Beth Waldron
@bethwaldron.bsky.social
Patient advocate. DVT/PE survivor. Co-founder UNC ClotConnect. PBMs love me (not). BethWaldron.com
Proof retired seniors are not ‘choosing’ Medicare Advantage, rather they are being coerced by employers. This today from State of NC Health Plan:
May 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Proof retired seniors are not ‘choosing’ Medicare Advantage, rather they are being coerced by employers. This today from State of NC Health Plan:
Media needs to cover patient stories. Put a real face on life threatening cuts.
A friend drove two hours today for her breast cancer chemotherapy only to learn it was canceled due to NIH cuts. Clinical trial ended midstream. No treatment, no restart, no plan, no information. Her bro-in-law's chemo was also canceled.
March 20, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Media needs to cover patient stories. Put a real face on life threatening cuts.
Reposted by Beth Waldron
A kidney transplant specialist and professor at Brown University’s medical school has been deported from the U.S., even though she had a valid visa and a court order temporarily blocking her expulsion, according to her lawyer and court papers.
Brown University Surgeon and Professor Are Deported to Lebanon Despite a Judge’s Order
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist and Brown University professor who had a valid visa, was expelled in apparent defiance of a court order.
www.nytimes.com
March 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A kidney transplant specialist and professor at Brown University’s medical school has been deported from the U.S., even though she had a valid visa and a court order temporarily blocking her expulsion, according to her lawyer and court papers.
Alarming.
“It’s a six-month production cycle...So one can only assume that we’re not picking flu strains this year.”
“It’s a six-month production cycle...So one can only assume that we’re not picking flu strains this year.”
February 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Alarming.
“It’s a six-month production cycle...So one can only assume that we’re not picking flu strains this year.”
“It’s a six-month production cycle...So one can only assume that we’re not picking flu strains this year.”
A direct result of PBMs. Consumer protections are needed.
Neighborhood pharmacies are one of the most accessible health care locations in the country, but over the past five years thousands of U.S. pharmacies have closed leaving behind "pharmacy deserts" that impact local communities. (via @us.theconversation.com)
Community pharmacies are closing. Here's what to do if your neighborhood location does too
Neighborhood pharmacies are one of the most accessible health care locations in the country, but over the past five years thousands of U.S. pharmacies have closed leaving behind "pharmacy deserts"…
buff.ly
February 22, 2025 at 10:08 PM
A direct result of PBMs. Consumer protections are needed.
Let's make care more difficult for the elderly and disabled?
February 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Let's make care more difficult for the elderly and disabled?
Reposted by Beth Waldron
Health insurance giants, including United Healthcare, have denied basic scans and taken months to reconsider, physicians say
‘It’s a death sentence’: US health insurance system is failing, say doctors
Firms including United Healthcare have denied basic scans and taken months to reconsider, physicians say
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Health insurance giants, including United Healthcare, have denied basic scans and taken months to reconsider, physicians say
It was not pharma who suddenly stopped covering my lifesaving medication I’d taken for 8 years…it was the PBM & not for clinical reasons but simply because they got a higher profit kickback on one drug over another.
UnitedHealth CEO blames drug companies for driving up health costs. www.axios.com/2025/01/16/u...
Brian Thompson's boss: Pharma companies are "really responsible" for drug prices
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty on Thursday spoke at length for the first time about the brazen public shooting of the company's insurance leader, Brian Thompson.
www.axios.com
January 17, 2025 at 1:14 PM
It was not pharma who suddenly stopped covering my lifesaving medication I’d taken for 8 years…it was the PBM & not for clinical reasons but simply because they got a higher profit kickback on one drug over another.
I & many other patients with blood clots…especially those with cancer associated clots & pregnant women.…have taken enoxaparin. The generic is still wildly expensive of this life saving blood thinner. Now from the FTC, we learn PBMs profited from dramatic mark ups ranging 100-1000%.
January 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I & many other patients with blood clots…especially those with cancer associated clots & pregnant women.…have taken enoxaparin. The generic is still wildly expensive of this life saving blood thinner. Now from the FTC, we learn PBMs profited from dramatic mark ups ranging 100-1000%.
Anyone surprised? The question is: when will Congress act on such knowledge to protect patients.
Pharmacy benefit managers made more than $7B marking up generic specialty drugs: FTC www.axios.com/2025/01/14/p...
PBMs made more than $7B marking up specialty generics: FTC
The three biggest pharmacy benefit managers made more than $7.3 billion over five years marking up the prices of specialty generic drugs for cancer and other conditions.
www.axios.com
January 15, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Anyone surprised? The question is: when will Congress act on such knowledge to protect patients.
FTC to discuss new findings from PBM study. Talk is good, but patients can’t keep waiting for action—from Congress or the FTC. The facts are already abundant & clear. Nontransparent PBM profit maxing practices put patient lives at risk. As premium paying consumers, we deserve robust protections.
January 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
FTC to discuss new findings from PBM study. Talk is good, but patients can’t keep waiting for action—from Congress or the FTC. The facts are already abundant & clear. Nontransparent PBM profit maxing practices put patient lives at risk. As premium paying consumers, we deserve robust protections.
Reposted by Beth Waldron
One of my 4 year old patients was just charged $145 for an inhaler that was removed from her PBM’s formulary, and all 3 of those inhalers are “E” for excluded. She can’t use the dry powder, breath-actuated alternatives on the PBM list. Neither can the other millions of kids with #asthma. 4/
January 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
One of my 4 year old patients was just charged $145 for an inhaler that was removed from her PBM’s formulary, and all 3 of those inhalers are “E” for excluded. She can’t use the dry powder, breath-actuated alternatives on the PBM list. Neither can the other millions of kids with #asthma. 4/
Reposted by Beth Waldron
@mcuban.bsky.social - kids with #asthma and the families and doctors who love them could use your help.
Inhalers that kids can use to prevent asthma attacks - HFA inhalers that attach to a spacer - are so expensive that families literally can’t afford to help their kids breathe. 1/
Inhalers that kids can use to prevent asthma attacks - HFA inhalers that attach to a spacer - are so expensive that families literally can’t afford to help their kids breathe. 1/
January 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
@mcuban.bsky.social - kids with #asthma and the families and doctors who love them could use your help.
Inhalers that kids can use to prevent asthma attacks - HFA inhalers that attach to a spacer - are so expensive that families literally can’t afford to help their kids breathe. 1/
Inhalers that kids can use to prevent asthma attacks - HFA inhalers that attach to a spacer - are so expensive that families literally can’t afford to help their kids breathe. 1/
Higher premiums, less coverage. Hate to say l told you thusly, but its the classic Aetna/CVS Caremark playbook. www.wunc.org/health/2025-...
‘Uncomfortable things’ necessary to fix NC Health Plan, new treasurer says
In a break with previous administration, new NC Treasurer Brad Briner says higher premiums, not legislative fixes, needed for NC Health Plan.
www.wunc.org
January 8, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Higher premiums, less coverage. Hate to say l told you thusly, but its the classic Aetna/CVS Caremark playbook. www.wunc.org/health/2025-...
And days after annual enrollment ended, leaving Medicare patients without access to their doctors. If consumers can only make insurance changes once a year why are insurers able to make changes year round?
December 31, 2024 at 10:21 PM
And days after annual enrollment ended, leaving Medicare patients without access to their doctors. If consumers can only make insurance changes once a year why are insurers able to make changes year round?
Reposted by Beth Waldron
Eight years ago, a budding scientist gave a commercial airline pilot a gift that would link the two for life.
Since then, they'd met in person and linked up on social media. But when she boarded a flight a week ago, she didn't expect to see him.
Then an announcement came over the PA system.
Since then, they'd met in person and linked up on social media. But when she boarded a flight a week ago, she didn't expect to see him.
Then an announcement came over the PA system.
A pilot raced through the airport to surprise an old friend: the woman who saved his life | CNN
When Allie Reimold boarded Flight 2223 in Houston a week ago, she didn’t expect to see the pilot whose life she had saved.
cnn.it
December 22, 2024 at 8:47 PM
Eight years ago, a budding scientist gave a commercial airline pilot a gift that would link the two for life.
Since then, they'd met in person and linked up on social media. But when she boarded a flight a week ago, she didn't expect to see him.
Then an announcement came over the PA system.
Since then, they'd met in person and linked up on social media. But when she boarded a flight a week ago, she didn't expect to see him.
Then an announcement came over the PA system.
Why does one unelected billionaire have the power to essentially govern? The CR includes needed PBM reform, which is bipartisan. Patients can’t continue to wait for reform.
December 19, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Why does one unelected billionaire have the power to essentially govern? The CR includes needed PBM reform, which is bipartisan. Patients can’t continue to wait for reform.
Drugs on formulary reflect not necessarily what’s clinically best, but what’s most profitable for the PBM, earning the highest rebate. This is further evidence. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/b...
Drugmakers Paid PBMs Not to Restrict Opioid Prescriptions
Drugmakers including Purdue Pharma paid pharmacy benefit managers not to restrict painkiller prescriptions, a New York Times investigation found.
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2024 at 11:57 AM
Drugs on formulary reflect not necessarily what’s clinically best, but what’s most profitable for the PBM, earning the highest rebate. This is further evidence. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/b...
Read my response in the New York Times to United Healthcare's CEO recent oped (second letter down in link) It's time for ALL of us to speak up, share our personal experiences & for advocates to network together to improve care. #medsky #RxSky #cardiosky #pharmsky www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/o...
Opinion | Ways to Fix the Health Insurance Debacle (Gift Article)
Responses to an essay by Andrew Witty, the C.E.O. of UnitedHealth Group. Also: Threats to democracy, in Hungary and America; a check on Trump; avoiding taxes.
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2024 at 9:11 PM
Read my response in the New York Times to United Healthcare's CEO recent oped (second letter down in link) It's time for ALL of us to speak up, share our personal experiences & for advocates to network together to improve care. #medsky #RxSky #cardiosky #pharmsky www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/o...
Reposted by Beth Waldron
We're investigating health insurance denials. If you want to share your insights, here's how:
Do You Have Insights Into Dental and Health Insurance Denials? Help Us Report on the System.
Insurers deny tens of millions of claims every year. ProPublica is investigating why claims are denied, what the consequences are for patients and how the appeal process really works.
propub.li
December 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM
We're investigating health insurance denials. If you want to share your insights, here's how:
A health care deal BROADER on PBM (pharmacy benefit manager) reform you say? 🤔 After years of inaction despite wide bipartisan support, that would truly be a Festivus miracle.
December 14, 2024 at 12:20 PM
A health care deal BROADER on PBM (pharmacy benefit manager) reform you say? 🤔 After years of inaction despite wide bipartisan support, that would truly be a Festivus miracle.
PBMs should not be able to steer patients to the pharmacies they own. This reform needed to protect patients. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Health insurer stocks fall as WSJ says lawmakers set to break up pharmacy-benefit managers
Shares of health insurers such as UnitedHealth and CVS Health fell on Wednesday after a Wall Street Journal report said a bipartisan group of lawmakers was set to introduce legislation to break up pharmacy-benefit managers.
www.reuters.com
December 12, 2024 at 12:29 AM
PBMs should not be able to steer patients to the pharmacies they own. This reform needed to protect patients. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
If only 3 mega PBMs control 80% of prescription benefits yet there are 3,553 different prices for the same medication, maybe PBMs are not truly negotiating the lowest price for premium paying consumers as they say. 🤔
December 5, 2024 at 7:17 PM
If only 3 mega PBMs control 80% of prescription benefits yet there are 3,553 different prices for the same medication, maybe PBMs are not truly negotiating the lowest price for premium paying consumers as they say. 🤔
Giving Blue Sky a try. Inviting patient advocates & health care concerned folks to connect.
November 22, 2024 at 3:26 PM
Giving Blue Sky a try. Inviting patient advocates & health care concerned folks to connect.