Phil Verhoef
@philipverhoef.bsky.social
Med Peds ICU. Immuno researcher. Singer/guitars/keys/trombone. Father. #singlepayer advocate. He/him. #pnhp past president #docswhorock HAWAII.
amidst all the insane chaos in the world, perhaps this is a palate cleanser (literally)… i just found out chewing gum is chock full of microplastics and my world is rent asunder. i quit coffee a couple months back but now i gotta quit gum too?????? what’s next???
November 23, 2025 at 7:18 AM
amidst all the insane chaos in the world, perhaps this is a palate cleanser (literally)… i just found out chewing gum is chock full of microplastics and my world is rent asunder. i quit coffee a couple months back but now i gotta quit gum too?????? what’s next???
just more reasons to support campaign finance reform. this is messed up.
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
just more reasons to support campaign finance reform. this is messed up.
an interesting idea from a guy who def knows what he’s talking about. finding ways to extract real progress out of the abject chaos in the govt right now is exactly what we need to be doing.
Check out my op-ed in @thehill.com on why now is the time for the GOP to embrace the public option @bridgingthegap.bsky.social @buceid.bsky.social @bucas.bsky.social @dadakim.bsky.social @mattmotta.bsky.social @thcallaghan.bsky.social @asanews.bsky.social @apsa.bsky.social @whitehouse-47.bsky.social
In this @thehill.com op-ed, @josephharrisbu.bsky.social (Boston University) argues that offering a “public option” could reduce health care costs for millions of Americans and explains why Republican lawmakers could view the idea as a viable strategy for 2026.
Read the piece:
Read the piece:
November 19, 2025 at 12:48 AM
an interesting idea from a guy who def knows what he’s talking about. finding ways to extract real progress out of the abject chaos in the govt right now is exactly what we need to be doing.
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
OMG, as a father, allow me to emphasize it is not ok for adult men to be into teen age girls, and if you are an adult rationalizing “15 year olds” as somehow ok:
You are gross
You need help
Stay the hell away from my children or my students
You are gross
You need help
Stay the hell away from my children or my students
November 13, 2025 at 8:13 PM
OMG, as a father, allow me to emphasize it is not ok for adult men to be into teen age girls, and if you are an adult rationalizing “15 year olds” as somehow ok:
You are gross
You need help
Stay the hell away from my children or my students
You are gross
You need help
Stay the hell away from my children or my students
This substack from @kkjetelina.bsky.social and @hayrook.bsky.social is fantastic. and tbh, this is ALL the stuff we've been saying @pnhp.bsky.social for years. There is a better way... there's just no political will to eliminate the private health insurance industry.
"The US health care system is uniquely dysfunctional. A different approach is..possible if we have the will to..govern the..system in the interests of patients, clinicians, & taxpayers. That means...tackling prices, eliminating middlemen, & breaking up behemoths"👇
open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
5 ways our health care system has become utterly insane
A deep dive into the U.S. health care system: rising costs, corporate takeover, and why reform keeps failing.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This substack from @kkjetelina.bsky.social and @hayrook.bsky.social is fantastic. and tbh, this is ALL the stuff we've been saying @pnhp.bsky.social for years. There is a better way... there's just no political will to eliminate the private health insurance industry.
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
November 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
Did you know...seniors of color enrolled in Medicare “Advantage” are offered lower quality plans, face higher rates of prior authorization denials, and suffer worse health outcomes compared to their white counterparts?
Learn more: pnhp.org/EquityReport
Learn more: pnhp.org/EquityReport
October 15, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Did you know...seniors of color enrolled in Medicare “Advantage” are offered lower quality plans, face higher rates of prior authorization denials, and suffer worse health outcomes compared to their white counterparts?
Learn more: pnhp.org/EquityReport
Learn more: pnhp.org/EquityReport
advocating for patients with #pnhp. stop privatizing our healthcare system, #wisersucks, no cuts to Medicaid. we need a national, government-run, nonprofit healthcare system for EVERYONE.
November 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
advocating for patients with #pnhp. stop privatizing our healthcare system, #wisersucks, no cuts to Medicaid. we need a national, government-run, nonprofit healthcare system for EVERYONE.
a glorious rebuttal of the asinine MAHA report from a few weeks ago. TLDR: we have ways of making the US healthy but they’re not discussed in the report, and anyhow the current administration is doing everything it can to make people less healthy through its actions.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
The Make American Healthy Again Strategy Report
This Viewpoint discusses the deficiencies of the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s strategy report and proposes known evidence-based interventions to address chronic diseases in children.
jamanetwork.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 PM
a glorious rebuttal of the asinine MAHA report from a few weeks ago. TLDR: we have ways of making the US healthy but they’re not discussed in the report, and anyhow the current administration is doing everything it can to make people less healthy through its actions.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
speaking as the immediate past president of a so called “liberal group” this is so not okay. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/b...
The White House Vowed a Vast Crackdown on Liberal Groups
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2025 at 3:20 AM
speaking as the immediate past president of a so called “liberal group” this is so not okay. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/b...
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
We told you so. It gives me no satisfaction that we were right. (December 2024 article warning vaccines were in jeopardy) @mauikidsdr.bsky.social @philipverhoef.bsky.social
www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/rout...
www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/rout...
Routine Access To Childhood Vaccinations No Longer Guaranteed - Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii should be prepared to allocate funding for childhood vaccines in our state if federal funding is cut.
www.civilbeat.org
August 29, 2025 at 3:54 AM
We told you so. It gives me no satisfaction that we were right. (December 2024 article warning vaccines were in jeopardy) @mauikidsdr.bsky.social @philipverhoef.bsky.social
www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/rout...
www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/rout...
get vaccinated. appreciated the chance to talk about the recent wastewater detection of measles on the big island.
“Now that we detected a positive measles wastewater sample, we’re looking in that area for any potential measles-like cases that anyone has come in with.”
Moving forward following measles detection
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Hawai’i Department of Health was notified of a positive test for measles in a routine wastewater sample test on the Big Island.
www.khon2.com
August 29, 2025 at 6:52 AM
get vaccinated. appreciated the chance to talk about the recent wastewater detection of measles on the big island.
the new academic year is always a little thrilling, and it's also endearing: one of my interns enthusiastically keeps referring to the patient's "chlorine" level (not chloride) and talking about "sensational deficits" not "sensory deficits". may we never have "sensational deficits"!
July 11, 2025 at 10:00 PM
the new academic year is always a little thrilling, and it's also endearing: one of my interns enthusiastically keeps referring to the patient's "chlorine" level (not chloride) and talking about "sensational deficits" not "sensory deficits". may we never have "sensational deficits"!
marginalized communities are ALWAYS the most affected by EVERYTHING, and ALWAYS the least supported, which is 1 reason why the absolute gutting of the federal govt is so horrid. marginalized groups are not regarded as a profit opportunity ergo the current admin has no interest in them.
Marginalized communities are often the most affected by climate change—and the least supported. This webinar explores how to navigate conflicting priorities and understand their unique needs.
Register Now: academyhealth.org/events/2025-...
Register Now: academyhealth.org/events/2025-...
Health Equity Webinar Series: Navigating Climate and Health Priorities in Marginalized Communities | AcademyHealth
academyhealth.org
July 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
marginalized communities are ALWAYS the most affected by EVERYTHING, and ALWAYS the least supported, which is 1 reason why the absolute gutting of the federal govt is so horrid. marginalized groups are not regarded as a profit opportunity ergo the current admin has no interest in them.
if you text me and you're someone from work and you say "call me asap" my gut response is "oh shit someone is dying gotta move quick"
the contractor working on my house says "call me asap" and i'm thinking "did you blow up my house?" and he says "just want to talk about tile choices."
the contractor working on my house says "call me asap" and i'm thinking "did you blow up my house?" and he says "just want to talk about tile choices."
July 10, 2025 at 7:08 AM
if you text me and you're someone from work and you say "call me asap" my gut response is "oh shit someone is dying gotta move quick"
the contractor working on my house says "call me asap" and i'm thinking "did you blow up my house?" and he says "just want to talk about tile choices."
the contractor working on my house says "call me asap" and i'm thinking "did you blow up my house?" and he says "just want to talk about tile choices."
#alohalife. I admitted a patient who became hyperkalemic from eating too many mangos. Granted, she is dialysis-dependent at baseline, but still. she came in with a crazy high K and chest pain and was briefly on pressors and bipap and at the end of the day the culprit was too many mangos.
a mango with a face on it is hanging on a tree
ALT: a mango with a face on it is hanging on a tree
media.tenor.com
July 10, 2025 at 4:10 AM
#alohalife. I admitted a patient who became hyperkalemic from eating too many mangos. Granted, she is dialysis-dependent at baseline, but still. she came in with a crazy high K and chest pain and was briefly on pressors and bipap and at the end of the day the culprit was too many mangos.
the linking of health insurance access to employment is one of the single greatest health care policy failures in our country’s history.
You hear that kids? Get a damn job.
JIANG: What is the NEC's estimate for how many people could lose healthcare coverage?
HASSETT: The bottom line is the best way to get insurance is to get a job
HASSETT: The bottom line is the best way to get insurance is to get a job
July 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
the linking of health insurance access to employment is one of the single greatest health care policy failures in our country’s history.
louder for the folks in the back. they’re not work requirements. they’re reporting requirements… specifically designed to make it harder to access this and therefore save $$ and hurt people. it’s conceptually no different than what private insurance does with prior auths and robo-denials.
These aren’t work requirements, they’re reporting requirements and evidence shows that these requirements are onerous enough to cause significant health insurance coverage losses without producing increases in employment. (Because 92% of Medicaid beneficiaries are already working or would be exempt)
Markwayne Mullin to Kristen Welker on work requirements: "What is so hard about requiring an able-bodied individual with no dependents, no sickness, work work 20 hours a week? I know you worked more than 20 hours this weekend alone ... we don't pay people in this country to be lazy."
June 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
louder for the folks in the back. they’re not work requirements. they’re reporting requirements… specifically designed to make it harder to access this and therefore save $$ and hurt people. it’s conceptually no different than what private insurance does with prior auths and robo-denials.
the thing is, up to this point, ACIPs decision making was transparent and science-based, and we could respect it. but all it takes is one decision (like yesterdays) that is so clearly political and contrary to the evidence and now we can’t trust anything they say. it’s a damn shame. fuck rfk jr.
June 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
the thing is, up to this point, ACIPs decision making was transparent and science-based, and we could respect it. but all it takes is one decision (like yesterdays) that is so clearly political and contrary to the evidence and now we can’t trust anything they say. it’s a damn shame. fuck rfk jr.
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
the actual story here is that the president of the united states is a pathological liar and unhinged narcissist who regularly invents world-shaking claims and takes credit for things that didn't happen, BUT THE NEWS MEDIA CANNOT SAY THAT, so instead the story becomes "is there a war? who knows!"
June 24, 2025 at 3:19 AM
the actual story here is that the president of the united states is a pathological liar and unhinged narcissist who regularly invents world-shaking claims and takes credit for things that didn't happen, BUT THE NEWS MEDIA CANNOT SAY THAT, so instead the story becomes "is there a war? who knows!"
just when you think it couldn’t get worse. the hits just keep coming.
RFK Jr. has just removed every member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
These members review vaccine data and make approval recommendations. This is completely horrifying and will likely delay vaccine approvals.
RFK Jr. must be removed from office IMMEDIATELY.
These members review vaccine data and make approval recommendations. This is completely horrifying and will likely delay vaccine approvals.
RFK Jr. must be removed from office IMMEDIATELY.
June 9, 2025 at 11:29 PM
just when you think it couldn’t get worse. the hits just keep coming.
hmm. is "meat" in this context a noun or a verb? regardless, this represents an excellent opportunity for some silly/morbid/inappropriate jokes.
June 4, 2025 at 11:14 PM
hmm. is "meat" in this context a noun or a verb? regardless, this represents an excellent opportunity for some silly/morbid/inappropriate jokes.