What I Wrote in May: AI Tools, Primary Care, PBMs, and the Forces Reshaping Medicine
Jared Dashevsky, MD, MEng
Physician. Consultant. Founder of Healthcare Huddle. Delivering insights, trends, and strategies for healthcare pros.
Healthcare is changing fast, but not always in ways that make care better.
That’s why I write Healthcare Huddle: to break down the systems, incentives, and inefficiencies shaping how we practice medicine.
If you’re a physician, medical student, health exec, or just someone trying to make sense of this complex industry, here’s a roundup of what I covered in May.
The Middlemen Shaping Drug Costs
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are some of the most powerful—and least understood—players in the healthcare system. I explain how they work, how they got here, and what it means for drug prices. cc: Brian Reid , Mark Cuban , Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, PBC , Nima Ataei, PharmD, CPh, MS
Should Insurance Cover Primary Care?
Most people assume the answer is “of course.” But what if insurance is actually hurting how we deliver primary care? I explore the question through three lenses: physician, engineer, and economist.
Can AI Actually Save Time?
Not all AI is created equal. Some tools are helping physicians reclaim their time. Others add more friction than they solve. I break it all down.
Epic thinks AI-powered texts can reduce appointment backlogs. Here’s how it’s rolling out—and what to watch for.
Longevity, Mental Health, and the Role of Tech
A signal that longevity testing is going mainstream. This acquisition could reshape how we approach preventive care.
Imagine a future where wearables and AI support mental health in real time. I sketch out what that might actually look like.
Can You Spot AI-Generated Medical Advice?
Turns out, most people—including clinicians—struggled to tell AI apart from human-generated advice. That’s a big deal.
Women’s Health Is Facing Political Headwinds
As the new administration takes over, women’s health funding, especially in areas like FemTech, is increasingly at risk. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes.
cc: Nyoo Health Femtech Insider Kathrin Folkendt Priya Bathija
I Also Announced my New Course!
This is the course I wish I had in med school. It breaks down hospital finances, insurance incentives, drug pricing, and more. No fluff—just the realities of working in this system.
Bonus for Huddle+ Members
This is the first in a new monthly Huddle+ series. I’m taking a hard look at the hidden players shaping healthcare—from PBMs to staffing firms to GPOs. Each piece breaks down who they are, how they make money, and how they impact patients and physicians.
If any of this content resonates, I publish weekly over at Healthcare Huddle for 30k+ health professionals. And if you’re serious about understanding how this system works, check out Huddle+—you’ll get access to the full archive, monthly trend reports, and new courses like the one above.
Thanks for reading. Let me know what you’d like me to cover next month.
Keeping it simple,
Jared