Jody reviews this unfortunately necessary aspect of proving medical care in the U.S.

Links:

Medicare Basics (medicare.gov)

CMS Program History

Differences between Medicare & Advantage (National Council on Aging)

Out of Pocket Cost Comparison (USC)

Medicare Advantage Sucks (Salem Township Hospital)

How Medicare Pays Advantage Plans (KFF)

Jody discusses epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this actually kind of scary tick-borne infection.

Links:

Overview of RMSF (OpenEvidence)

Crooked Creek Serenade (Amazon)

It's not too late to submit your bracket for #NephMadness 2026! Also, an update on Jody's novel, Crooked Creek Serenade. It's done! Ebook and paperback available now, audiobook hopefully forthcoming very soon. Stay tuned!

Links:

NephMadness 2026

Crooked Creek Serenade (Amazon)

I'm taking a break...to write a book! More specifically, to record an audiobook. The ebook and paperback are available now!

Crooked Creek Serenade by Jody Marks (Amazon)

It's a new medicine made of old medicines! Jody reviews the mechanism of this new (?) option for treatment of major depressive disorder in adults.

References:

1) Auvelity Package Insert

2) Auvelity Review Article (Annals of Medicine & Surgery)

3) Auvelity Overview (OpenEvidence)

4) Physiology of NMDA Receptor (PubMed)

5) Pharmacology of Sigma-1 Receptor (PubMed)

6) Mucinex DM Label Information

Recent medical news followed by a review of pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of myasthenia gravis.

News Articles:

1. New federal vaccine schedule (KFF): https://www.kff.org/other-health/the-new-federal-vaccine-schedule-what-changed/

2. HRT black box warning removal (FDA): https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-advances-womens-health-removes-misleading-fda-warnings-hormone-replacement-therapy

3. More information about HRT warning label removal (Harvard Health): https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/fda-removes-menopause-hormone-therapy-black-box-warnings

4. House votes to extend ACA subsidies (PBS): https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/in-a-rebuke-of-gop-leadership-house-heads-toward-vote-to-extend-health-care-subsidies

References:

1. Bird, S. J. Pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pathogenesis-of-myasthenia-gravis

2. Bird, S. J. Clinical manifestations of myasthenia gravis. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-of-myasthenia-gravis

3. Bird, S. J. Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diagnosis-of-myasthenia-gravis

4. Bird, S. J. Overview of the treatment of myasthenia gravis. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-the-treatment-of-myasthenia-gravis

Jody discusses ACA subsidies - what they are and why it matters that some of them are going away.

Resources:

1) Article on the Impact of Enhanced Subsidies Expiring (KFF)

2) News Article on the Republican Healthcare Plan (Reuters)

3) Interview About Subsidies Expiring (PBS)

4) Federal Poverty Level (healthcare.gov)

5) Reasons to Not Extend Enhanced Subsidies (CATO Institute)

Jody reviews LEGITIMATE information about hepatitis B vaccines in the wake of ACIP's recent recommendation to consider delaying vaccination for infants of non-infected mothers.

References & Links:

1) General Information on Hepatitis B Vaccines (OpenEvidence)

2) ACIP Press Release

3) Fact Check of the ACIP Press Release (PBS)

4) Impact of Hepatitis B Vaccines in the United States (CDC, pre-RFK)

5) Scientology Network Prescription for Violence (likely fake news)