Howie and Harlan are joined by Mary-Ann Etiebet of the public health organization Vital Strategies to discuss how policy, prevention, and stronger public-health systems can reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other preventable conditions. Harlan reports on the federal push toward fully autonomous clinical care for heart failure; Howie looks at proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage payments and what they mean for beneficiaries, plans, and taxpayers.

Show notes:

Autonomous Care

SAM.gov: Agentic AI-EnableD CardioVascular CAre TransfOrmation (ADVOCATE) Proposers' Day Special Notice

"ARPA-H to revolutionize cardiovascular disease management with clinical agentic AI"

ARPA-H: Agentic AI-Enabled Cardiovascular Care Transformation

Mary-Ann Etiebet

Health & Veritas Episode 7: Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet: Saving Mothers' Lives

Vital Strategies

WHO: Noncommunicable diseases

WHO: Global NCD Compact 2020–2030

"Health Taxes Are a Triple Win for African Countries—New Brief From Vital Strategies and Partners Provides Strategy"

Mary-Ann Etiebet: "Using Health Taxes to Promote Public Good"

"'Historic Public Health Victory': Vital Strategies Applauds Brazil's Approval of Selective Tax on Tobacco, Soft Drinks, and Alcohol"

Vital Strategies: Partners

WHO: Civil registration and vital statistics

HHS: United States Completes WHO Withdrawal

WHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States

Medicare Advantage

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: "CMS Proposes 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies to Improve Payment Accuracy and Sustainability"

"Medicare Advantage in 2025: Enrollment Update and Key Trends"

"Trump administration signals there's widespread desire to curb Medicare Advantage"

"Medicare Rates Shock Sparks $100 Billion Selloff in Insurers"

In the Yale School of Management's MBA for Executives program, you'll get a full MBA education in 22 months while applying new skills to your organization in real time.

Yale's Executive Master of Public Health offers a rigorous public health education for working professionals, with the flexibility of evening online classes alongside three on-campus trainings.

Email Howie and Harlan comments or questions.

#1111: January 7, 2026 Continued

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