Tag: public health policy

Two California members of Congress, Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Young Kim (R-CA-40), introduced a bill Wednesday with Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick aimed at bolstering the US's global role in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease. 

A new federal enforcement deadline is set to reshape access to some of the country’s most in-demand weight-loss drugs. Starting May 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will prohibit most pharmacies and providers from producing or distributing compounded versions of GLP-1 medications semaglutide and tirzepatide, active ingredients in blockbuster drugs including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.

In this episode, Dan and Shawn examine how the system let this happen, how similar failures have played out in American history, and what it says about a two-party structure that forces voters to choose between different flavors of dysfunction, rather than ensuring effective governance.

IVN recently examined AB 955, by Assemblymember David Alvarez. The bill seeks to expand a healthcare service program I created in 1998 as the author of SB1658.

In less than a month, President Donald Trump has signed two major executive orders to overhaul the nation’s prescription drug pricing system. These orders have placed Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) at the center of the president’s ire and revived a controversial “Most Favored Nation” pricing policy that ties US drug prices to those abroad.

While healthcare in California has seen massive investments in coverage and access, these gains often mean little to border residents who split time, family, or even residency across two countries

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have long operated in the shadows of the U.S. healthcare system, wielding significant influence over drug pricing and access. Recent developments, including federal investigations, state lawsuits, and bipartisan legislative efforts, have intensified scrutiny on these intermediaries, highlighting the urgent need for reform.