Ruth Reader
@ruthreader.bsky.social
Covering the impact of technology on health care and public health for @politico.com
Last night some 60 health systems wrote a letter to the CEO of the Sequoia Project, a nonprofit that influences governance for two large health data sharing networks, asking for concrete actions to counter fraud. A copy was sent to ONC leadership subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...
POLITICO Pro: Over 60 health systems demand new protections for health data
A copy of the letter was sent to Steve Posnack, deputy assistant secretary for technology policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
subscriber.politicopro.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Last night some 60 health systems wrote a letter to the CEO of the Sequoia Project, a nonprofit that influences governance for two large health data sharing networks, asking for concrete actions to counter fraud. A copy was sent to ONC leadership subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...
Very curious what people think about this Epic lawsuit.
January 13, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Very curious what people think about this Epic lawsuit.
This morning, Epic filed a lawsuit against Health Gorilla, a platform that connects health institutions with health data, along with several smaller telehealth companies, for fraudulently accessing patient data. t.co/xfYKPMnhOy
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/01/epic-sues-data-fraud-00724269
t.co
January 13, 2026 at 3:59 PM
This morning, Epic filed a lawsuit against Health Gorilla, a platform that connects health institutions with health data, along with several smaller telehealth companies, for fraudulently accessing patient data. t.co/xfYKPMnhOy
Reposted by Ruth Reader
The government's latest nutrition advice recommends eating more protein, less added sugar, beef tallow and more whole foods -- meshing long-standing nutrition advice with #MAHA goals.
For @politico.com with @ruthreader.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
For @politico.com with @ruthreader.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
RFK Jr. says to eat more protein, less sugar in new dietary guidelines
The new recommendations blend MAHA-influenced changes with long-standing nutrition advice.
www.politico.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:53 PM
The government's latest nutrition advice recommends eating more protein, less added sugar, beef tallow and more whole foods -- meshing long-standing nutrition advice with #MAHA goals.
For @politico.com with @ruthreader.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
For @politico.com with @ruthreader.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Ruth Reader
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Small states and states that adopt policies favored by the Trump admin (such as restrictions on SNAP) got a much bigger windfall from the fund Congress created to "transform" rural health care.
Alaska received more than California, which has 40x its population.
Alaska received more than California, which has 40x its population.
Trump admin doles out billions for rural health
Montana and California will receive near equal amounts in 2026, despite their massive size disparity.
www.politico.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:14 PM
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Small states and states that adopt policies favored by the Trump admin (such as restrictions on SNAP) got a much bigger windfall from the fund Congress created to "transform" rural health care.
Alaska received more than California, which has 40x its population.
Alaska received more than California, which has 40x its population.
Reposted by Ruth Reader
The Trump admin offered states a deal: Want more $ for rural health care? Pass pro-MAHA laws.
“They’re holding our rural health as a hostage, essentially, for these broader policy goals," one Arizona lawmaker told me.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12... with the great @ruthreader.bsky.social
“They’re holding our rural health as a hostage, essentially, for these broader policy goals," one Arizona lawmaker told me.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12... with the great @ruthreader.bsky.social
‘Sort of blackmail’: Billions in rural health funding hinge on states passing Trump-backed policies
Democrats and health advocates described the strategy as highly unusual, and some fear it could be wielded to favor political allies.
www.politico.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The Trump admin offered states a deal: Want more $ for rural health care? Pass pro-MAHA laws.
“They’re holding our rural health as a hostage, essentially, for these broader policy goals," one Arizona lawmaker told me.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12... with the great @ruthreader.bsky.social
“They’re holding our rural health as a hostage, essentially, for these broader policy goals," one Arizona lawmaker told me.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12... with the great @ruthreader.bsky.social
In DFD today: Some parents are concerned that schools have become over digitized t.co/Au4BFrOvvU
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/digital-future-daily
t.co
November 24, 2025 at 11:07 PM
In DFD today: Some parents are concerned that schools have become over digitized t.co/Au4BFrOvvU
Reposted by Ruth Reader
ICE is telling Dem lawmakers they can’t visit detention centers during the shutdown — citing no money or staff to support visits, says our @kyledcheney.bsky.social.
Read the exclusive story on how the Trump administration is using the shutdown to limit oversight: ow.ly/fL0b50XjLWv
Read the exclusive story on how the Trump administration is using the shutdown to limit oversight: ow.ly/fL0b50XjLWv
October 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
ICE is telling Dem lawmakers they can’t visit detention centers during the shutdown — citing no money or staff to support visits, says our @kyledcheney.bsky.social.
Read the exclusive story on how the Trump administration is using the shutdown to limit oversight: ow.ly/fL0b50XjLWv
Read the exclusive story on how the Trump administration is using the shutdown to limit oversight: ow.ly/fL0b50XjLWv
Reposted by Ruth Reader
Our analysis shows the U.S. generally performs worse in long-term health outcomes (like life expectancy), certain treatment outcomes (like maternal mortality), some patient safety measures, and health system capacity: https://on.kff.org/42I5t4R
October 28, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Our analysis shows the U.S. generally performs worse in long-term health outcomes (like life expectancy), certain treatment outcomes (like maternal mortality), some patient safety measures, and health system capacity: https://on.kff.org/42I5t4R
Reposted by Ruth Reader
NEW: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said earlier this month that ChatGPT now has 800 million weekly active users. The company’s estimates therefore suggest that every seven days, around 560,000 people may be exchanging messages with ChatGPT that indicate they are experiencing mania or psychosis.
Here's How Many People May Use ChatGPT During a Mental Health Crisis Each Week
OpenAI released initial estimates about the share of users who may be experiencing symptoms like delusional thinking, mania, or suicidal ideation, and says it has tweaked GPT-5 to respond more effecti...
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
NEW: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said earlier this month that ChatGPT now has 800 million weekly active users. The company’s estimates therefore suggest that every seven days, around 560,000 people may be exchanging messages with ChatGPT that indicate they are experiencing mania or psychosis.
Reposted by Ruth Reader
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Nearly as many migrants have died in custody so far this year than over the 4 yrs of the Biden admin. ICE is hiring dozens more medical workers, but former insiders are skeptical the deaths will stop w/o more fundamental reforms. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
ICE is hiring dozens of health workers as lawsuits, deaths in custody mount
Nearly as many migrants have died in detention so far this year than over the four years of the Biden administration.
www.politico.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Nearly as many migrants have died in custody so far this year than over the 4 yrs of the Biden admin. ICE is hiring dozens more medical workers, but former insiders are skeptical the deaths will stop w/o more fundamental reforms. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Ruth Reader
Politico Future Pulse: Inside the NIH whistleblower complaints Erin Schumaker spoke with Debra Katz, legal counsel for Drs. Marrazzo and Neuzil
politi.co/3JUSWEw
@erinlschumaker.bsky.social
@ruthreader.bsky.social
politi.co/3JUSWEw
@erinlschumaker.bsky.social
@ruthreader.bsky.social
Inside the NIH whistleblower complaints
politi.co
September 8, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Politico Future Pulse: Inside the NIH whistleblower complaints Erin Schumaker spoke with Debra Katz, legal counsel for Drs. Marrazzo and Neuzil
politi.co/3JUSWEw
@erinlschumaker.bsky.social
@ruthreader.bsky.social
politi.co/3JUSWEw
@erinlschumaker.bsky.social
@ruthreader.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth Reader
TODAY: PEN Guild heads to arbitration over POLITICO’s contract-breaking use of AI. This fight could set the standard for how AI is used in newsrooms across the country.
✍️ Sign our petition and help us go into arbitration with full support: bit.ly/PENGuild
✍️ Sign our petition and help us go into arbitration with full support: bit.ly/PENGuild
July 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
TODAY: PEN Guild heads to arbitration over POLITICO’s contract-breaking use of AI. This fight could set the standard for how AI is used in newsrooms across the country.
✍️ Sign our petition and help us go into arbitration with full support: bit.ly/PENGuild
✍️ Sign our petition and help us go into arbitration with full support: bit.ly/PENGuild
The speed with which I clicked on this headline 🏃🏃🏃 www.politico.com/news/magazin...
The Plastic Surgery Procedure Booming Among Washington Men
Chiseled jawlines are in everywhere, but in Washington, D.C., people have even more reasons to go under the knife (or at least the needle).
www.politico.com
June 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The speed with which I clicked on this headline 🏃🏃🏃 www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Thomas Keane is the new assistant secretary for technology policy subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Trump picks former HHS tech adviser to lead health IT agency
subscriber.politicopro.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Thomas Keane is the new assistant secretary for technology policy subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Ruth Reader
We're proud our AI agreement has safeguards for journalists jobs-and company ethics, to allow AI use in a way that works for us, not against us. @politico.com already agreed that AI-generated content should be subject to the same standards as human-written articles. It needs to follow the contract
Politico’s Newsroom Is Starting a Legal Battle With Management Over AI
Politico has rules about AI in the newsroom. Staffers say those rules have been violated—and they’re gearing up for a fight.
www.wired.com
May 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
We're proud our AI agreement has safeguards for journalists jobs-and company ethics, to allow AI use in a way that works for us, not against us. @politico.com already agreed that AI-generated content should be subject to the same standards as human-written articles. It needs to follow the contract
Popping in from vacation for a scoop: Less than four years out of high school, Peter Bowman-Davis is the acting chief AI officer at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Yale undergrad was recently a fellow at Andreessen Horowitz
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
The Yale undergrad was recently a fellow at Andreessen Horowitz
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: HHS puts Yale undergrad in charge of artificial intelligence
Peter Bowman-Davis has worked at Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley venture capital firm whose founders endorsed Trump.
subscriber.politicopro.com
May 1, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Popping in from vacation for a scoop: Less than four years out of high school, Peter Bowman-Davis is the acting chief AI officer at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Yale undergrad was recently a fellow at Andreessen Horowitz
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
The Yale undergrad was recently a fellow at Andreessen Horowitz
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
If you subscribed to POLITICO you would have gotten this news yesterday
SCOOP: Mayo Clinic taps former Biden administration official to oversee its use of AI www.statnews.com/2025/04/10/m... via @statnews.com
Mayo Clinic taps former Biden administration official to oversee its use of AI
Exclusive: Micky Tripathi, former top HHS official, to join Mayo Clinic as a senior executive overseeing implementation of AI.
www.statnews.com
April 10, 2025 at 6:50 PM
If you subscribed to POLITICO you would have gotten this news yesterday
Reposted by Ruth Reader
Rumors, group chats, clandestine spreadsheets: how health agency workers are struggling to take stock of this week's mass purge by RFK Jr. amid an information blackout www.politico.com/news/2025/04... with @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @ruthreader.bsky.social
Confusion and despair as health agency workers tally their losses
Employees who survived mass firings this week say management hasn't provided an accounting.
www.politico.com
April 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Rumors, group chats, clandestine spreadsheets: how health agency workers are struggling to take stock of this week's mass purge by RFK Jr. amid an information blackout www.politico.com/news/2025/04... with @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @ruthreader.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth Reader
NEW w/ @ruthreader.bsky.social : HHS is eliminating offices that work on minority health, HIV and STIs.
HIV experts called it a "decimation" that will cost the government much more over time than any short-term savings.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
HIV experts called it a "decimation" that will cost the government much more over time than any short-term savings.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: HHS is killing offices devoted to improving minority health and tackling HIV
Some impacted offices are statutorily required.
subscriber.politicopro.com
March 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
NEW w/ @ruthreader.bsky.social : HHS is eliminating offices that work on minority health, HIV and STIs.
HIV experts called it a "decimation" that will cost the government much more over time than any short-term savings.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
HIV experts called it a "decimation" that will cost the government much more over time than any short-term savings.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Yes! HHS seems to be moving to rehire probationary workers that were fired in February, complying with a court order issued last week. So far, staff at NIH, CMS, FDA, and ONC have received emails to this effect.
March 18, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Yes! HHS seems to be moving to rehire probationary workers that were fired in February, complying with a court order issued last week. So far, staff at NIH, CMS, FDA, and ONC have received emails to this effect.
Noting a couple of scoops here that have been published behind the paywall recently: Since Trump has taken office, his administration has quickly tried to unwind the Biden administration's work regulating AI in health care.
February 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Noting a couple of scoops here that have been published behind the paywall recently: Since Trump has taken office, his administration has quickly tried to unwind the Biden administration's work regulating AI in health care.
Reposted by Ruth Reader
Mass firings, abrupt policy shifts and simmering tensions: Inside RFK Jr’s health department hostile takeover, w @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @ruthreader.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Inside RFK Jr.’s health department takeover
Kennedy’s first week at HHS included dismissing the workforce, vaccine advisers and some longtime health priorities.
www.politico.com
February 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Mass firings, abrupt policy shifts and simmering tensions: Inside RFK Jr’s health department hostile takeover, w @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @ruthreader.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/02...