Merrill Goozner
@gooznews.bsky.social
Journalist, former editor of Modern Healthcare, specializing in health care for past 24 years. In prior two decades I served as business, economics, foreign and national correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and other publications.
Why is the Trump regime delaying biosimilars? I thought he wanted to lower drug prices.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
How Trump's patent office appointees are delaying low-cost drugs
The president talks a lot about lowering drug prices. But when it comes to action, his appointees are doing just the opposite.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Why is the Trump regime delaying biosimilars? I thought he wanted to lower drug prices.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
ICE may be reducing presence in Chicago this week. Bovino's masked goons leave behind: two people shot, one dead; protesters & first responders tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets; citizens handcuffed & detained, including kids; and more. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/11/b...
Border Patrol Boss And Agents Could Be Leaving Chicago This Week: Reports
Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and federal immigration agents are expected to leave the city within days for another assignment, the Tribune and CBS News reported.
blockclubchicago.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
ICE may be reducing presence in Chicago this week. Bovino's masked goons leave behind: two people shot, one dead; protesters & first responders tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets; citizens handcuffed & detained, including kids; and more. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/11/b...
Capitulation puts millions at risk of losing their insurance. And don't expect Republicans to offer relief in those December negotiations. They have other plans. open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Capitulation put millions at risk
Soaring premiums for ACA plans are only the start of GOP plans to ransack health care
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Capitulation puts millions at risk of losing their insurance. And don't expect Republicans to offer relief in those December negotiations. They have other plans. open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
With the GOP deliberately raising the uninsured rate, there's now a transformed landscape for health care reform. It's time for Democrats to abandon the gradualist approach. open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
A changed landscape for health care reform
Republicans have stopped pretending to care about universal coverage, a prerequisite for bringing costs under control.
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:58 PM
With the GOP deliberately raising the uninsured rate, there's now a transformed landscape for health care reform. It's time for Democrats to abandon the gradualist approach. open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
"The Republican wrecking ball has shattered one of the core beliefs of centrist health care reformers, which states: Incremental reforms will eventually lead the U.S. to the promised land of health insurance for all."
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/06/r...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/06/r...
Republicans Have Stopped Pretending to Care About Health Care
The long-term medical cost crisis can’t be solved without universal healthcare coverage. The GOP doesn’t even have a concept of a plan.
washingtonmonthly.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
"The Republican wrecking ball has shattered one of the core beliefs of centrist health care reformers, which states: Incremental reforms will eventually lead the U.S. to the promised land of health insurance for all."
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/06/r...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/06/r...
I use Spotify a lot. My wife uses Amazon Prime a lot. I think we have to start talking seriously about targeted boycotts to force corporate tech America to stop supporting the Trump regime.
sign.moveon.org/petitions/st...
sign.moveon.org/petitions/st...
Stop streaming ICE recruitment ads NOW!
The Trump administration has funneled billions of dollars into these dystopian ICE recruitment ads. Meanwhile, cities are being terrorized by ICE agents who are running rampant with abuses of power, s...
sign.moveon.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I use Spotify a lot. My wife uses Amazon Prime a lot. I think we have to start talking seriously about targeted boycotts to force corporate tech America to stop supporting the Trump regime.
sign.moveon.org/petitions/st...
sign.moveon.org/petitions/st...
Is Medicare Advantage about to fall to less than half of all seniors in the Medicare program? There's good reason to think so as this open enrollment season gets underway.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
The beginning of Medicare Advantage's downhill slide?
Insurers are pruning plans; purging providers; and pushing people out. John Oliver explains why consumers are souring on this over-hyped privatization program.
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Is Medicare Advantage about to fall to less than half of all seniors in the Medicare program? There's good reason to think so as this open enrollment season gets underway.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Lawrence O. Gostin, JD on the White House purge of expertise from health-related advisory committees and the CDC. Reprinted with permission from the always excellent Milbank Quarterly.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
"You are no longer wanted or needed"
A first-hand account of the White House purge of expertise from health-related advisory committees.
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Lawrence O. Gostin, JD on the White House purge of expertise from health-related advisory committees and the CDC. Reprinted with permission from the always excellent Milbank Quarterly.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Insightful piece by @CitizenCohn on how infectious disease docs and researchers are fighting back against RFK Jr.’s destruction of the CDC. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
The CDC Diaspora Fights Back
How America’s scientific army is trying to stand up for public health—and stand up for itself.
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Insightful piece by @CitizenCohn on how infectious disease docs and researchers are fighting back against RFK Jr.’s destruction of the CDC. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Health insurance for the 154 million Americans who rely on their employers for coverage isn't working so well, either.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
The affordability crisis grinds on
Republicans push skimpy plans, health savings accounts and stricter limits on Obamacare subsidies as their non-answer to the rising cost of employer-based health insurance.
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Health insurance for the 154 million Americans who rely on their employers for coverage isn't working so well, either.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Reposted by Merrill Goozner
Good perspective on rising enrollee costs in employer sponsored insurance as reported by KFF today from @gooznews.bsky.social
The affordability crisis grinds on
Republicans push skimpy plans, health savings accounts and stricter limits on Obamacare subsidies as their non-answer to the rising cost of employer-based health insurance.
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Good perspective on rising enrollee costs in employer sponsored insurance as reported by KFF today from @gooznews.bsky.social
I'm attending Indivisible Illinois's event, “Indivisible Illinois At No Kings Chicago Rally! Stand With Us” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/indivisiblei...
Indivisible Illinois At No Kings Chicago Rally! Stand With Us · Indivisible Illinois
Stand Up for Democracy with Indivisible Illinois at the No Kings Chicago Rally!
Join Indivisible Illinois at 12:30pm in front of Trump Tower Chicago as we take our place in the Indivisible Block of t...
www.mobilize.us
October 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I'm attending Indivisible Illinois's event, “Indivisible Illinois At No Kings Chicago Rally! Stand With Us” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/indivisiblei...
Reposted by Merrill Goozner
ICYMI: Immigration Agents Have Held More Than 170 Americans Against Their Will, ProPublica Finds, by @nicolefoy.bsky.social w/ photos by @sbmaneyphoto.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
ICYMI: Immigration Agents Have Held More Than 170 Americans Against Their Will, ProPublica Finds, by @nicolefoy.bsky.social w/ photos by @sbmaneyphoto.bsky.social
As Sly Stone sang: "It's a family affair." newrepublic.com/article/2019...
The Trump Family’s Ever-Expanding Portfolio of Corruption
Presented for your approval: a tour d’horizon of the First Family’s misdeeds. Even Barron’s getting into the act!
newrepublic.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
As Sly Stone sang: "It's a family affair." newrepublic.com/article/2019...
"Ms. Brockman was taken to the ground, battered, handcuffed and her pants pulled down exposing her bare buttocks. No one should be treated like that in this city, in this country, or anywhere else in the world,” Brad Thomson, her lawyer said. She plans to sue.
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
WGN employee released without charges after she was 'violently detained' by federal agents, her lawyer says
Debbie Brockman, of WGN's creative services department, is a U.S. citizen who was not acting in a professional capacity when she was arrested Friday in Lincoln Square.
chicago.suntimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"Ms. Brockman was taken to the ground, battered, handcuffed and her pants pulled down exposing her bare buttocks. No one should be treated like that in this city, in this country, or anywhere else in the world,” Brad Thomson, her lawyer said. She plans to sue.
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
A scene from yesterday's Chicago marathon and a reposting of a compelling op-ed from today's Chicago Sun-Times.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
One million rally in Chicago!
That's right, 1 million people from 100 countries and all 50 states came to inner city Chicago yesterday to watch over 53,000 runners in the city's annual marathon. Not bad for a hellhole.
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
A scene from yesterday's Chicago marathon and a reposting of a compelling op-ed from today's Chicago Sun-Times.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
This week's GoozNews podcast interviews Shawn Gremminger, president National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers Coalition. Given what's going on in Washington, he is concerned about the long-term viability of employer-based insurance. Give a listen.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
"The commercial market will start to fall apart"
A conversation with Shawn Gremminger, head of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. He fears the rising number of uninsured under Trump could undermine employer-sponsored plans.
open.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
This week's GoozNews podcast interviews Shawn Gremminger, president National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers Coalition. Given what's going on in Washington, he is concerned about the long-term viability of employer-based insurance. Give a listen.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Grand jury refuses to indict Chicago protesters carrying legally registered guns who were arrested by ICE as "armed rioters." "Less evidence than a ham sandwich," judge says.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/08/f...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/08/f...
Feds Had 'Less Evidence Than A Ham Sandwich' In Dismissed Armed Protester Case, Lawyer Says
In a rare move, a federal grand jury refused to indict a couple arrested while legally carrying firearms in Broadview. Prosecutors also abandoned charges against a third protester arrested on Sept. 27...
blockclubchicago.org
October 8, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Grand jury refuses to indict Chicago protesters carrying legally registered guns who were arrested by ICE as "armed rioters." "Less evidence than a ham sandwich," judge says.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/08/f...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/08/f...
To keep the government open, Democrats insist the GOP renew the enhanced premium subsidies for ACA health insurance plans. It's a worthy fight. But they need to start talking about the cost crisis facing the 164 million Americans with private health insurance, too.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
The cost crisis beyond the ACA
No matter what Congress does on ACA premium subsidies, both employer and employee premiums will rise at near double-digit rates next year. Democrats need to be talking about that, too.
open.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:45 PM
To keep the government open, Democrats insist the GOP renew the enhanced premium subsidies for ACA health insurance plans. It's a worthy fight. But they need to start talking about the cost crisis facing the 164 million Americans with private health insurance, too.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
To keep the government open, Democrats insist the GOP renew the enhanced premium subsidies for ACA health insurance plans. It's a worthy fight. But they need to start talking about the cost crisis facing the 164 million Americans with private health insurance, too.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
The cost crisis beyond the ACA
No matter what Congress does on ACA premium subsidies, both employer and employee premiums will rise at near double-digit rates next year. Democrats need to be talking about that, too.
open.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:29 PM
To keep the government open, Democrats insist the GOP renew the enhanced premium subsidies for ACA health insurance plans. It's a worthy fight. But they need to start talking about the cost crisis facing the 164 million Americans with private health insurance, too.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
I returned from two weeks away to a city on the verge of occupation. Read my firsthand impressions of what's going on in Chicago here: open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Chicago on the verge of occupation
Biden-appointed judge hesitates restraining Trump's unconstitutional assault.
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I returned from two weeks away to a city on the verge of occupation. Read my firsthand impressions of what's going on in Chicago here: open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Check out my latest podcast, an interview with the CEO of a small health insurer who has some interesting ideas about how to reform an industry that is failing to deliver on its promise to deliver better health at lower cost.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
Can the health insurance industry be reformed?
The leader of a small non-profit insurer in California thinks it can, and offers his prescription for change in this week's GoozNews podcast.
open.substack.com
September 13, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Check out my latest podcast, an interview with the CEO of a small health insurer who has some interesting ideas about how to reform an industry that is failing to deliver on its promise to deliver better health at lower cost.
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
open.substack.com/pub/gooznews...
What sycophancy in the service of trying to get RFK Jr. to back off. www.statnews.com/2025/09/03/p...
Scientists working on NIH and BARDA grants developed the Covid vaccine, not Donald Trump. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla should be ashamed.
Scientists working on NIH and BARDA grants developed the Covid vaccine, not Donald Trump. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla should be ashamed.
Pfizer’s CEO defends Covid vaccines, suggests Trump may deserve a Nobel Peace Prize
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla defended the development of Covid vaccines and suggested President Trump may deserve a Nobel Peace Prize because of Operation Warp Speed.
www.statnews.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:09 AM
What sycophancy in the service of trying to get RFK Jr. to back off. www.statnews.com/2025/09/03/p...
Scientists working on NIH and BARDA grants developed the Covid vaccine, not Donald Trump. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla should be ashamed.
Scientists working on NIH and BARDA grants developed the Covid vaccine, not Donald Trump. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla should be ashamed.