Brian Keyser
@fellowwhopoints.bsky.social
Health policy @americanprogress.bsky.social, focussing on consolidation, Medicare, PBMs, drug pricing, and systemic reforms. Believer in primary care. Recovering entrepreneur. Cheese evangelist. Theater lover. Traveler. All opinions my own.
I didn’t realize that I am a broken reader until I read this. Thank goodness there’s hope!
Opinion | I Was Once a Broken Reader. I Found My Way Back to Books.
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I didn’t realize that I am a broken reader until I read this. Thank goodness there’s hope!
New report from Alex Thornton, Claire Koyle, and myself reveals how private-equity’s short-term focus on profit is concerning in health care, where quality of care and patient safety should be the highest priorities. @americanprogress.bsky.social
5 Consequences of Private Equity’s Expansion in Health Care Services
The rapid rise of private equity’s influence over health care providers such as hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians’ practices threatens competition, affordability, patient safety, and worker wel...
www.americanprogress.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
New report from Alex Thornton, Claire Koyle, and myself reveals how private-equity’s short-term focus on profit is concerning in health care, where quality of care and patient safety should be the highest priorities. @americanprogress.bsky.social
It's Medicare open enrollment time! If you or anyone you love is signing up for Medicare, please read this column. And don't get tricked by a Medicare Advantage sales pitch!
The Great Medicare Bazaar Is Back — and So Are the Sales Pitches
Insurers once again flood seniors with “free” Medicare Advantage offers. Consumer protections, like those enacted by Congress to address Medigap marketing practices years ago, are urgently needed.
healthcareuncovered.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:05 PM
It's Medicare open enrollment time! If you or anyone you love is signing up for Medicare, please read this column. And don't get tricked by a Medicare Advantage sales pitch!
Reposted by Brian Keyser
SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in a college applicant's file is blatantly unconstitutional
ALSO SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in targeting whom to detain and deport is cool cool cool
ALSO SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in targeting whom to detain and deport is cool cool cool
September 8, 2025 at 4:43 PM
SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in a college applicant's file is blatantly unconstitutional
ALSO SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in targeting whom to detain and deport is cool cool cool
ALSO SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in targeting whom to detain and deport is cool cool cool
How will the passage of Trump's megabill affect your state?
@americanprogress.bsky.social explains, state by state: ⇣ www.americanprogress.org/article/stat...
@americanprogress.bsky.social explains, state by state: ⇣ www.americanprogress.org/article/stat...
State Fact Sheets: How the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Are Increasing Costs for American Families
This series of fact sheets provides insights into how the OBBBA and the administration’s policies will increase the costs of health care, food, energy, and borrowing in each state in the near future.
www.americanprogress.org
August 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
How will the passage of Trump's megabill affect your state?
@americanprogress.bsky.social explains, state by state: ⇣ www.americanprogress.org/article/stat...
@americanprogress.bsky.social explains, state by state: ⇣ www.americanprogress.org/article/stat...
Health care across the country is in DANGER. If Planned Parenthood is “defunded,” nearly 200 health centers could close, and more than 1.1M patients could lose access to care. Contact your senator and tell them not to “defund” Planned Parenthood: ppact.io/care
June 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Health care across the country is in DANGER. If Planned Parenthood is “defunded,” nearly 200 health centers could close, and more than 1.1M patients could lose access to care. Contact your senator and tell them not to “defund” Planned Parenthood: ppact.io/care
Our health care system prioritizes profits over patients. This is the inevitable result. Maybe we should have different priorities. Just a thought.
Family Sues UnitedHealth’s Optum Rx and Walgreens Over Son’s Preventable Death
The price of 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht’s inhaler jumped from $70 to $500 overnight. Days later, he was gone.
healthcareuncovered.substack.com
June 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Our health care system prioritizes profits over patients. This is the inevitable result. Maybe we should have different priorities. Just a thought.
You know how you keep thinking, "Nothing can surprise me anymore?" Wow. That keeps being super wrong. This is absolutely unbelievable. At least we can rest easy knowing that Congress will exercise its authority and remove him from office for this massive unconstitutional grift. My head is spinning.
Trump Administration Live Updates: Trump Is Said to Be Getting Qatari 747 for Air Force One, and Post-Presidency Travel
www.nytimes.com
May 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
You know how you keep thinking, "Nothing can surprise me anymore?" Wow. That keeps being super wrong. This is absolutely unbelievable. At least we can rest easy knowing that Congress will exercise its authority and remove him from office for this massive unconstitutional grift. My head is spinning.
Trump and Dr. Oz's push for fully privatized Medicare should alarm all of us. @andreaducas.bsky.social and David Lipschutz explain why for @MarketWatch.com: www.marketwatch.com/story/trumps...
Trump’s push to privatize Medicare would be a disaster for seniors
Medicare Advantage is more costly for Americans than traditional Medicare. So why does Trump favor it?
www.marketwatch.com
May 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Trump and Dr. Oz's push for fully privatized Medicare should alarm all of us. @andreaducas.bsky.social and David Lipschutz explain why for @MarketWatch.com: www.marketwatch.com/story/trumps...
A great summation from Rachel Madley at HEALTH CARE Un-Covered of how Congress wants to cut the lifesaving care real people receive when cutting actual fraud being committed by giant corporations would save more money.
Cutting Care From Patients Saves Only a Fraction of What Cutting Insurance Abuse Would
Lawmakers say cuts to Medicaid and CHIP will save money — but patients will pay with their lives, while Big Insurance cashes in.
healthcareuncovered.substack.com
April 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
A great summation from Rachel Madley at HEALTH CARE Un-Covered of how Congress wants to cut the lifesaving care real people receive when cutting actual fraud being committed by giant corporations would save more money.
A small step toward reform of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), but it shows that D's and R's are aligned on this. Congress can and should pass the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act! @cantwell.senate.gov
Arkansas first state to ban PBMs from owning pharmacies - Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis
Arkansas has become the first state to ban pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies after Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed House Bill 1150 into law April 16. The legislation, sponsored by s...
www.beckershospitalreview.com
April 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
A small step toward reform of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), but it shows that D's and R's are aligned on this. Congress can and should pass the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act! @cantwell.senate.gov
This informative piece by @americanprogress.bsky.social senior fellow @shwoolf.bsky.social on the assault on DEI explains how failing to track racial disparities will lead to tragic outcomes. @milbankfund.bsky.social
Behind the Assault on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Milbank Memorial Fund
Upon taking office, President Trump terminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs throughout the government. Federal agencies, including the
www.milbank.org
April 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This informative piece by @americanprogress.bsky.social senior fellow @shwoolf.bsky.social on the assault on DEI explains how failing to track racial disparities will lead to tragic outcomes. @milbankfund.bsky.social
This does not bode well.
Supreme Court Lets Trump Suspend Grants to Teachers
In boilerplate letters, the administration told recipients that the grants supported diversity efforts and were wasteful.
www.nytimes.com
April 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
This does not bode well.
Medicaid access provides peace of mind to millions of Americans. No one understands this better than my colleague @seemiaroll.bsky.social. In this op-ed for @NCNewsline, she shares vulnerably about her family’s experience:
Medicaid made my brother’s final weeks more peaceful • NC Newsline
disability rights advocates calls on Congress not to cut or limit Medicaid benefits via work, requirements, block grants, or lifetime caps
ncnewsline.com
April 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Medicaid access provides peace of mind to millions of Americans. No one understands this better than my colleague @seemiaroll.bsky.social. In this op-ed for @NCNewsline, she shares vulnerably about her family’s experience:
Oh goddess... Calley Means at #POLITICOHealth just said NIH research hasn't been cut, just bureaucracy. Do these clowns believe the garbage they are spewing? Apparently research can happen without paying for buildings, janitorial services, and equipment.
POLITICO's 2025 Health Care Summit - POLITICOPOLITICOSearchSearchClose
www.politico.com
April 2, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Oh goddess... Calley Means at #POLITICOHealth just said NIH research hasn't been cut, just bureaucracy. Do these clowns believe the garbage they are spewing? Apparently research can happen without paying for buildings, janitorial services, and equipment.
Watching Calley Means at #POLITICOHealth twist himself into a pretzel explaining how corporations profiting off making kids sick aren't profiting off making kids sick, the way to stop them is to fire regulators, regulations aren't regulations, these are not the droids you're looking for...
POLITICO's 2025 Health Care Summit - POLITICOPOLITICOSearchSearchClose
www.politico.com
April 2, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Watching Calley Means at #POLITICOHealth twist himself into a pretzel explaining how corporations profiting off making kids sick aren't profiting off making kids sick, the way to stop them is to fire regulators, regulations aren't regulations, these are not the droids you're looking for...
Former health insurance execs like @wendellpotter.bsky.social
and Ed Weisbart of @pnhp.bsky.social know how desperate the situation is. We should listen to them.
and Ed Weisbart of @pnhp.bsky.social know how desperate the situation is. We should listen to them.
The Confessions of Health-Insurance Executives
Champagne for record profits. Being ordered to “execute some hostages.” Why four men quit and spoke out.
nymag.com
March 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Former health insurance execs like @wendellpotter.bsky.social
and Ed Weisbart of @pnhp.bsky.social know how desperate the situation is. We should listen to them.
and Ed Weisbart of @pnhp.bsky.social know how desperate the situation is. We should listen to them.
Great piece from @dropsitenews.com explaining how they are coming for your Medicare. Fight back, before it's too late!
Dr. Oz and the Plot Against Medicare
Medicare Advantage plans are killing seniors and bankrupting hospitals. Now the Trump administration is preparing to make them mandatory, ending Medicare as we know it.
www.dropsitenews.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Great piece from @dropsitenews.com explaining how they are coming for your Medicare. Fight back, before it's too late!
Make America Segregated Again! This may not (immediately) lead to separate drinking fountains, but it is going to allow contractors to discriminate against trans people. And this was done without notice or public comment, the new standard for this administration. Bad news for democracy and justice.
'Segregated facilities' are no longer explicitly banned in federal contracts
The Trump administration cut a clause from federal contracting rules that had been on the books since the 1960s: Companies are no longer explicitly prohibited from having segregated facilities.
www.npr.org
March 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Make America Segregated Again! This may not (immediately) lead to separate drinking fountains, but it is going to allow contractors to discriminate against trans people. And this was done without notice or public comment, the new standard for this administration. Bad news for democracy and justice.
Four of these five heath care companies that filed for bankruptcy protection last year are partially or fully owned by private equity firms. Coincidence? Or are private equity and health care incompatible? (Hint: it's not coincidence.)
5 healthcare bankruptcies affecting physicians - Becker’s ASC
Physician practice bankruptcy filings hit a six-year high in 2024, according to a report on Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings from healthcare restructuring advisory firm Gibbins Advisors. Here are five m...
www.beckersasc.com
March 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Four of these five heath care companies that filed for bankruptcy protection last year are partially or fully owned by private equity firms. Coincidence? Or are private equity and health care incompatible? (Hint: it's not coincidence.)
The flue vaccine committee meeting in secret might not seem like the biggest deal, but this is democracy dying in darkness, in real time. First they came for my flue vaccine and I said nothing....
The @fda.gov has made its recommendations for next season's #fluvaccine strains after a closed-door meeting. Usually, the meetings of its VRBPAC committee are livestreamed for anyone to watch and to see the discussion. You can see just the slides and agenda here www.fda.gov/vaccines-blo...
Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season
Today, the FDA made recommendations to vaccine manufacturers for the virus strains to be used in the trivalent (three strain) flu vaccines for the 2025-2026 U.S. flu season following a thorough and co...
www.fda.gov
March 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The flue vaccine committee meeting in secret might not seem like the biggest deal, but this is democracy dying in darkness, in real time. First they came for my flue vaccine and I said nothing....
I've been fantasizing about challenging Schumer in a primary since 2020. I think it's time to form an exploratory committee. Any volunteers?
March 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I've been fantasizing about challenging Schumer in a primary since 2020. I think it's time to form an exploratory committee. Any volunteers?
If Congressional Republicans slash Medicaid funding, Iowa’s economy could lose $8 billion over the next decade. Read my piece with @suedins.bsky.social on Bleeding Heartland.
Cutting Medicaid would harm Iowa's health and economy
All Iowans would bear the burden of lost revenues to the state and the associated job losses, provider shortages, and closed businesses.
www.bleedingheartland.com
March 14, 2025 at 2:39 PM
If Congressional Republicans slash Medicaid funding, Iowa’s economy could lose $8 billion over the next decade. Read my piece with @suedins.bsky.social on Bleeding Heartland.
The best thing about our tragically dysfunctional health care system? Nursing shortages, corporate profit motives, unaffordable care, impossible wait times, lack of insurance, and violence against health workers combine to make great TV!*
*A small price to pay for our worsened lives.
*A small price to pay for our worsened lives.
The Pitt | Official Trailer | Max
YouTube video by Max
www.youtube.com
March 13, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The best thing about our tragically dysfunctional health care system? Nursing shortages, corporate profit motives, unaffordable care, impossible wait times, lack of insurance, and violence against health workers combine to make great TV!*
*A small price to pay for our worsened lives.
*A small price to pay for our worsened lives.
What more could I possibly say...
March 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
What more could I possibly say...