Health:Further 118 - DeepSeek is UNLEASHED, Doge’s Shocking Move & Inflation’s Breaking Point! w/ Paul Kappelman
In this episode of Health Further, guest host Paul Kappelman joins Vic to discuss the latest in healthcare policy, economics, and innovation. They break down the latest inflation data and its impact on healthcare, analyze major VC investments in longevity and nutrition startups, and examine policy changes affecting hospitals, physicians, and payers. The conversation covers the challenges of rural hospitals, Medicare Advantage reforms, and potential cuts to NIH research funding. They also explore Tenet Healthcare’s financial strategy, the growing issue of hospital bad debt, and Humana’s push for operational efficiency. The episode wraps with discussions on AI’s role in healthcare, Elon Musk’s bid for OpenAI, and concerns over the risks of open-source AI models.
Links:
2:41 - Inflation Heated Up in January, Freezing the Fed WSJ
5:54 - Prenuvo adds new health tests to flagship full-body scan, raises $120 million in fresh funding CNBC
10:26 - Senate confirms RFK Jr. as head of HHS in 52-48 vote Fierce Healthcare
24:57 - DOGE’s First Round of Cuts Went to Trump Priorities, but Bigger Targets Await WSJ
32:12 - Nearly half of rural hospitals in the red, 432 vulnerable to closure, report finds Fierce Healthcare
36:51 - Hospital bad debt is getting worse Beckers
39:31 - Humana putting focus on operational efficiency amid MA headwinds Fierce Healthcare
40:31 - Cigna To link executive pay to customer satisfaction
42:27 - Novartis to Buy Anthos Therapeutics From Blackstone for Up to $3.1 Billion WSJ
42:53 - Novartis Superbowl Ad Youtube
44:07 - For the Sick and Dying, Live Music to Ease the Pain NYT
46:13 - Elon Musk-Led Group Makes $97.4 Billion Bid for Control of OpenAI WSJ
47:17 - Vance Warns U.S. Allies to Keep AI Regulation Light WSJ
48:46 - DeepSeek Offers Bioweapon, Self-Harm Information WSJ
50:38 - Thomson Reuters Wins First Major AI Copyright Case in the US Wired