Firewall with Bradley Tusk How to Not Waste the Healthcare Crisis
Jan 8, 2026
Dr. Ashwin Vasan, a former New York City Health Commissioner and public health advocate, dives into the healthcare crisis gripping the nation. He highlights the shocking life expectancy gap between neighborhoods, advocating for transparency and ethics reform to restore public trust. Vasan discusses how AI can reshape healthcare contracting, helping to circumvent bureaucratic inefficiencies. He emphasizes the need for community investment and pragmatic policies to tackle health inequities, urging a shift towards value-based care as a way to move forward.
AI Snips
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Transcript
Episode notes
Healthcare As Rent Extraction
- U.S. healthcare extracts rent via deregulated pricing and threatens competitiveness.
- Vasan highlights unsustainable GDP share and absurd itemized costs as evidence.
Trust Is The Foundation For Reform
- Public trust in healthcare is critically low and blocks meaningful reform.
- Ashwin Vasan argues ethics, transparency, and stricter conflict rules must come first.
Use AI To Realign Payments
- Use AI to realign incentives and shrink the role of middlemen in care delivery.
- Shift employers and purchasers toward direct contracting and population-based payment models.