The CMS Director Oversees Healthcare & 22% of the Federal Budget: We Need Someone Experienced in Managing a Large Organizations & Navigating Complex System to Run CMS — Not an Entertainer
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services runs with an annual budget of $1.5 trillion—22% of the total federal budget. That’s more than the Defense Department! With this massive responsibility, CMS is at the heart of the U.S. healthcare system, overseeing programs and policies that touch the lives of nearly every American. Running an agency with such a scope and impact requires a leader with deep administrative experience managing large budgets
Why America Needs a Health Star Rating for Food Labels like the Aussies Have
Imagine going grocery shopping and, with just a glance, knowing how healthy each item is for you. That’s what Australia’s Health Star Rating system offers—an easy-to-read star ranking on food packaging, helping consumers make healthier choices. Foods are rated from 0.5 to 5 stars, considering nutritional elements like sugars, sodium, saturated fats, and positive components like protein and fiber. Health Star Rating – Health Star Rating Australia’s Health Star Rating
The Impact of the Supreme Court’s Chevron Ruling on Public Health Policies: A Double-Edged Sword in Light of the Incoming Administration
The recent Supreme Court decision in Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council has sent shockwaves through the regulatory landscape. In a 6-3 ruling last summer, the Court overturned the long-standing Chevron doctrine. Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo aka Chevron That doctrine allowed federal agencies like the FDA, CMS, and EPA to interpret ambiguous congressional statutes within reasonable bounds. By scaling back Chevron deference, this ruling shifts more power back to the
RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary: His Shift Away from Evidence Puts Public Health in Peril
U.S. public health policy is set to face unprecedented challenges with the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the world’s largest public health agency, and its $1.7 trillion budget, including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Kennedy’s longstanding opposition to vaccines—a critical achievement in public health—is a
Gun Deaths in the U.S. & Arizona Rival War Zones: What Arizona Could Do to Stem the Tide
Firearm violence in the United States is taking lives at a rate that’s hard to wrap our minds around. According to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund, the U.S. gun death rate is 15 per 100,000 people, putting us shockingly close to Haiti’s rate and even higher than some war-torn countries. Let that sink in for a moment—the number of Americans dying from firearms each year is at levels
Expect a Big Swing in Priorities for the Incoming Directors of the US Department of Health & Human Agencies
When the Trump administration takes the reins of the executive branch in a couple of months, we’re likely to see a public health policy shift rooted in “Project 2025.” Unlike the Biden administration’s focus on evidence-based policies and health equity, Project 2025 pushes for reducing federal oversight, cutting programs for vulnerable communities, and giving states greater control over health decisions. Appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and