This is a pretty incredible mission statement for a working journalism company.
Posts by Nicole Ortiz
Another year of me incorrectly thinking I'm done covering the Super Bowl, because this year was all about the pharma adsâparticularly for GLP-1s. But if it continues in future games all comes down to how TV advertising regulations pan out.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2026...
In January alone, the Big 3 insurers who own PBMsâUnitedHealth Group, Cigna, and CVSâwere grilled by Congress for vertical integration practices as a bipartisan spending bill calling for greater transparency advanced. Here's my latest: www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2026...
I wrote about the NYC nurses strike happening now with 15,000 @nynurses.bsky.social from some Montefiore, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Mount Sinai facilities. Negotiations are still ongoing, and only complicated by today's uncertain healthcare landscape. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2026...
I wrote a story for the @timesunion.com about how real estate has changed in New York's Hudson Valley region since the Covid-19 pandemicâboth for buyers, who are proving more cautious, and sellers, who are trying (and sometimes failing) to break even. www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...
I spoke with @elilillyandcompany.bsky.social and Bain Capital about the pharma giant's sustainability efforts and how those help contribute toward making pharmaceuticalsâwhich don't have the best environmental track recordâa little greener. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
Since mass layoffs left 10,000+ federal health agency staffers unemployed earlier this year, Fired But Fighting (underneath the umbrella of the National Public Health Coalition) has been, well, fighting back. I spoke with exec directors about its mission. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
I spoke with community-centric nonprofit Mixteca in Brooklyn about how it's working with Mexican, Latino, and Hispanic immigrants to provide care through a mobile unit and onsite testing. See my story here: www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
The Trump admin and HHS are pushing Kenvue to update Tylenol's safety label to include info about a potential link to autism if used by pregnant people. But researchers and trade orgs say this lacks scientific evidence and causes "unnecessary anxiety."
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
From Healthcare Brew: Dr. @lisapatel.bsky.social of @docsforclimate.bsky.social says health systems must leverage their voice in clean energy policy decisionsâ"it both affects their operations and it affects the health of their populations."
Read more: www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
A September study from @commonwealthfund.org ranked states on how prepared they are for extreme weather events and resulting healthcare needs across things like air quality, extreme heat, and flood risk. I wrote about what that might mean for providers.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
The University of California, Irvine Health will be opening its new all-electric hospital on Dec. 10, which it says is the first facility in the US that doesn't use natural gas at all. This even includes having electric-only appliances in its kitchen.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
As #ClimateWeekNYC wraps, #HealthCare proves #Sustainability is smart for the planet & business. đ„đ
Highlights from our Benchmark Report trends analysis + @nicoleortiz.bsky.social Healthcare Brew story:
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$203M saved
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185K MT GHG avoided
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140% â in resilience
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50% cutting plastic
Nonprofits Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth recently released their annual trend report on sustainability initiatives. What the report found was, despite changes on a federal level, hospital leaders are still committed to these initiatives.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
It probably doesn't surprise anyone to hear that healthcare has a huge single-use plastic problem. But a recent survey shows just how bad it isâas well as estimations on how much worse it can get. I wrote about study findings below.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
Serena Williams is mostly known for being the GOAT in tennis, but recently, she also became known as a satisfied GLP-1 user. I spoke with Ro about its new partnership and influencer marketing agency Obviously about how Big Pharma's marketing might evolve. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
Americares is awarding grants to 13 free clinics and community health centers to help them buy supplies to combat extreme heat. The nonprofit is also awarding an additional eight grants so facilities can get supplies when extreme heat is forecasted.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
I went to my first #upfronts this year for healthcare company PatientPoint. Though it didn't have the usual excitement of more traditional presentations, it did have influencer Dr. Mike and a pitch on why Big Pharma might want to advertise on its screens. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
ICYMI: I looked at what Iowa's new law against pharmacy benefit managers means for the major players CVS Caremark, United's Optum Rx, and Cigna's Express Scripts.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
I spoke with Mount Sinai's environmental chair and Health Care Without Harm about the potential long-term impacts of research and staffing cuts that have been happening since January.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
President Trump signed an executive order this morning saying he would cut drug prices to compete with the lower costs other countries offer.
So far, the response from the healthcare industry has been mixed. Read more in my story below.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
Another update on Optum's "corporate takeover" in the Hudson Valley: NY Congressman Pat Ryan organized an inquiry into patient care after receiving complaints from Optum patients, which he's sent to the FTC, DOJ, and HHS for further investigation. www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
15 years ago, we got the Affordable Care Act. Seems like every year, GOP politicians try to scale it back.
Now, that may just happen.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
Excited to share that I'll be at this year's Association of Health Care Journalists conference (with the ENTIRE Healthcare Brew team!) as one of the New York Health Journalism fellows.
Healthcare Brew is an honoree for this year's Webby Awards in the Websites and Mobile Sites - Health, Wellness and Lifestyle category. đ„
vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting...
So, why don't ya just subscribe already so you can say you knew us when?!?
đđŒ www.healthcare-brew.com/subscribe
Walgreens announced it will sell to private equity firm Sycamore Partners last week, ending a will they/wonât they speculation thatâs been going on since December.
I spoke to experts about what it means for retail pharma and PE in healthcare overall.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
Later today, Iâll be serving as a part of the Media Jury in the Connect: Smart Health virtual pitch panel, where Iâll be judging health tech startups as they pitch their ventures. Excited to see what these startups bring to the table!
Guess I canât escape writing about #SuperBowlLIX ads even if Iâm not reporting on marketing! Lawmakers and health advocates have called on the FDA to remove Hims & Hersâ 60-second spot for potentially âmisleading patients.â www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025...
I attended a town hall where 1199SEIU workers from Optum and Summit Health discussed the "corporate takeover" of Hudson Valley facilities.
Attendees on the call discussed their own personal experiences and workplace experiences that affect patient care.
www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025....