Safe Step Act was included in a piece of legislation that is passed out of a Senate committee and it has real momentum at becoming law," says Steven

1:29: Steven discusses what the next steps are for the Safe Step Act

3:02: Results from a recent GHLF COVID-19 Patient Support Program quick poll about the second bivalent booster shot show that 43% of respondents are planning to get it, 22% already got it, and 22% intend to discuss it with their doctor

5:03: Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, highlights the importance of addressing social isolation as a public health issue

07:16: Steven discuses the rising levels of social isolation in the digital age despite the increased options for connectivity

10:29: The decline in participation in social organizations and how the trend contributes to increased social isolation and loneliness

11:31: Steven outlines the second major takeaway from the Surgeon General's report on loneliness, explaining that social isolation doesn't just affect individuals, but also affects community health

13:01: Steven emphasizes the individualistic nature of American society and how that might contribute to isolation

13:42: Our hosts discuss the six pillars identified in the report to help reduce loneliness and isolation

13:59: Pillar 1: Strengthen the social infrastructure. Create more communal spaces, social activities, and better infrastructure to facilitate access to these

16:04: Pillar 2: Develop pro-connection public policies that foster connections for areas such as transportation, education, and housing

16:19: Pillar 3: Mobilize the health sector. Train healthcare providers to identify people at risk of isolation and better equip them to connect patients with the social support they may need

17:01: Pillar 4: Reform digital environments. Require transparency from large tech companies and establish safeguards to protect vulnerable populations from the negative effects of social media

18:44: Pillar 5: Deepen our knowledge. Support academic research and public information campaigns to improve our understanding of the links between isolation and health

19:36: Pillar 6: Cultivate a culture of connection. Reinforce the values of connection and reduce the polarization that can lead to people feeling more isolated

22:32: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week our hosts discuss the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency declarations in the U.S. by the World Health Organization (WHO). They dive into what this means for public health and access to vaccines, testing, treatments, and data collection.

“The emergency phase is over, but sadly, as we know, COVID itself is here to stay. On recommendation from the Emergency Committee, the WHO is setting up a review committee to advise on the creation of recommendations for countries on the long-term management of COVID,” says Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:42: The World Health Organization has announced that it is ending the COVID global health emergency

2:11: “The federal government has been supplying COVID vaccines, including boosters free of charge to everyone regardless of insurance. Now, this is not expected to change just yet, but it may change if the government does not replenish its stockpile of vaccines, not to mention its funding for vaccines. So something that probably can't be counted on, particularly the latter,” says Steven

2:55: The Department of Health and Human Services has announced a $1.1 billion public-private partnership to maintain COVID vaccine access and treatments for the uninsured through December 2024

3:56: “Similar to the vaccine stockpiles, when the supply [of antivirals] runs out, manufacturers will set prices for the medications and any additional charge to consumers will depend on individual's health care plans,” says Steven

6:37: Private insurance companies will no longer be required to cover both at-home and lab COVID tests for free

08:06: With the end of the public health emergency, some restrictions around telehealth that were loosened during the pandemic might return

09:08: The CDC will focus less on case rates and more heavily on hospital and death data in the post-emergency phase

10:18: The CDC will maintain travel surveillance, testing wastewater on airplanes to spot new incoming threats

12:20: As the emergency order ends, it's important to be extra mindful about insurance coverage and to check in with insurance providers before getting a vaccine or a test

14:12: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today our hosts talk about the latest news on the debt ceiling, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, RSV vaccines, and 50-State Network advocacy activities in D.C. Our hosts are also joined by GHLF colleagues Adam Kegley, Manager of Global Partnerships, and Angel Tapia, Senior Manager of Hispanic Community Outreach, who discuss their work in osteoporosis advocacy, awareness, and education.

“Over 200 million people around the world live with it [osteoporosis]. It's a pretty staggering number already, but the thing is that so many people go undiagnosed, because they think a fracture is just a fracture,” says Adam.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:16: Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF, discusses the current debt-ceiling debate in the Senate and its impact on health care policies

3:52: Steven discusses a Republican plan for requiring more low-income Americans to work in order to receive government benefits, primarily food stamps and Medicaid

6:00: Steven explains the next steps for the debt ceiling debate, which involve negotiations in the Senate and potential impacts on the economy and health care

8:07: Steven shares positive news about PBM reform gaining traction in Washington, with Senators Bernie Sanders and Bill Cassidy working on a bipartisan legislative package

10:36: Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, discusses the importance of transparency and the impact of the proposed PBM reform legislation

12:17: The FDA is considering the approval of two RSV vaccines for older adults from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and GSK

15:45: Adam provides some background on osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease that can lead to fractures and other life-changing effects

16:39: Angel shares her motivation for working on GHLF’s osteoporosis program, emphasizing the importance of education and preventative measures

17:57: Adam talks about the prevalence of undiagnosed osteoporosis and the importance of DEXA (bone density) scans for those at risk and those recently diagnosed

22:09: An introduction to the Strong Bones & Me program, GHLF's new global osteoporosis initiative that focuses on education and support for those affected by the condition

24:11: Angel and Adam talk about working with global partners to create accessible, multilingual resources for osteoporosis education

26:33: Tune in for the osteoporosis and bone health-themed live #CreakyChats on Twitter, scheduled for May 15th at 7pm ET

26:59: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, our hosts discuss the learnings from the recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting and what it means for COVID vaccine scheduling going forward. They also break down the latest on new COVID boosters, mifepristone, and results from the latest quick poll on stress and chronic illness.

“I feel like we're not getting news specific to our community, so it feels really important for us to be breaking it down and talking about it. Because… a lot of science is talked about, and it's hard to read the data sometimes, so just having time together to break it down is helpful,” says Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF.

Among the highlights in this episode:

0:08: Zoe summarizes the episode’s main topics

0:57: The FDA recently authorized an additional round of bivalent boosters for those 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems

2:14: Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF, discusses the Supreme Court preserving access to the medication mifepristone, allowing the drug to remain broadly available while litigation plays out in a lower court

3:15: Results from a recent GHLF COVID-19 Patient Support Program quick poll show that 75% of respondents had been moderately or very stressed due to their chronic illness in the past seven days

5:17: Steven and Zoe discuss waning immunity and hospitalization rates related to COVID-19, focusing on the higher rates in the 65+ age group

6:23: Our hosts break down the ACIP’s support for transitioning from the monovalent primary series to the bivalent shot for mRNA vaccines

8:02: Steven explains the ACIP's idea for a single annual COVID-19 vaccine dose, similar to the flu vaccine, to help with waning immunity

10:49: The importance of vaccine accessibility for both immunocompromised individuals and the general population to help stop the spread of COVID-19

12:39: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, The Health Advocates are joined by guest co-host Corey Greenblatt, Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy at GHLF. Zoe and Corey dive into the latest news on mifepristone and the court ruling, promising research on a new mRNA cancer vaccine, and plans to expand health insurance coverage to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients.

“Nearly half of DACA recipients are uninsured, so when we talk about the importance of Medicaid expansion, or the importance of the Affordable Care Act expansion, or just generally affordable access to health care, this is something that is just exponentially more important for this group of people,” says Corey.

Among the highlights in this episode:

0:08: Zoe summarizes the episode’s main topics

1:09: Corey shares the latest advocacy news, including upcoming visits to D.C. and state capitals in Wisconsin and Ohio to support reforms for pharmacy benefit managers and copay accumulator adjuster bans

2:01: Join GHLF’s advocacy efforts and sign up for the 50-State Network to get involved

More information via this link: https://www.50statenetwork.org/become-a-50-state-network-advocate/

3:21: Mifepristone Update: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Alito temporarily blocks lower court rulings on mifepristone, giving justices more time to review the case

4:24: mRNA Cancer Vaccines: The promising findings of a Moderna-Merck mRNA vaccine in treating skin cancer, cutting the risk of death or recurrence by 44%

5:32: Precision Medicine: Zoe and Corey discuss the potential of precision medicine in the treatment of chronic illness

6:22: Insurance Expansion for DACA Recipients: The Biden administration's plan to expand access to Affordable Care Act and Medicaid coverage for DACA recipients

8:10: The importance of advocating for increasing access to health care as emergency health orders end, potentially leaving millions without coverage

8:54: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our hosts share the latest news updates on COVID boosters, our patient support program quick poll results on exercise habits, and the recent decision by the Texas district federal court to ban the use of mifepristone, which threatens the authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“This is the first time a judge has essentially overruled the FDA, and this ruling could open the door to lawsuits, to contest approvals or regulatory decisions related to other medications or vaccines,” says Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF.

Among the highlights in this episode:

0:06: Steven summarizes the episode’s main topic

1:18: The FDA is expected to announce a second omicron-specific COVID booster for people who are 65 and older as well as those with weakened immune systems

1:59: Results from a recent GHLF COVID-19 Patient Support Program quick poll show that 47% of respondents exercise daily or weekly

4:26: A federal judge in Texas issued a ruling to revoke the FDA's 23-year-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone

5:30: “If this decision is upheld, it could really shake the very framework of patients’ reliance and doctors’ reliance, and the pharmaceutical industry’s reliance on the FDA’s pathways for developing new drugs,” says Steven

7:12: “This ruling is coming in and contradicting all that work that the FDA does... The case is probably going to go to the Supreme Court and as someone living with chronic illness… it genuinely scares me that judges and people in this country are able to fight and undermine the FDA like this, especially as someone who relies on medications to keep me functioning in everyday life,” says Zoe

10:00: In parallel to the Texas ruling, Democratic attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia challenged extra restrictions that the FDA imposes on mifepristone

11:55: The Texas ruling could violate the Constitution’s commerce clause, which prohibits states from impairing interstate commerce, and the supremacy clause, which says that federal laws have priority over conflicting state laws

13:11: “Rulings are made by judges and judges are humans. Humans don't always get things right, and that's why… there are appellate courts to sometimes overrule lower courts and so forth” says Steven

15:38: “There may come a moment where there's an opportunity to insert yourself in the litigation itself as an amicus curiae, which means friend of the court. Those are individuals who may not be litigants in the case but have some special concern about the outcome of how that case could affect them going forward. So that could be an area where groups like the Global Healthy Living Foundation might insert themselves and might be seeking patients to help with that,” says Steven

16:18: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our hosts discuss important pieces of legislation in the U.S. that help improve access to care, both federally and around the states, and how the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s 50-State Network has been advocating on the ground. The hosts also break down big news in health insurance, including the recent attacks on the Affordable Care Act and why millions may soon lose access to Medicaid.

“During the pandemic… Medicaid enrollment grew by 5 million people between 2020 and 2022. So that's a lot of people who are on it [Medicaid] and could potentially be losing coverage, maybe even more than that. And it's already starting to happen around some states,” says Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:16: Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF, discusses the issue of copay accumulators and their detrimental impact on patients

3:05: “I think that there are still a lot of elected officials and staff who are unaware of what accumulators are, who don't get to hear the patient perspective enough. And I think it says to us; we have more work to do. And to anyone listening, it's important to continue to play a role and to let folks, policymakers, and elected officials know what it's like to live with a chronic condition, and when dealing with accumulators, the affordability issues at play,” says Steven

3:53: GHLF’s efforts to advocate for the Safe Step Act and the Help Copays Act

5:17: Our hosts discuss JP Summers, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF, perspective and experience testifying about co-pays as a patient and advocate in Austin, TX

7:01: “In California, we focused on a legislation that helps with co-pay accumulator adjusters. And what was so interesting was that two different legislative offices said that with GHLF coming with patients, it was the first time they ever heard directly from patients about these bills,” says Zoe

8:13: Why are millions of people potentially going to lose access to Medicaid?

8:21: “During the pandemic, the government suspended procedures that would remove people from Medicaid rolls. In the past, people would regularly lose their Medicaid coverage if they started making too much money to qualify for the program, or if they moved out of state,” says Steven

9:04: “The good news is that not all ineligible people will be dropped at once. States have different timelines. Most states are expected to take between nine months and a full year to complete the verification process [in regard to eligibility for Medicaid] so there's a good amount of time to check in on what's happening,” says Zoe

10:55: “Insurance is a lifeline and it's scary to potentially lose that access… If you do change plans, always remember to check your doctor’s coverage and prescription coverage to make sure that you'll be able to continue your care as you were,” says Zoe

12:53: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been three years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Our hosts talk about where we are at now with fighting the virus, what we’ve learned over the years, and how our community is feeling.

“Early on, I felt like there was a high level of concern for the community, for others. People masking up for others, for those in the community who have chronic disease, who are elderly. And that seems to have just gone by the wayside,” says co-host Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at the Global Healthy Living Foundation.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:56: Steven and Zoe kick off the episode by giving an update about the Cochrane review on the effectiveness of masks

03:03: Zoe and Steven introduce today’s main topic, a look back at COVID at the three-year mark since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, and run through some of the changes we’ve seen since that time

05:16: Zoe takes a look at COVID statistics from the past three years

06:58: To add some historical context, Zoe and Steven look at how events transpired during the 1918 Flu Pandemic

08:50: Zoe and Steven look at vaccines rates in the United States

11:56: With COVID protocols ending, Zoe and Steven take a look at the effect COVID has had on the chronic illness community

13:53: As new information is being found about long COVID, Zoe and Steven catch us up on the latest findings

16:59: Zoe and Steven look back at the silver linings from the past three years

18:08: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected]

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.