Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Rick J Nash, MPH

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) @cirmnews.bsky.social · May 14

CIRM is officially on BlueSky 🦋

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is expanding its reach to BlueSky to share the latest developments in California stem cell and gene therapy research initiatives. [1/3]

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · May 6

It's not like San Diego County had a similarly significant outbreak among a similar population less than a decade ago that would have painted them a picture of the importance of prevention and a quick roll out....

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Reposted by Rick J Nash, MPH

Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD @arghavansallesmd.medsky.social · Apr 30

No decent person opposes narcan, a lifesaving drug. RFK Jr’s position is like opposing HIV medications, vaccines, and insul— oh wait

Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · Apr 30

There are few things as cost effective as Narcan, especially in a country where (entirely preventable) opioid overdoses have been a leading cause of death for years. For every 6 kits distributed 1 OD is prevented. The $56M in this grant trained >66K people and distributed >282,500 kits in 2024 alone

RFK Jr. to End 'Godsend' Narcan Program That Helped Reduce Overdose Deaths Despite His Past Heroin Addiction

Despite overcoming heroin addiction himself, RFK Jr. is backing plans to cut a critical Narcan program that helped reduce overdose deaths.

www.latintimes.com

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Apr 17

Bill Cassidy, where is your outrage?

As an author of some of the most advanced #ViralHepC elimination bills in Congress and championing the Netflix model in Louisiana, why does the only #GIDoc in #congress not oppose, But support this gutting?

Docs are supposed to know where their spine is. #Shame

NPR @npr.org · Apr 16

All 27 scientists at this CDC lab were told their duties were "unnecessary," and now viral outbreak investigations have been halted.

In the middle of a hepatitis outbreak, U.S. shutters the one CDC lab that could help

All 27 scientists at this CDC lab were told their duties were "unnecessary," and now viral outbreak investigations have been halted

www.npr.org

Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Apr 17

I've spent 10+ years advocating for just appropriate funding for #ViralHep surveillance at the fed level. But To see it gutted by a fellow #HCV Survivor is just painful. People will die as a result.

#HepA, #HepB are preventable, and dying from #HepC is also. #liver #patient

Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · Apr 17

Last month, the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis found the source of a Hepatitis C outbreak in Florida that state officials had been unable to solve since December. Now the entire Division has been fired, leaving investigations of outbreaks in OR, PA, MA, NM, WI, WV and GA, unsolved in addition to FL

NPR @npr.org · Apr 16

All 27 scientists at this CDC lab were told their duties were "unnecessary," and now viral outbreak investigations have been halted.

Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 25

It's not about Crypto.
The problem here is a lack of opportunity.
Wages have been stuck for decades, and the new gilded age offers little hope for upward mobility.

Gambling, Theft, Luck, or Inheritance, when honest work doesn't have the same return, the Risk-Seeking desire Rent-Seeking behavior

Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · Mar 25

Smartest crypto quote on @blueksy. And it doesn't have to be $5k. In a country where a large number of people don't have $400 in savings, If a candidate doesn't respect the importance of $100 of crypto to young voters, they will lose them

Seven Years in Quebec @dfeldman.org · Mar 25

For someone who works a low paid job but has amassed $5000 in crypto, it’s not just an investment. It’s their ticket out. You do NOT want to threaten that if you want them to vote for you.

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 25

As someone penning a book on a deadly epidemic with surprising histories, I'm reading, watching and taking notes as you navigate these murkier waters.

The good work you're doing is both inspirational and painfully familiar.

Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 23

As imperfect as the ACA is, it's done a lot of good. My life was saved due to a sig. amount of its provisions while End stage liver from HepC nearly ended me.

Namely the elimination of pre-existing conditions, the option of marketplace insurance, and the listing of dietary standards at restaurants.

Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · Mar 23

Figured I’d hop on here today for the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.

Reposted by Rick J Nash, MPH

John Green @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social · Feb 28

“People will die, but we will never know, because even the programs to count the dead are cut.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/h...

U.S. Terminates Funding for Polio, H.I.V., Malaria and Nutrition Programs Around the World

Here are some of the 5,800 contracts the Trump administration formally canceled this week in a wave of terse emails.

www.nytimes.com

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 1

How would GDP not fall tho?

-Functionally eliminating near a hundred thousand middle class jobs across the country,
-Freezing the growth funding (hella cooling effect) for 1/8th of the economy.
-Making global supply chains anxious when they've barely recovered from the Pandemic.
- Ugh Ad Nauseam

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 1

The Hallmark of modern science is it's ability to reach beyond boarders languages, and culture.

This kind of censorship feels likely about who should be the authority.
This move could be perceived as a delegitimization of the WHO.

This could have strange ripple effects in life sciences.

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 1

As in memesplain the lack thereof, and how the the branches interact according to the Constitution, compared to what is going on.

Reposted by Rick J Nash, MPH

Natalie Dean, PhD @nataliexdean.bsky.social · Feb 27

Make it make sense!

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 1

Play The Game

Hold a competing press conference. One that explains the economic ramifications of the EOs, and charts the impacts that this will have on their access to work.

If they want to make the POTUS Into a reality show, change it up, make it a game show

& memesplain the judicial overreach.

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Mar 1

What a Friday...
HHS is moving to eliminate notice and public comment. If finalized this would devastate #PatientAdvocacy and make it difficult to ensure perspectives other than the agency can voice how the rule would impacts them.
www.cnn.com/2025/02/28/h...

Kennedy moves to eliminate notice and public comment requirements for certain HHS decisions | CNN

The US Department of Health and Human Services has reversed an obscure requirement called the Richardson Waiver, which requires a period of notice and an opportunity for public comment on a wide range...

www.cnn.com

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Feb 23

That's pretty broad, but there are orgs who've been doing this for decades, although for HIV meds and the like.

There are also folks who still do this for HCV meds, FB Groups and DMs, Heck recently even GLP-1 Tupperware style parties.

So there's some level of market for it.

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Reposted by Rick J Nash, MPH

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Feb 22

Update on the Measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/u...
There likely hundreds of cases, so many not being diagnosed. And many more to come. All preventable.

Measles Outbreak in Texas and New Mexico Sickens Nearly 100 People

Texas reported 90 cases this week, while New Mexico reported nine. A majority of the cases have been in a Texas county where vaccination rates have lagged behind the rest of the state.

www.nytimes.com

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Feb 22

The work you're doing is essential to not only healthcare, but any semblance of a free market.
I hope your model continues to evolve to compete well enough with the monopolistic pressure you're up against. I work for a nonprofit biomanufacturing hands-on training center and would love to help.

Reposted by Rick J Nash, MPH

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · Feb 21

Medicaid is not for sale.
NASA is not for sale.
The Post Office is not for sale.
America is not for sale.

We have an obligation to resist kings. We outnumber them. And they can be overwhelmed.

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Feb 8

I'm alive today thanks to a bunch of medical innovations, social safet net programs and importantly: Medicare+Medicaid.

It helps people with #disabilities live.

#Medicaid is also how win the war on #epidemics

Without Medicaid #HepC #HepB #HIV #Tuberculosis and dozens of other preventables wont be

Senator Bernie Sanders @sanders.senate.gov · Feb 8

Republicans want to slash Medicaid — a death sentence for thousands of Americans. Medicaid provides health care to more than 37 million kids, funding for 2/3 of seniors in nursing homes & is 40% of the revenue for community health centers.

We must EXPAND Medicaid, not cut it.

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Feb 6

Work requirements aren't necessary, because rent isn't optional, and assisted housing is even more overburdened than housing.

KFF @kff.org · Feb 6

With renewed legislative interest in Medicaid work requirements, explore our updated analysis of the latest data on the work status and characteristics of adults on Medicaid:

Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid and Work: An Update | KFF

Amid renewed interest in Medicaid work requirements as part of a broader legislative package designed to significantly reduce federal Medicaid spending, KFF has updated its analysis of the work status...

on.kff.org

Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Feb 2

FDA approval of a Ketamine Nasal Spray for Depression. As a disabled person who has had to use Ketamine and been depressed, I hope it's useful.

Just in time as we might be on the cusp of a likely looming Depression as a country.

www.livescience.com/health/medic...

FDA approves 'ketamine' nasal spray for depression — here's everything you need to know

A nasal spray that contains esketamine — a potent derivative of ketamine — can now be taken on its own to treat adults with severe depression, the FDA says. Here's what that means.

www.livescience.com

Reposted by Rick J Nash, MPH

WHO @who.int · Feb 2

#Tuberculosis is curable!
Tuberculosis is treated with antibiotics. To be effective, these medications need to be taken daily for 4–6 months.

⚠️ Stopping treatment early can lead to drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Learn more bit.ly/3Vo428E #EndTB

Tuberculosis treatment.
Three things you need to know:
#1 TB is treated with antibiotics

#2 Medications must be taken daily for 4-6 months to be effective

#3 Stopping treatment early can lead to drug-resistant tuberculosis

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Feb 2

This monument to people with HIV whose memories endure and remind us of the importance and power of action and community.
In 2016 I met Richard Zaldivar, and his telling of how this monument came to be was inspiring and heartwarming.

It's a shame what has happened to it

www.poz.com/article/vand...

Vandals Deface The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument in Los Angeles

TWLM’s Richard Zaldivar says the nonprofit is committed to restoring the AIDS monument and providing Los Angeles with HIV services.

www.poz.com

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Rick J Nash, MPH @hepatitisme.bsky.social · Feb 2

As an owner of a small business and a board member on another, if those are my only options, the latter.