#912 - Brigham Buhler - Ex-Pharma Rep: Why American Healthcare Is So Broken
Mar 8, 2025
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Brigham Buhler, a healthcare entrepreneur and CEO of Ways2Well, shares eye-opening insights into the American healthcare crisis. He discusses how profit-driven motives lead to exorbitant costs and rampant prescription drug reliance. Buhler reveals the shocking truth behind America's highest bankruptcy rates linked to medical bills. He also critiques the roles of big pharma and emphasizes lifestyle changes over medications in mental health. The conversation highlights the stark disparities between U.S. and U.K. healthcare, advocating for substantial reforms to prioritize patient well-being.
High healthcare costs in America lead to widespread bankruptcies, necessitating urgent systemic reforms to protect citizens financially.
The dramatic increase in approved food ingredients poses health risks, highlighting the need for better regulations and consumer awareness in food safety.
Corporate capture of the healthcare system prioritizes profits over patient care, driving the need for transparency and genuine preventative health investments.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers contribute to rising drug prices through opaque practices, complicating patient access to necessary medications and exacerbating healthcare challenges.
Deep dives
Impact of Healthcare Costs on Bankruptcy
Healthcare costs are the leading cause of bankruptcy in America, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform. The high rate of bankruptcies is primarily linked to the inability of individuals to afford necessary medical care and treatments. This financial strain is amplified by a healthcare system that prioritizes profits over patient care, leading to devastating consequences for families. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of addressing these issues to protect citizens from financial ruin caused by medical expenses.
The Insidious Nature of Food Contaminants
The podcast addresses the drastic increase in approved food ingredients in the United States, rising from 700 in the 1980s to over 10,000 today. This proliferation of ingredients raises concerns about the safety and quality of food available to Americans compared to other countries, such as those in Europe. Contaminants in food play a significant role in public health, underscoring the need for stricter regulations and consumer awareness. By discussing these issues, listeners are encouraged to consider the impact of diet and nutrition on overall health.
Corporate Capture of the Healthcare System
The episode explores how the healthcare system in America has become corporately captured, with corporations prioritizing profits over patient outcomes. Insurance companies and pharmaceutical giants wield significant influence over treatment decisions, often to the detriment of individuals seeking care. The discussion highlights how executives and decision-makers in healthcare are incentivized to monetize chronic disease rather than truly invest in preventative health solutions. This captures the essence of the systemic issues plaguing the American healthcare model.
The Hidden Dangers of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play a crucial yet harmful role in the healthcare system by regulating access to medications and treatments while profiting off patient prescriptions. The podcast reveals that PBMs, often owned by insurance companies, significantly contribute to rising drug prices by implementing opaque pricing models. The discussion emphasizes that the lack of transparency in how PBMs operate leads to confusion among patients regarding their healthcare options. The financial complexities introduced by PBMs illustrate the challenges patients face in accessing necessary medications.
Chronic Disease and Suicide Rates in America
The alarming statistics surrounding chronic disease and rising suicide rates in America are thoroughly examined. More lives are lost to chronic diseases each year than to many historical catastrophic events, signaling a public health crisis. The healthcare system's shortcomings in addressing these issues contribute to increasing rates of despair among the population. This highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to mental and physical health in order to reverse these disturbing trends.
The Role of Preventative Care and Patient Advocacy
Listeners are encouraged to take a proactive approach to their health by prioritizing preventative care, such as regular blood testing and health screenings. Accessing cash-pay clinics can provide patients with more opportunities for preventative solutions, free from the constraints of insurance-based systems. The discussion emphasizes that becoming informed and advocating for one's health can lead to better outcomes and greater personal accountability. It empowers individuals to seek comprehensive care tailored to their needs, ultimately reducing the onset of chronic diseases.
The Importance of Metabolic Health
Metabolic health is identified as a critical factor in preventing chronic diseases that typically plague the American population. By focusing on improving metabolic health, individuals can reverse many health issues before they escalate into severe conditions. The episode highlights that small changes, such as dietary adjustments and regular physical activity, can significantly impact long-term health outcomes. This underscores the importance of understanding and managing metabolic health as a proactive strategy.
Brigham Buhler is a healthcare entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Ways2Well, and co-founder of ReviveRx Pharmacy.
American healthcare stands apart from any other system in the world. While some argue it has the potential to be the best, for many, it feels like the worst. Sky-high costs, an overreliance on prescriptions, and systemic inefficiencies suggest something is deeply broken. Why is this the case, and what can be done to fix it?
Expect to learn what the number one reason for bankruptcy in America is, what the average state of health is for the average American and how it compares to the rest of the world, why so many American’s are on Pharmaceutical drugs, what drugs Americans are taking that are causing the most damage, what is happening with the Food industry’s corporate capture of food, how much of an impact RFK can really have on changing the pharmaceutical and food system, the simple changes that can improve American healthcare and much more…
