Author | Lightnews

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · 3d

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

#InsulinCrisis #HealthcareJustice #PBMs #DrugPricing

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · 3d

Government intervention has now lowered insulin prices to $35, but for over 15 years, countless patients were forced to ration or forgo life-saving medication — a stark example of systemic failure in our healthcare market.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · 3d

We expose the financial exploitation surrounding insulin pricing. For years, insulin that cost manufacturers $65–$80 was sold for $200, while Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), who produce nothing, extracted $130 in profit.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · 21d

He died that day. The refusal to appropriately manage pain, coupled with easy access to deadly counterfeits, is costing lives. This is not an overdose — this is poisoning.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

#HealthcareJustice #PatientAdvocacy

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · 21d

Let’s start calling it what it truly is — a fentanyl poisoning crisis. In one devastating case, a young man suffering from untreated post-surgical pain turned to social media in desperation. Believing he was buying a Percocet,

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 26

And no one can reasonably dispute that dedicating one’s life to serving others in the face of these challenges is an undeniable public good, regardless of differing viewpoints.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

#FentanylEpidemic #OpioidCrisis

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 26

Healthcare providers, lawmakers, and community members may disagree on how to define the crisis — whether it’s the opioid epidemic, the fentanyl epidemic, or the widespread issue of untreated pain. But civil discourse, like the kind happening here, is essential for building understanding.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 21

The recommendation is clear: employers who truly prioritize patient care should move away from ERISA-governed plans to ensure better access to life-saving treatment options.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

#HealthcareJustice #ERISA #InsuranceReform

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 21

We explore the systemic barriers many patients face when seeking addiction treatment under employer-sponsored insurance plans governed by ERISA. These plans often deny claims regardless of medical necessity, leaving patients dependent on physicians to advocate on their behalf.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 15

Regardless of the cause, unmanaged pain is a form of suffering that demands recognition, compassion, and proper medical response.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

#PainManagement #ChronicPainAwareness #MedicalEthics #PublicHealthCrisis

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 15

When someone is living with intractable pain, their world becomes unbearably small. Pain isolates — it disconnects individuals from their families, their work, their joy, and their identity.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 5

This testimony reflects the resilience of families who transform personal tragedy into hope and advocacy for others affected by the opioid crisis.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

#OpioidCrisis #FentanylAwareness #OverdosePrevention

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Aug 5

We witness the profound strength of a parent finding purpose through unimaginable loss. Though Hunter’s life was cut short, his story continues to inspire and save others. Eighteen months later, his impact endures — strangers still reach out, moved by his legacy.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 29

At stake isn’t just plausibility—it’s about hard evidence and proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Dive deeper into the complexities of justice with us. ⚖️ #JusticeMatters #BeyondReasonableDoubt #ThinkTank

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 29

When is suspicion enough? @CourtTV
In a powerful moment, a grandfather challenges authorities as his granddaughter is taken away: “What evidence do you have?” The reply: “She’s the only one who could’ve done this.” But is this truly enough for a conviction?

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 26

society shares in the responsibility for making them whole. Reform efforts that cap damages or limit access to court effectively strip away that protection, leaving the injured without meaningful recourse.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 26

Tort reform, despite its name, often works against the very individuals the civil justice system was built to protect. Rooted in English common law, the tort system was designed to ensure that when someone is harmed—whether by negligence, products, or systemic failures—

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 18

While Louisiana advances harm reduction, neighboring states like Texas still classify test strips as drug paraphernalia, reflecting the ongoing policy divide in addressing this public health crisis.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 18

We highlight a significant legislative victory in the fight against fentanyl. Through the advocacy of Millie Mattered, Louisiana enacted Millie’s Law — imposing tougher criminal penalties on fentanyl dealers and legalizing fentanyl test strips to help prevent accidental overdoses.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 10

True tax justice means realigning policy with principle: those with the most must contribute the most.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

#TaxJustice #ProgressiveTaxation #EconomicInequality #PublicPolicy #ConstitutionalPrinciples #WealthGap

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 10

The U.S. Constitution calls for a progressive tax system — yet in reality, our tax structure has grown increasingly regressive. It’s indefensible that billionaires can pay a lower percentage of their income, or even fewer total tax dollars, than their secretaries or their children’s teachers.

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 8

190 people die daily — equivalent to a fully loaded 737 aircraft crashing every single day. The fentanyl epidemic has become a national mass casualty event demanding urgent attention.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

FentanylCrisis #OpioidEpidemic

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jul 8

Musician Jason DeFore, known as Jelly Roll, delivers a sobering testimony on the scale of the overdose crisis. Every five minutes, another American dies from a drug overdose — with nearly 72% of those deaths linked to fentanyl. To illustrate the magnitude

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Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jun 24

The synthetic opioid crisis has fundamentally changed the risks associated with experimental drug use, particularly for young people.

Season 2 of the Outside Counsel #podcast is available now on all major platforms.

FentanylCrisis OpioidEpidemic #SyntheticDrugs

Jeffrey B. Simon @jeffreybsimon.bsky.social · Jun 24

We examine the unprecedented danger of fentanyl contaminating the illicit drug supply. What was once a survivable mistake is now a fatal one — fentanyl is being found in ecstasy, cocaine, THC products, and even vape cartridges. Today, one single use can result in death, leaving no margin for error.

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