Feb 25 2025 44 mins 9
In this month’s Diving Deep episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine three pressing topics shaping the future of American medicine: the Musk-led effort to slash government spending (including healthcare programs), the neuroscience behind irrational decision-making and the defining moment facing UnitedHealth Group in the wake of its CEO’s tragic death.
We begin the episode with Donald Trump’s second term and the launch of DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency), led by Elon Musk. The duo share a vision of cutting billions, perhaps trillions, of dollars in “fraud and waste” from the federal budget. But with Social Security, Medicare, and defense deemed untouchable, Pearl explains why the focus will inevitably turn to Medicaid and online health insurance exchanges—programs that provide healthcare access to low-income Americans. He then breaks down the consequences, which include millions of Americans losing health coverage and, therefore, access to vital medical services.
Shifting gears, the hosts explore a fascinating cognitive phenomenon called “brainshift,” a subconscious process in which perception becomes altered when people are faced with situations that involve significant fear or reward. Drawing on research he conducted with neurologist Dr. George York, Pearl explains how brainshift can make irrational choices feel rational. To illustrate this phenomenon in medicine, Pearl points to various examples of brainshift and, ultimately, touches on ways to overcome its negative effects.
Finally, the episode revisits the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the pivotal decisions now facing the company’s leadership. Pearl and Corr analyze UnitedHealth Group’s long-standing strategy of cost-cutting and claim denials, a model that has made it the largest insurer in the U.S. but also a target of public and congressional scrutiny. CEO Andrew Witty now has a chance to shift the company’s approach from restricting care to preventing illness. Pearl outlines three bold moves UnitedHealth could take.
Click play to hear the full conversation and explore what it will take to transform healthcare for the better.
HELPFUL LINKS
- UnitedHealth Faces A Defining Moment After CEO’s Killing (Forbes)
- The TikTok Reversal And The Science Of Illogical Medical Decisions (Forbes)
- Musk’s DOGE Could Threaten The Health Of Millions Of Americans (Forbes)
- Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)
* * *
Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.
Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.
The post FHC #166: Musk’s DOGE vs. healthcare + UnitedHealth’s defining moment appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.
