Join hosts Joe Grogan and Eric Ueland on DC EKG as they delve into the complexities of health economics in America with special guest Ben Ippolito. In this episode, they explore the skyrocketing prices of GLP-1 weight loss drugs and discuss the potential for Medicare coverage. Ben Ippolito sheds light on the current prohibition against Medicare covering weight loss drugs, the shift from viewing obesity as a cosmetic issue to recognizing it as a clinical outcome, and the high out-of-pocket expens...
May 20, 2024•45 min
In this episode of DC EKG, hosts Joe Grogan and Eric Ueland sit down with John C. Goodman, renowned as the "father of the health savings account" by The Wall Street Journal. As the President of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research and a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, Goodman sheds light on the transformative power of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in the realm of healthcare. During the discussion, Goodman delves into the essence of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and thei...
May 13, 2024•35 min
In this episode of DC EKG, former United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tevy Troy, delves into the troubling rise of anti-Semitic and anti-American protests on college campuses. With a keen eye on historical context, Troy offers invaluable insights into the roots of these movements and their implications for the future. Additionally, he sheds light on the unexpected consequences of elite colleges prioritizing traits like progressive activism in their admissions processes, ...
May 06, 2024•55 min
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brian Miller, a Family Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University, to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing burnout within the healthcare industry and streamlining administrative processes. Dr. Miller highlights the regulatory burdens across various healthcare services and their impact on the well-being of doctors and nurses. We discuss how AI can enhance the efficiency of healthcare pr...
Apr 29, 2024•49 min
In this episode of DC EKG, Eric Ueland addresses questions crafted by AI regarding the integration of AI in healthcare, sparked by Nvidia and Hippocratic AI's partnership in developing empathetic health agents. Delving into ethical and regulatory considerations, Eric examines the implications of AI's role in healthcare staffing, patient care, and the balance between cost-efficiency and quality of care. -Links- Follow Eric: https://twitter.com/realeu4u?lang=en Follow DC EKG: https://twitter.com/D...
Apr 22, 2024•20 min
In this episode of DC EKG, former HHS policy staffer now activist Judy Stecker shares her deeply personal journey advocating for her son Wheeler, who suffers from a rare genetic disease. Peeling back the layers of FDA bureaucracy, Judy exposes the rigid, bureaucratic structure that obstructs access to life-changing medications. We discuss the stringent regulations that hinder innovation, ethical considerations surrounding clinical trials, the impact of Operation Warp Speed on expediting procedur...
Apr 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Economist and author Jeremy Weber explains to Joe and Eric how numbers and policy aides can avoid mistakes of their academic training. Former lead economist for White House's Council of Economic Advisors writes the must-read book all econ and policy aides to policymakers: Statistics for Public Policy: A Practical Guide to Being Mostly Right (or at Least Respectably Wrong) https://a.co/d/bkVxHSH
Apr 08, 2024•54 min
2020 memoir, honorary Emmy and a scrubbing of deadly nursing home death data all added up to an epic undoing of the New York governor. Scarce Covid tests for his family, public resources used for his book, and mounting sexual harassment allegations all tip the scales against the bullying and ambitious Andrew Cuomo. Joe and Eric divine the facts around this complex scandal which ultimately took the lives of thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers. Consultant study has been commissioned but lacks inde...
Apr 01, 2024•40 min
Bill shares his deep, first hand knowledge of America’s second largest Medicaid program. The current governor has departed from the historic efforts to rein in the always bloating health system to runaway growth in the program. This episode sets up the second part of this interview, the rise and fall of then governor Andrew Cuomo. Nursing home deaths, suppressed public data, and possible impeachment.
Mar 25, 2024•51 min
Joe and Eric geek out over budget and reconciliation details with their guest, Greg D’Angelo; this trifecta of budget experts talk over the $1.8 trillion HHS proposal. If you caught the administration’s Federal Budget news last week, you don’t want to miss these “deep tracks:” HHS delivers their “QFRs” more than a year late (imagine what “single payer” waiting rooms would be like?); rebate rules and expanded ACA; a timid and disappointing administration approach to AI; and what the deep state pl...
Mar 18, 2024•48 min
Eric and Joe invited Art Kleinschmidt back to the program for his expert viewpoint. Art, who after his own recovery, was awarded several advanced degrees, established a clinical practice, and served as the deputy United States “drug czar”, assessed the current opioid crisis. He shares how overdoses under the previous administration were reduced, why the Covid lockdowns shattered that tenuous progress, and how the enabling policies of the current administration have seen deaths increase by nearly...
Mar 11, 2024•44 min
Joe and Eric offer their unique insight into what does into the address, a breakdown of the issues you can expect to hear about, and even a few takes on what the White House’s staff may work into the remarks to help their own job searches. Thoughts about how gallery guests are used to illustrate points, ideas about how they will pull off the “breathing room” trope, and the tough job of giving the response, assigned this year to the junior senator from Alabama.
Mar 04, 2024•47 min
Chris Jones talks with Joe and Eric about the team Gov. Doug Burgum built, the stories of overcoming bureaucracy, and achieving better outcomes for beneficiaries and taxpayers alike. Currently with the think tank Cicero Institute, Chris is sharing how one state was able to deflate cost AND improve health.
Feb 26, 2024•56 min
Ge Bai, born and raised in China but a US resident for two decades, applies her Michigan State phD in accounting and time at Johns Hopkins to the American health care landscape in a riveting discussion with Joe and Eric. Ge exposes the exploitation of taxpayers by the so-called non-profit hospital system, explores market and policy failures promising spiraling shortages, while shining a light on glimmers of hope for the robust and undeterred problem solving DNA of the American consumer and marke...
Feb 19, 2024•45 min
In the third episode of this three-part discussion, Art shares details on his latest effort to help improve substance abuse treatment in the US. He began a nonprofit called the “Recovery Now” foundation. They also review current public policies branded as “harm reduction.” During this administration these measures are normalizing dependency and drug use, which in his view is the most effective way to break down the family unit. They also discuss how meth labs have been put out of business by imp...
Feb 12, 2024•19 min
In the second part of their three-part discussion, the discussion begins with what Art saw on his trip (August of 2022) to the southern border. Art shares how drug cartels monitor and control the border, use migrants who can’t afford the $6000 fee coyotes charge to smuggle them across the US, and the sophisticated tactics the cartels use to evade US border patrol. Art also unmasks the fallacy of public distribution of “test strips” and buddy system use stating flatly that “there is no safe way t...
Feb 05, 2024•16 min
This episode tackles one of the most important public policy issues facing the US today. Joe and Eric hold a three-part discussion with their guest Art Kleinschmidt, where they review the current opioid crisis, discuss what public policy and recovery look like, and explore Art’s story of how he lived as a recovering user himself. The following three episodes take place in September of 2022, and all three include information to share if you or someone you know is in need of help with a substance ...
Jan 29, 2024•17 min
Take a listen to the federal takeover efforts of state Medicaid policy from Minnesota-based policy expert Peter Nelson. Peter is a senior policy fellow at the Center for the American Experiment, based in the Twin Cities, Federalization, attacks on "too much" choice, and state golden handcuffs of continuous coverage requirements leading too many people with double coverage. 'Precautionary Principle" leading to militant opposition to state good faith attempts to help the system. Peter is in MN, bu...
Jan 22, 2024•46 min
Joe and Eric continue their discussion with Charley. The conversation explores how drugmakers approach the market and fund new research. They highlight the explicit ways the IRA will undermine the delicate development process for life prolonging and life saving drugs. *This episode aired October 2022*
Jan 15, 2024•22 min
Joe and Eric continue their discussion with Charley. The conversation explores how drugmakers approach the market and fund new research. They highlight the explicit ways the IRA will undermine the delicate development process for life prolonging and life saving drugs. *This episode aired October 2022*
Jan 08, 2024•18 min
Joe and Eric drop invaluable deep takes on how the world will shape up in 2024. From healthcare, to to the elections, to policy, problems, and politics of ‘24 … are all right here. Healthcare fights; possible “curve ball” disruptions; Republican todos January 21, 2025; Biden second term; congressional election prediction. Plus more on our final program of 2023.
Dec 18, 2023•40 min
Hosts Joe Grogan and Eric Ueland explore the paths forward for policymakers grappling with the limitless possibilities of AI. They are joined by prolific author and 30+ year veteran of Washington’s approach to technology, innovation, and public policy, Adam Thierer . They discuss how global regulators have helped—or harmed—human progress and American innovation. This episode is a master class in the precedents and current thinking shaping this rapidly evolving technology. See more at these links...
Dec 11, 2023•46 min
Designed to give seniors more options, the Congress designed MA is ways that be working too well. Highly informative discussion about the wonky details of Medicare, its trust fund, and why MA is in so many cross hairs.
Dec 04, 2023•51 min
Joe and Eric speak with Charley Hooper, author of the book Should the FDA Reject Itself? Part one of their discussion explores the likely impact of the Inflation Reduction Act and its drug pricing provisions, which include: overall drug production, the total impact on inflation, as well as the irony of prices actually going up as a result. *Episode aired Oct 26, 2022*
Nov 27, 2023•18 min
Former Judge Sullivan walks us through her 11 years on the bench and what works for people who struggle with addiction. From presiding over local “problem solving court” to her own experience being in recovery herself for 20+ years, her time in the department of justice in Washington, she helps explain why the hopelessness of addiction is made worse by bad government. Enabling addiction with free crack pipes and warm washcloths, and ignoring community (and free) solutions like Alcoholics Anonymo...
Nov 20, 2023•56 min
Longer human life doesn’t have to be the gloomy picture demographers have portrayed. Humans have diminished most early childhood diseases, and many middle aged fatalities. We need to live, learn, and work smarter for a longer period of time. We should look at the increasing lifespan as a longer middle age and plan for it. Andrew Scott takes us through how to approach having longer life ahead, from his book The 100 Year Life.
Nov 13, 2023•57 min
Justin Shubow joins Eric and Joe to share insights and history of the best, worst, and most brutal of government buildings and monuments.
Nov 06, 2023•55 min
This week’s program hosts a raw, unpacking of hard truths about: the SPR, nuclear opponents within the NRC, and the conflict between China hawks vs green energy advocates. Join Eric and Joe for their discussion with energy strategist, Mike McKenna for unvarnished jolt of reality.
Oct 30, 2023•50 min
Former advisor to former Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld and coauthor of his book, Known and Unknown. Victoria shares her insights about the 10/7 terrorist attackers and the impact on Arab-Israeli relations. Relations which she played a role in advancing during her time on the Trump White House working as the deputy national seocurity adviser. She exposes the failures of the current administration to safeguard peace, myopic view of chi China and climate, and the taking on too heavy a burden in de...
Oct 23, 2023•53 min
Joe gets Eric to provide a tutorial on what is really going on in the House. Don’t miss this discussion around the speaker pro tem, the legislation on hold, and how we got here. Note: congressman Steve Scalise was shot during a practice for a congressional baseball game. It was incorrectly mentioned as “softball”.
Oct 16, 2023•33 min
