Conversations on Health Care

<p>The common speculation has been that GLP-1s would ultimately save patients and the entire health care system millions of dollars by reducing waistlines and the associated costs with obesity. But research found that during the first year, patients accumulated about $6,500 in GLP-1 spending, while their other medical spending increased by about $585. Much of […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/09/high-cost-of-losing-weight-with-glp-1s-researcher-kosali-simon-ph-d-explains/">High Cost of Losing Weight With GLP-1s: Researcher Kosali Simon, Ph.D., Explains</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>“I’m quite frankly, flabbergasted…” That’s the reaction of Dr. Reed Tuckson to the White House’s recent decision on childhood vaccines. An Executive Order has called for separating the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three different single-disease shots and giving all childhood immunizations at separate appointments when possible. Tuckson is the co-founder of both the […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/09/dr-reed-tuckson-healths-truth-evangelist-on-mmr-covid-flu-vaccines/">Dr. Reed Tuckson: Health’s Truth Evangelist on MMR, COVID & Flu Vaccines</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>As we get ready to enjoy the Labor Day weekend, author Rowan Jacobsen is taking on dermatologists and the skin care industry. He explains that doctors have long told us to avoid sun exposure, in order to reduce rates of skin cancer. Yet the research indicates that moderate sun exposure leads to lower rates of many diseases, […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/09/here-comes-the-sun-and-is-too-much-exposure-a-worry/">Here Comes the Sun — And Is Too Much Exposure a Worry?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>We’re about four months away from the beginning of the new federal Medicaid rules on Jan. 1 (although some states are allowed to implement them earlier). Earlier, we heard from an Administration leader on efforts to support states with getting the paperwork in order. Now, we have a guest providing a different perspective. Feygele Jacobs, […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/08/countdown-to-crisis-the-looming-community-health-center-budget-threats/">Countdown to Crisis? The Looming Community Health Center Budget Threats</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>Some people are turning to TikTok and Instagram before seeing or even going to health care providers. Who are these online influencers and who is looking at their content? Pew Research Center identified 6,828 individuals with at least 100,000 followers on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram that regularly post about health and wellness and analyzed their social media […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/08/who-are-the-health-influencers-influencing-new-research-explains/">Who Are the Health Influencers Influencing? New Research Explains</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>This past July was the warmest month on record across the contiguous United States. That’s giving Dr. Lisa Patel and her colleagues even more urgency in their climate change awareness work. Dr. Patel is the executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, which is focused on “mobilizing health voices for climate […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/08/how-health-care-makes-the-climate-health-connection/">How Health Care Makes the Climate-Health Connection</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>When there’s a breaking health story, millions of people turn to CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Céline Gounder for her insights. Now, we’re learning about Dr. Gounder’s unique story, which includes co-founding International Health Group, which connects health care providers with opportunities to serve disadvantaged people around the world. On the news beat, Dr. Gounder […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/08/how-dr-celine-gounder-reports-the-stories-shaping-our-health/">How Dr. Céline Gounder Reports the Stories Shaping Our Health</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who used to lead the National Institutes of Health, has tough words for those trying to change some of its processes. He’s not in favor of a proposed rule that would switch who decides which federal grants get funded. “What’s the intent here? What’s the good that will come out of this? […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/07/we-have-to-fight-back-bush-nih-dir-dr-zerhouni-on-challengers/">We Have to Fight Back’: Bush NIH Dir Dr. Zerhouni on Challengers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>Right now, the Moses/Weitzman Health System is focused on transforming primary care delivery nationally for the people who need it most. But it all started over 50 years ago with Community Health Center, Inc. in Connecticut, and three young men who dreamed of making health care “a right, not a privilege.” “Conversations on Health Care” co-host Mark […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/07/which-u-s-senator-in-his-early-20s-helped-save-a-community-health-center/">Which U.S. Senator in His Early 20s Helped Save a Community Health Center?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>$100 billion. It’s a huge number but that’s the total amount the Trump Administration believes it can find in fraud across Medicaid and Medicare by 2029. The person helping lead that initiative is Stephanie Carlton, the deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She’s now directing efforts to make CMS an “AI […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/07/can-ai-find-medicaid-fraud-thats-the-mission-of-stephanie-carlton-dep-admin-cms/">Can AI Find Medicaid Fraud? That’s the Mission of Stephanie Carlton, Dep. Admin, CMS</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>As America celebrates its 250th birthday, it’s important to highlight what makes the country unique. Here’s an example: A group of concerned people set out over 50 years ago to build the community health center movement. Matt Vinikas is among the pioneers who poured his intellect and passion into what has evolved into the Community […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/07/insights-inspiration-building-the-community-health-centers-next-chapter/">Insights & Inspiration: Building the Community Health Center’s Next Chapter</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>As we celebrate America’s birthday, we should recognize that the founders also revolutionized public health when they formed the United States. What influenced their thinking and how do these actions still affect health care today? Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter explore these questions with Jeanne Abrams, author of “Revolutionary Medicine: The Founding Fathers and Mothers […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/07/americas-health-story-250-years-of-innovation/">America’s Health Story: 250 Years of Innovation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>“What is at stake is whether people stay alive, stay in care, stay on medications, stay virally suppressed…these cuts will reverse all the progress we’ve made to date toward ending the HIV epidemic.” That’s the eye-opening view from Dr. Marwan Haddad as he assesses potential multi-million-dollar cuts to America’s HIV efforts. Dr. Haddad is the […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/06/hiv-funding-in-jeopardy-whats-at-stake/">HIV Funding in Jeopardy: What’s at Stake</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>When we first featured a guest discussing GLP-1 therapies, the public’s understanding of these drugs to treat obesity was still developing. In 2023, our expert was Dr. Jamy Ard, the then-incoming president of The Obesity Society. Even then, Dr. Ard was stressing that more choices would lower prices for consumers. We look back on that […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/06/glp-1-therapies-where-weve-been-where-were-going/">GLP-1 Therapies: Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>Guess what all the following have in common? They are all now available and widely used because of an important step lawmakers in Washington took over 45 years ago. Co-host Margaret Flinter says, “This is the biggest legislative success story that we’ve never heard of.” Join her and co-host Mark Masselli as they discover how […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/06/how-a-bill-on-capitol-hill-spurred-a-health-revolution/">How a Bill on Capitol Hill Spurred a Health Revolution</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>In one month, we’ll celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. But among the fireworks and festivities, a serious point may get overlooked: The founders also revolutionized public health when they formed the United States. What influenced their thinking and how do these actions still affect health care today? Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/06/red-white-you-your-health-how-americas-founding-made-it-better/">Red, White & You: Your Health & How America’s Founding Made It Better</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>Researchers are “fetching” new discoveries about the incredible benefits pets and animals provide for human health. Steven Feldman, a proud feline father, is at the center of these efforts as the president of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. “Most people probably have a feeling that their pets are good for them, and we’re the […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/05/fur-our-health-new-pet-human-bond-research/">‘Fur’ Our Health: New Pet-Human Bond Research</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>Right before many of us get ready for a long weekend of hot dogs and potato chips, two health public policy experts are shaking up what we think we know about food. Study after study has found that ultra-processed foods are linked to “heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety, and early death, even […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/05/hot-dogs-jello-waffle-house-time-to-rethink-bad-foods/">Hot Dogs, Jello, Waffle House: Time to Rethink ‘Bad’ Foods?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>For more than five decades, Craig Robinson has helped shape the future of community health in West Virginia and beyond. Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter talk with the longtime executive director of Cabin Creek Health Systems to reflect on a career spent expanding access to care in rural communities, building innovative community health models, and […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/05/how-a-west-virginia-community-health-center-leader-inspires-the-country/">How a West Virginia Community Health Center Leader Inspires the Country</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>

<p>The authors of a new book reveal that former President Obama told them that he had an “inability to boil issues down to their essence, to tell a story…” and explained how it hurt him as he tried to pass the Affordable Care Act. This insight and others are at the core of Dr. David […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org/2026/05/what-fmr-president-obama-told-our-guests-about-his-big-health-care-misstep/">What Fmr. President Obama Told Our Guests About His Big Health Care Misstep</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.mwmediagroup.org">Healthy Communities Online</a>.</p>