In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark breaks down a surprising moment of bipartisan agreement in Congress: a new Health and Human Services funding bill that includes meaningful wins for patients and public health.

From protecting CDC and NIH funding to extending telehealth flexibilities and hospital-at-home programs, the bill also takes historic steps to reform Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), aiming to make drug pricing more transparent and patient-centered. Steven walks through what’s in the legislation, what was left out, and why PBM reform could have a direct impact on out-of-pocket costs and medication access.

Plus, what this deal signals about the power of patient advocacy in shaping policy—even in a divided political climate.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark speaks with Ohio State Representative Michele Grim, the only public health professional currently serving in the Ohio legislature. Rep. Grim shares how her background in public health advocacy led her to politics, where she now champions legislation to expand access to care, fight misinformation, and protect vulnerable populations.

Together, they dive into the challenges of health policy in today’s polarized environment, and the importance of having voices at the table who understand the system from the inside out.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we break down one of the most pivotal and controversial ACIP meetings in recent history. The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee voted to roll back the universal hepatitis B birth dose, a policy that has protected newborns from chronic liver disease for more than three decades. We explain what ACIP decided, why the changes were not based on new scientific evidence, and how misinformation and ideological viewpoints shaped the discussion.
We also explore the real-world consequences for families, clinicians, and health systems. From confusing new recommendations to unnecessary blood tests to disruptions in the overall childhood immunization schedule, these changes will make it harder for parents to access safe, routine preventive care. But the meeting also revealed something hopeful: strong advocacy — from medical societies, public health experts, grassroots organizers, and patient groups — helped prevent even more extreme proposals from becoming policy.

Finally, we discuss what comes next as ACIP reviews additional childhood vaccines and how advocates, clinicians, and community members can stay engaged to protect science-based immunization policy.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special year-end episode of The Health Advocates, host Steven Newmark takes a step back to review several of the most significant public health developments of 2025.

The episode covers major leadership changes at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, key meetings and votes of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), ongoing challenges related to vaccine access and uptake, and continued debates over prescription drug pricing, including “Trump Rx.” Steven also examines the rapid expansion of GLP-1 medications, the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act health provisions, public health workforce pressures, infectious disease monitoring beyond COVID-19, maternal health initiatives, and the evolving role of data and communication in public health.

Rather than an opinion piece, this episode offers a straightforward recap of how policy decisions, advisory processes, and healthcare system dynamics shaped public health in 2025 and set the stage for the year ahead.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we break down one of the most pivotal and controversial ACIP meetings in recent history. The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee voted to roll back the universal hepatitis B birth dose — a policy that has protected newborns from chronic liver disease for more than three decades. We explain what ACIP decided, why the changes were not based on new scientific evidence, and how misinformation and ideological viewpoints shaped the discussion.

We also explore the real-world consequences for families, clinicians, and health systems. From confusing new recommendations to unnecessary blood tests to disruptions in the overall childhood immunization schedule, these changes will make it harder for parents to access safe, routine preventive care. But the meeting also revealed something hopeful: strong advocacy — from medical societies, public health experts, grassroots organizers, and patient groups — helped prevent even more extreme proposals from becoming policy.

Finally, we discuss what comes next as ACIP reviews additional childhood vaccines and how advocates, clinicians, and community members can stay engaged to protect science-based immunization policy.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can lawmakers rebuild public trust in health, and make prevention a shared priority?

In this episode of The Health Advocates, Steven Newmark speaks with Texas State Representative Nicole Collier, a leading voice on health equity, women’s health, and preventive care. From her work on the Select Committee on Preventable Diseases and Women’s Health to her advocacy for fair access to vaccines, Rep. Collier brings a clear message: prevention isn’t political, it’s essential.

Together, Steven and Rep. Collier explore:
- How preventive care, including vaccines, strengthens community trust
- Why health equity starts with access to reliable information and local leadership
- How Texas can serve as a model for bipartisan public-health collaboration

To learn more about vaccine recommendations and find reliable resources for patients, visit: ghlf.org/vaccines

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Health Advocates, host Steven Newmark breaks down what the recent federal government shutdown means for health care access and vulnerable patients. Then, he’s joined by Mahsa Pazokifard, a passionate patient advocate living with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), a rare and often misunderstood autoimmune condition. Mahsa opens up about the challenges of getting diagnosed, how the disease has impacted her life and career, and why raising awareness is essential.

Whether you’ve never heard of IgG4-RD or are living with a chronic illness yourself, this episode offers powerful insights into patient advocacy, rare disease awareness, and the human side of health care policy.

To learn more about IgG4-Related Disease, visit: creakyjoints.org/igg4-rd-guide

To learn more about vaccine recommendations and find reliable resources for patients, visit: ghlf.org/vaccines

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.